In 1948 a new era dawned for the preaching work. This was the result of a new means to reach every corner of the Caribbean with the good news​—the Society’s missionary boat Sibia. This boat was to visit all the islands of the Caribbean that had no one active in preaching the good news. The Sibia’s first stop was the Bahamas. This 60-foot schooner, a floating missionary home, had a crew of four: Gust Maki (captain and navigator), Arthur Worsley (missionary home overseer), Stanley Carter and Ronald Parkin. Even today many have vivid memories of the visit by the Sibia.

Brother Arthur Worsley, who was in charge of the boat’s missionary activities, related:

“Preaching in the islands was so refreshing. With the nine-foot draft of the Sibia, shallow water was sometimes a handicap, but we went to all of the larger islands, though at times our keel barely cleared the bottom. It was quite commonplace for someone with whom literature had been placed to ask if he could continue along with us and carry our bag. They were so delighted with what they learned that sometimes, before we could even begin our own presentation, they would start telling about the books. In many instances, books were placed at the insistence of the individual who had come along with us. I remember, too, their beautiful way of acknowledging our introduction, saying: ‘Thank you, Sir, and may it please God we be strangers no longer.’

“The people on some of the islands were very poor, and on the island of Bimini one man obtained a whole carton of Bibles because they were only one dollar each, and he felt that no one should be without a Bible. He then gave them out with the kind suggestion that they be paid for, a few cents at a time, whenever the person could spare them. One man had several of our books but did not have enough money for the Bible, so I gave him one and made the gift acceptable by saying: ‘You can send me the money whenever you have it.’ A year later I received a letter from him, thanking me for the Bible and enclosing a dollar.

“Some people still had cherished copies of the Society’s literature dating back to The Harp of God. They were delighted to know that the books being presented were published by the same organization. Many proved by their conversation that they had digested much of the information they had read.

“Sometimes whole families would be out in the fields when we called, but, after coming home and seeing the Bibles and books of their friends, they would be waiting at the dock early next morning to get some for themselves. Some would come out to our boat and bring little gifts of fish, fruit or coconuts, for which we always gave them extra reading matter.

“The public meetings were difficult to arrange in some places and quite easy in others. In many instances it simply meant getting up and speaking. These talks were given in schools, churches, private homes, stores, barrooms, at docks, under trees​—whenever there was an opportunity, many times without the benefit of lights or notes. It was quite often difficult to get the people to disperse after the talk, and many seemed never to have enough. We regretted that we could not spend more time with them.

“Frequently, while coming home from a long hard day in the service, we would have the pleasure of hearing people reading aloud to themselves as we passed by their small dwellings. Many of them would call to us and express their pleasure with the book and thank us again for calling on them.

“A great deal of literature had been placed in the major islands, and many friends had been made because of the truth, so we were all very sad at the thought of having to leave. There was much more work to do; in fact, our boat could not approach some of the islands because of the shallow water. But the hurricane season was due, and the Bahamian waters were so shallow that there would be few places for the nine-foot-draft Sibia to find shelter. So, after seven months of most enjoyable preaching, we set our course for the Virgin Islands.”