Almost two months after themission ship sailed from Hamilton to continue roaming the world spreading its Christian message, the man who played an important role during its visit to Bermuda has been looking back at its impact.

Pastor Gary Simons of the Cornerstone Bible Fellowship said many people, including the media, focused mostly on the book shop onboard but may have missed other aspects of the ship?s work.

Theis now visiting Kingston in Jamaica as it continues its journey through the Caribbean.

Mr. Simons said: ?The visit went very well. It was a good visit. The crew got into the community when they were here.?

Among the places members of the crew visited were some wards at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, including the children?s ward, and also Westgate Correctional Facility to speak to inmates and Lefroy House and Westmeath nursing homes.

The Teen Haven group for young mothers were brought on board and the crew reached out to churches, giving walkthrough visits on the ship, said Mr. Simons.

The ship?s crew also reached out to the homeless in Hamilton, inviting them onboard and giving them food and linking up with the Salvation Army to assist with soup runs.

Mr. Simons said: ?A lot of the coverage of the visit was focused on the book shop, but that was only part of what thedid. And, although some were repeat visits, during its stay there were 12,000 visitors to the ship.?

Mr. Simons was introduced to in 2003 when he was asked to teach on board and train missionaries.

But he only knew of the intended visit to Bermuda last Christmas and New Year when he bumped into a representative of the ship on the Island making early plans for the ship?s arrival.

The Cornerstone Bible Fellowship helped the crew in turn with giveaways and phone cards to allow them to call their family at home and by bringing the fellowship?s puppet ministry onto the ship.

Mr. Simons said: ?There was a family fun day, a kids? missionary adventure, a pastors? luncheon. Most of the feedback from those who have shared with me has been very good. The youth enjoyed the programmes. Overall I think people were happy.?

The is soon to be retired and replaced with a newer ship. It is unlikely the new ship will return to Bermuda within the next five years.

Mr. Simons added: ?It was a very successful visit and it accomplished a lot.?