Families of survivors and victims of the Titanic disaster marked the 100th anniversary of the ship's sinking on Sunday.
Many took part in a special cruise that stopped at the exact place the Titanic sank on April 15, 1912.
More than 1,500 passengers and crew died when the
massive ocean liner, dubbed unsinkable, struck an iceberg and slipped
beneath the waves less than three hours later.
There are tales of heroism among the victims, including the story of Pastor John Harper.
According to Baptist Press, Harper spent his last moments seeking to save souls and led at least one man to Christ as the tragedy unfolded.
Harper had pastored churches in Glasgow and London
and was on his way to America to accept the pastorate of Moody Church in
Chicago, founded by the famous evangelist Dwight L. Moody.
When the Titanic struck an iceberg, Harper put his
six-year-old daughter in a lifeboat but refused to get in himself, even
though he was her only living parent.
He then went among the passengers telling them about
Jesus Christ. When one man refused the offer of salvation, Harper
offered him his own life jacket.
"You need this more than I do," he said.
As the ship began to sink, Harper was heard to cry: "Women, children, and the unsaved to the lifeboats!"
Even after the ship went down, Harper managed to swim to as many people as he could, begging them to give their lives to Christ.
One survivor later told how he turned down Harper's
offer for salvation once, but gave himself to Christ minutes later when
the preacher swam back to tell him again, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and
thou shalt be saved."
The man was rescued by a returning lifeboat and
later shared his story at an Ontario church, telling the crowd, "I am
the last convert of John Harper."
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