I woke up very early on Sunday morning, February 29th. in order to prepare to preach. I checked my computer and discovered a news release forwarded to me by the director of the Houston Seafarers' Center. The vessel, Bow Mariner, was on its way from New York to Houston carrying Ethanol and other petroleum products. There was an explosion and fire on the deck of the ship about 50 miles off the coast of Virginia, and the ship sank in the frigid waters in just minutes. Of the 24 Filipino and 3 Greek seafarers, only 6 Filipinos survived.

I quickly forwarded that email to our Presbyterian Seafarers Board, Ministry Committee, and several of the churches which had become involved with our ministry at the Seafarers Center. I know that announcements and prayers went out immediately to many of our congregations. Bert Thompson, a member of the Presbyterian Seafarers Board, told me how he took the message to First Presbyterian Church and after making the announcement and having a prayer, the Fellowship Class began to sing their scheduled hymn, "Eternal Father Strong to Save". If you read the hymn you will see why Bert had tears come to his eyes and how God truly does work. Still, tragedies for seafarers happen every day.

I had just visited the men on this ship a few weeks ago. I remember them telling me there were 24 Filipino and 3 Greek crewmembers. I joked with them and laughed with them, but I do not even know their names. I cannot even tell you who these men are, who died. What a tragedy! The real tragedy which seafarers face every day, is having no one who knows them, nor anyone who can call them by name. Who will be able to share their sorrow, their joy, and their fears? They often cannot even share everything with their family far away, because they do not want to worry their loved ones at home.

You could be someone who might relate to seafarers traveling on ships at sea. You could adopt a ship and crew and be able to know these people by name. You could care and be someone whom they might confide in by mail or email or telephone. You could be there to pray for them and for their families when tragedy comes. Who is there to pray for the families of these men who died on the Bow Mariner--the nameless 21 seafarers? I hope that you will join with me to say a prayer for them in this moment and the days ahead. Even more, I hope that you will call us at the Seafarers Center and volunteer to adopt a ship. The tragedies continue to happen for seafarers.

Yours in Christ,

David Wells
Port Chaplain