The Presbyterian Church has many different types of ministries but there are only two full-time ordained clergy involved with ministry to seafarers, and they both work at the Port of Houston. Seafarers' Ministry serves those who come from all over the world and belong to many different religious groups. They all work on ships which carry cargo and fuel from country to country so that the world economy may flourish. The seafarers are lonely, generally adaptable to new situations, and have many social, spiritual, and personal needs. For both Christian and non-Christian, the Port Chaplain is someone that they trust and relay on.

The Church spends thousands of dollars to send missionaries overseas, yet we often ignore those from other cultures and faiths who come to our very shores. At our ports where ships come in, there is great opportunity to connect with seafarers from other lands who are eager to experience the love of Jesus Christ. Our church should have pastoral and community contact with seafarers at every port of call in America. This would mean having people trained to interact with seafarers so as to promote world peace, to evangelize, and to grow in the understanding of Jesus Christ in our diverse world.

Seafarers are often away from home for 9 months at a time with just 20-30 crew members on their ship. Most of their time is at sea and their short time at a given port is when they are eager and hungry for a new and welcoming face. Often they have many needs and our churches have a great opportunity in ministry. One seafarer from India told me how grateful he was for the chaplain who met him on his ship or at the Seafarers' Center when he said: "I just have about four hours to go ashore when I am at port and I am tired of relating to only my crew members. Sometimes we are not free to share our real life with them. You chaplains are the only persons that we know will help us with whatever we need. You help us to feel that someone really cares about us. I became a Christian this year because a chaplain helped me when I had many problems on a ship. He helped me with my problems, said a prayer for me and gave me a video about Jesus. I learned that Christianity is a religion that really helps other people and is not just personal worship."

Local churches in our Presbytery often come in small groups to join with seafarers at the Seafarers' Center. They bring desserts and snacks and find lives changed in the short encounters which they have. If you have an interest in this ministry, you may contact the Houston International Seafarers' Centers where there is a two week Chaplain's Training School every February. Also, the Presbytery of New Covenant has many years of involvement in this ministry and an experienced Board for Seafarers' Ministry. You may also contact the Rev. Ben Steward or Rev. David Wells at 713-672-0511.