'Fulfilling the Great Commission
with Seafarers coming to our own Back Door'
|
The Presbytery of New Covenant has an International Seafarers' Ministry Board which meets on the second Thursday of every month. This Board works with the concerns of the five Seafarers' Centers in the Presbytery and explores ways in which all of the churches might be more involved in the ministry to seafarers. The Board also supervises two Presbyterian Chaplains, the Rev. Ben Stewart and the Rev. David Wells.
The Great Commission... at our doorstep
Most sailors spend a short time in port and the Seafarers Center is their only opportunity to communicate with family, relax from the shipboard routine and experience American culture.
The Great Commission commands us to "go and make disciples of all the nations..." At our area ports, we have the opportunity to minister to people from every corner of the world. In many cases, these seafarers are from countries where missionaries are not allowed. Here we are free to share the Gospel.
The seafarers truly appreciate this ministry. They are far from home and family--strangers in our country. It is a hard and lonely life. One young man from Indonesia said, "What we want most, is someone to care." In Leviticus 19:34 the Bible tells us, "The stranger who sojourns with you shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself." |
|
