Sometimes Denis comments to us that "nothing spectacular has happened" for a while.  Well, we happen to think the sheer fact that God has called people to visit ships on a regular basis is reasonably spectacular.  It isn't a glamorous job.  But SCFS workers visit ships in all weathers, and occasionally at very antisocial hours.  Sometimes a ship visit consists of little more than seeing to some ordinary welfare need – or simply time spent lending an ear to a lonely or worried seafarer.  The fact that someone has boarded that ship with the sole intention of being there for the benefit of the crew is pretty spectacular as far as the crew are concerned!  We believe that God can use these simple encounters in ways we might never fully understand.

A Baseball Cap, A Tee-shirt, Trousers and Trainers!

It was a very cold January day, I saw a Filipino seafarer walking along the harbour. He was only wearing a baseball cap, a tee-shirt, trousers and trainers. He looked lost. I saw him talk to some of the contractors working at the harbour and they shook their heads in a negative way. I thought he may have been looking for the mission, so I caught up with him and introduced myself. I was correct – he was looking for the mission. He told me that his name was Ricky and that he had no coat. I took him to the mission where he was able to telephone home. I then went to the office and got together some bags of clothes and toiletries for him and the rest of the crew. I then drove Ricky back to his ship. I was very warmly greeted and it was a joy to see the delight on the crew's faces with all the bags that Ricky and I carried on board.

I returned to the ship the following day with more supplies as there was not enough to go round on the first visit. This time I was told a very heart rending story. The crew had been 20 days at sea coming to Belfast. Before that they were 10 days in Brazil loading and they had had no shore leave. But before that, they had been a full month at anchor before entering Brazil for the cargo. After explaining this to me the 2nd officer, who was Filipino, also explained that for three months they had not been paid and that none of the crew had soap, toothpaste, shower gel etc, and that they were so grateful for my coming to them. One crew member said "I was sent from heaven."

What's In the News?

Wilbert and I really look forward to visiting the crew from the Cape Verde Islands as their ship visits Belfast. During one visit, I asked the crew if there was any way that we could improve our visits to them. Many felt that what was important was the fact that we visited them as often as we could. The cook also confirmed that he personally had been on contracts for 9 months and had not been on shore or seen a seafarer's Chaplain/Pastor in all that time.

Yet one thing they all agreed on that would benefit all the Cape Verde crew, was if I could print off articles from a Cape Verde newspaper on the internet, and take these to the crew when I visit. I was able to do this. Now as a regular feature of my visit, I take them the latest articles from the web site. It is wonderful to see them smiling as they read the articles and talk about them. This is a very easy way to help them keep informed about what is happening back at home.

John Barnard Writes…

The large vessel was waiting to discharge its cargo.  All the crew were Filipino.  I laid out Bibles, tracts and hats on a table.  I was told by many of the crew as they came in that they have Bible study and prayer meetings on Sundays, led by a seaman named Robin.  I could not wait to meet Robin.  He must have been the last one to arrive; it was good to meet him.  Robin could only stay for a few minutes because of his work.  He said he would return later.

While I waited, I started to share with the rest of the crew, giving some the Jesus DVD.  One man put it on to play in their language, on the TV in the mess room.  I don't think I have seen a reaction like this before!  As the crew came in for their lunch, they just sat and watched; there was no talking.  No one seemed to want to leave, even when their food was finished.

Robin came back smiling and said, "We had our meeting last Sunday.  I made an appeal and many accepted Jesus as their Saviour".

Now I understood the reaction.

When it was time for me to leave, Robin stopped me, asking, "Please will you pray for me?"  He told me that in the six months of his contract he had no Christian fellowship from the outside world.  It is so sad that there are still so many ports in the world that do not have a Christian missionary or chaplain.  We prayed and cried; we were both so blessed.

The next day was the SCFS day of prayer.  I joined my son Nathan at his church, which is situated looking out to sea, where the ships at anchor can be seen waiting to come into the port of Immingham.  It was an ideal place to pray.  It was a blessed time bringing everything to God in prayer – our family, the SCFS and all the seamen.  Looking at my son I knew the best way to finish this time of prayer – we decided we would go and visit a ship and a "pastor" called Robin.  What a wonderful day of prayer we had, Robin was encouraged to carry on the work God had given him, and Nathan and I were doubly encouraged.

Some seafarers find it very difficult to get shore leave. This can make them feel like prisoners!

I was speaking to a Christian on a fuel carrier who had not been ashore for 7 months. The ship comes in, loads and unloads, and is off again. He has probably stood on the dock side – but often the docks are too far from the towns and there is no time to go ashore. He was very grateful for the visit and the encouragement plus literature and Bible study.

Other times there is the equipping of the Christians on board to be a witness to the rest of the crew. There was one Indonesian crew who had just joined the ship with only 2 Christians on board. Their gentle witness would do far more good than my efforts. So I left literature to equip the Christians and encouraged them in their walk with God and for the praying for the rest of the crew.

Alan Offord, Falmouth.

Rob Flinders SCFS Port Chaplain in Sydney reports

There are many ships that are known as a 'tramp' ship. Tramp ships are those that are chartered (hired), often at very short notice, to carry one-off shipments of cargo from one port to another. As a consequence tramp ships do not have fixed schedules or published ports of call. This in turn means that the crews onboard these ships often do not know which countries or ports their ship will visit beyond the next immediate port. Read more about Where Did That Booklet Come From? →