The Seamen’s Christian Friend Society was founded in London in 1846. Its goal was to bring spiritual help to the seafaring community and those involved in maritime industries, trades and activities by telling them about the love of Christ. It also wanted to help them in practical ways through friendship and support. This objective was set out in the Society's Foundation Resolution, which reads:
“... the Society shall be engaged in missions to ships etc. in the Port of London and in the sea coasts, to barracks, prisons and the poor in general as heretofore having purely for its objects the moral and spiritual welfare of our sailors and soldiers and the poor...”
This goal of transforming lives through the Gospel of Christ is very much alive today and it forms the foundation for our Ministry in sea ports around the world. The sole basis of our beliefs is the Bible, God’s infallible written Word, as it appears in the Old and New Testaments and whose core precepts are encapsulated in our Statement of Belief: