In our own ministry here at Seafarer's Friend I see how far we have to go before we come anywhere close to achieving our Lord's vision for how we are to live if we want to be true to God's hope for us.  I think of how studies have shown that seafarers - who bring us everything we need in order to live, work, and play - have less rest, recreation, resources, and time with friends and family than do convicted criminals in prison.  Ninety to ninety-five percent of everything we use on any given day comes to us on ships from around the world, staffed by highly professional seafarers from every corner of the globe, away from their families for eight to ten months at a time on average.  While ship owners and company magnates continue to get extremely wealthy from this industry, the expert mariners who run their ships live in near poverty.  Some seafarers - through no fault of their own - are detained onboard, and are not permitted to leave their ships when they are in port; and so they are virtual prisoners while at work for almost a year at a time.  One could argue that our nation's economy is still based upon slave labor.

And yet there are so many good souls who give of their time, talent, and treasure to serve the seafarers.  People visit them onboard ships, and bring gifts, and provide SIM cards and calling cards so that the seafarers can communicate with their loved ones back home.  People make ditty bags, and they knit wool watch caps, and they bake cookies, and donate books, and magazines, and puzzles, and warm clothing.  We leave Bibles (in all languages, according to the nationalities of the crew) and a variety of devotionals and religious goods.  There are many kind and generous people who see to it that the seafarers will know that they are not forgotten or taken for granted.  Many work tirelessly to bring the Church to the seafarers onboard their ships.  It is a beautiful thing to behold.

And yet we have so far to go.   Our Risen Lord wants us to be of one mind and one spirit, unified in our actions, working to take care of the whole human family, and not just leaving others to struggle and survive on their own.  Ours is a bridge ministry, one that connects the realities of our man-made structures with the hopes and dreams of the God who created us and who gives us life and breath day-by-day.  Would you like to come out and experience this for yourself?  Would you like to come join us?  Together, let's figure out how we - like the disciples in the Early Church - can carry on the life and work of Jesus, so that we will all live as one human family on this fragile earth our island home - all for the greater glory of God.

Please contact our office for more information on how to become involved.

"The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few." (Matthew 9:37)