Dear friends,
Congratulations on the Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelisation in Cape Town! May you all be greatly blessed, emboldened and empowered by God as you meet together.
German scholar, missionary and author Martin Otto in his two books ’Seafarers’ and ’Church on the Oceans’ highlights the amazing opporunities for mission and world evangelisation amongst the often unreached people group known only as ’seafarers’.
95% of the world’s trade is transported by sea. However seafarers are often forgotten about. Every day seafarers visit our shores from hundreds of different countries. Sometimes they come from countries where missionaries are not permitted to work.
They speak English as the main language on board! This is because on one ship there could be 4 – 6 (or more) different nationalities represented. English is the language of shipping!
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Did you know that daily we have thousands of seafarers visiting our ports from all over the world?
Of course, our towns, cities and villages are now also home to people from all around the world. However, seafarers are frequently (1) much more open to the Gospel message, (2) will return home again possibly to reach their relatives, friends and neighbours for the Lord, and (3) can be a powerful witness on board and also build up the ’Church on the Oceans’ (Christians at sea)! Seafarer contracts are generally 9 or 10 months on board and then 2 or 3 months on vacation at home. This means that often in 30 years as a seafarer a seaman is only at home with his family for a total of 5 years! Last week I visited a ship where one Burmese seaman has been on board for 24 months already!
A true world mission-field on our doorstep!
Seamen’s Christian Friend Society (SCFS) is only one of many evangelical Seamen’s Missions.
Please find out more about this open door to world mission here:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Seamens-Christian-Friend-Society-SCFS/52541164731?ref=s
Thanks + God bless 🙂
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Hi everyone,
Please also check out our group for seafarers here:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=36439407255&ref=ts
It has been described as an online virtual seaman’s club.
You are very welcome to join and check out the links and please feel free to contact any of the group officers (port chaplains) in the ports you are visiting. They would love to visit you on board and help you if they can.
Thanks. Best wishes + God bless 🙂
ps. This is our SEAFARERS fan page as well:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/SEAFARERS/315064008394?ref=search