Fifty chaplains from across the United States came together for three days July 16–18 for the annual Port Ministries International Conference held at the Seamen’s centers in Mobile and Gulfport, Miss.
This year’s theme was “Opening New Doors for Effective Ministries” and drew pastors — a mixture of Southern Baptists and evangelicals — from as far as Seattle and New York.
Speakers and a four-person panel addressed issues of homeland security, women’s role in seafarers’ ministry and the impact of seafarers’ ministry on world evangelism.
The ministry also went through the process of incorporation during the conference and re-elected Dan Bailey of Cape Canaveral for a second term as ministry president.
Founded in 1963 by John Weneger, Port Ministries International has grown to support pastors who daily meet the social, physical and spiritual needs of seamen at 21 international ports located throughout the country.
Partially sponsored by the North American Mission Board (NAMB) and fueled by hundreds of volunteers, the Mobile port alone saw 197 professions of faith last year and handed out Bibles in 175 different languages.
“We want to open the eyes of people to the potential of the seamen’s ministry,” said Aias de Souza, who is a NAMB missionary and director of the International Seamen’s Center in Mobile. “People accept Christ at the seaport and then they become missionaries in their own country,” he said.
“Some will pass out Bibles at the next place they dock or to their crew mates,” de Souza added.
Richard Alford, an associate in the office of associational and cooperative missions for the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions, was the lead speaker on evangelism.
He pointed out that port ministries have the potential to affect people in every corner of the globe.
Worldwide vision
“The port ministry is a vital link to almost every country overseas,” said Alford. “And there could be a greater thread between port ministries and church planting and evangelism, so when these new Christians go home they have access to churches and discipleship.
“The question we need to ask is: What could be?” he said
The conference’s vision for world evangelism, according to de Souza, cannot be fully realized until the International Mission Board (IMB) gets involved.
“We have a direct reflection on the foreign field (through mariners who accept Christ and return to their homes to share the gospel) and we need the networking the IMB can provide for them” said de Souza. “There is a great space out there for (IMB) to step in and help us bless many.”
De Souza also hopes that one day seafarer centers like the one in Mobile will exist in ports across the globe.
“Again the IMB would be the natural channel through which to accomplish this goal,” he said.
Changes in port regulations brought on by the new Homeland Security Act have provided additional challenges to seafarer chaplains and was a primary focus during the conference.
In addition to panel discussions, Captain Steven Hardy, a Coast Guard marine safe officer, helped conference goers sift through the many details associated with the new regulations.
“After 9/11 certain seafarers cannot leave their ships anymore,” said de Souza. “So when we go onto the ship to talk with them they are usually very angry about the restrictions.
“We let them talk out their frustrations and then we try to reach them however we can,” he continued. “We spent a lot of the conference exchanging ideas and learning from each other how to best minister in these situations.”
A gentle outreach
A steady surge in women volunteers in port ministry merited a special session during this year’s conference.
Jeff Wagner, the special ministries unit manager with the NAMB, addressed the changing face of women in port ministry.
According to de Souza, sometimes the only thing that breaks through the salt water exterior of the mariners they work with is a mother’s touch.
In addition to the countless hours women donate in the seafarer centers as secretaries, receptionists, activities coordinators and bus drivers, many have started taking to the ships.
“Women bring a gentleness to our conversations,” said de Souza. “It makes all the difference to these men who have been away from their mothers and families for months.”
Several area Baptist churches provided meals and snacks for the conference. West Mobile Baptist Church provided the worship throughout the event and sponsored the closing banquet.
Share with others: