Mission to Seafarers: Something for us not to forget this Christmas

I have fallen increasingly in love with a ministry within our diocese, and on behalf our diocese, that goes virtually unnoticed most days.  It is the Mission to Seafarers in the West Seattle Seaport.   The following comes from the international Mission to Seafarers Website:

"Loneliness, danger and separation from loved ones are just some of the problems seafarers face. Around the world, night and day, The Mission to Seafarers provides help and support to those in need. As a Christian agency, we work in more than 230 ports caring for the practical and spiritual welfare of seafarers of all nationalities and faiths.

Through our global network of chaplains, staff and volunteers we reach out to seafarers by visiting them on their ships, offering them the hand of welcome and friendship, and caring for them in their hour of need.

In over 100 ports we also run centres which provide ‘a home away from home’. These are places where seafarers can contact their loved ones from whom they are separated for months on end, receive assistance with any problems they may be facing and get a break from their demanding way of life onboard ship"

One of those ports is right here, to large degree literally in my backyard!  And I am always so impressed with all they accomplish there, with so very little.  There is a small but dedicated band of board members, ably led by the Rev. Bob Moore, who have worked diligently over these past years in order to make sure this ministry continues.  It basically survives on just over $100,000 a year but meets and ministers to countless seafarers from all over the world, many of whom will be in our ports this Christmas, away from family and friends.

Over the last few months our few employees have forgone salary at times in order for the ministry to continue.  Even now there is back pay and I am so moved by the commitment of these disciples, who forego their own well being in order to keep the ministry alive.  

As I looked at their impending year end budget, I saw that they were roughly $20,000 behind for this year.  I give to this ministry, and I encourage you to consider them as you consider gifts at this year end and in this season when we celebrate the greatest gift we have ever been given.  If you would like to give to the Mission you can do so online, by going to the Diocese of Olympia website www.ecww.org, hitting the "Make a Gift" button, and then mark it for Mission to Seafarers or you can send a check marked for this mission to The Diocese of Olympia, 1551 10th Ave. E., Seattle, WA 98102.  I can vouch for the fact that it will be used wisely, and for the good of many.  

Prepare the Way of the Lord!

Blessings,

+Greg

Comments

[Catherine Skelton Windsor]

Thanks +Greg, for helping make us aware of this mission field and those who work in it.

"They that go down, to the sea in ships,
And do business in great waters...
These see the works of the Lord...
These see the works of the Lord,
And His wonders in the deep."

[Richard Gould - Seattle Trinity Parish]

Our diocesan interest in this specialized ministry has surely seen its ups-'n-downs over the years.

The initial stab at ministering to mariners came in 1911 as something for our general missionary of the day, George Clement King, to do out of Seattle Trinity Parish's guild house. The following year witnessed the activation of our Seamen's Church Institute at Tacoma, directed by an eccentric English lay reader, Harry Ferneyhough. The Tacoma activity was shut down in 1932 for lack of diocesan and national church financial support.

The Rev Vernon Eugene Wolfe re-initiated this work in Seattle as ecumenical & seaman's chaplain, in 1971. He carried on till retiring twenty-years later. A collegiate bishop, William Chul-Hi Choi, took up the reins, and carried on for another eleven years till replaced by the Rev David John Gunderson in 2002. A lay reader, Captain Hubbard, took over in 2004. Their station changed its name multiple times out-of-sync with personnel changes: The Puget Sound Maritime Ministry (1972-82), the Episcopal Maritime Ministry (1983-91), the Seaman's Center (1992-2002) and finally the Seafarer's Mission (2003-present).

The waterfront of poor Tacoma is long forgotten, alas. Perhaps - just perhaps - under the leadership of Bishop Greg that port will be served as well. Bremerton and Everett could stand some attention too. Such attention does save souls; a fellow communicant of my parish is upon the high seas this very moment. Thanks be to God.

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