items of interest

with contributions from Ellen Boyer, Richard Kerbaj, Charles D. Perry

MINISTRY OFFERS SANCTUARY TO SEAFARERS

In 1963, the Rev. John Vandercook watched a ship dock at a Port of New Orleans terminal. A disembarking seafarer approached Vandercook and asked where Christian crewmen on the boat of banana shipments could go to church nearby. Vandercook took them to services with him at an Irish Channel church. For the next six months, Vandercook preached to those same seamen about Christianity as the boat returned and docked to unload shipments at the Port. The seafarers then challenged Vandercook to practice what he preached. Vandercook, a World War ll naval veteran who understood where these seamen were coming from, then established Global Maritime Ministries, a nonprofit Christian organization designed to meet the physical, social, and spiritual needs of seafarers and Port personnel.

"The nonprofit broke ground last month at a $1 million dockside Global Maritime Ministries facility .... The facility will offer seafarers basic spiritual and social services. There are about 35 similar dockside centers across the country that offer rest, recreation, and personal assistance to help seafarers shop or make a phone call while in port. According to the North American Maritime Ministry Association in Warwick, III.. several established maritime ministries exist throughout the nation, including a number in the New Orleans metro area. NAMMA's network includes 400 chaplains and US centers."

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

what do you expect from your prayers?