Christmas Service and party at the Roberts Bank Seafarers Centre
IN THIS EDITION
- Chaplaincy Team
- Prayer Support
- Fun Facts
- Positive Impressions
- World Conference
- Christmas at Sea
- Seafarer Happiness
CHAPLAINCY TEAM
This ministry in the Port of Vancouver is a partnership of three organizations working together to serve seafarers. Gary works with the Ministry to Seafarers of the Christian Reformed Church. Dileep, Eslin, and Douglas are with Stella Maris (Catholic). Peter is with Mission to Seafarers (Anglican). Vincent works under Mission to Seafarers, on loan from OMF International, and is ordained by the Christian and Missionary Alliance. Fr. Eslin joined our team in 2025 and is a welcome new addition. Douglas serves as a very active volunteer. Peter and Gary serve in a full-time capacity; the others are all half time or less. Most years we also hire at least one intern for a few months or more. Additionally there are 5 staff members (not pictured) who work in the office or help to run the seafarers' centres in the afternoons and evenings. It's great to have a team like this to serve seafarers, and there are some other more occasional volunteers as well who also contribute to the work happening here.
If you are interested to be part of this exciting and important ministry, don't hesitate to reach out to me (Gary) at the email address above.
Prayer Support
In late January I (Gary) met a chief cook again (to my left) who I’d met four and a half years earlier – when his wife had just been diagnosed with breast cancer. My wife went through the same thing (19 years ago now), so we ended up having a long conversation back in 2021, and eventually I spoke with his wife as well through a video call and prayed with them both. What a thrill to meet him again and hear that she has been cancer free until now. At the same time, the third officer (to my right) on the same ship shared that his wife also had breast cancer (stage 4) back in 2018, which has now returned and spread. We prayed with him for his wife, who is just 30 years old, and for their 4-year-old son. I ended up making multiple visits to their ship and am keeping in touch via FB Messenger with the third officer especially.
In the world of seafarers' chaplaincy, the reality is that we often meet people only once, and then may never see them again. These days, with newer communication tools it is possible to stay in contact if necessary or convenient. Indeed, I have some seafarer friends who I have kept in touch with long range for several years now. But much of the contact we have with seafarers is a one-time conversation. It makes the importance of that moment even greater and requires sensitivity to each situation - Is this person someone I need to spend more time with? Is he or she saying something indirectly that I need to listen and respond to carefully? What words would God have me speak into their life?
Container ships often make more regular visits, stopping at Vancouver every couple of months typically, and on those ships we do meet some of the same crew multiple times. But then comes the end of their contract and they sign off, or the ship changes its route, and we may never see them again. That's why it's always special when you meet someone again who you had a special connection with in the past but may have not seen for years. Please pray that all of us here will be alert to the needs of the seafarers we meet each and every day.
Fun Facts
As a team of chaplains working in partnership here in the Port of Vancouver, we made 1,597 ship visits in 2025 – and each ship visit means encounters with numerous seafarers. We gave rides to 2,858 seafarers, whether transporting them to one of our centres or some other destination. We also welcomed 6,288 seafarers to our two centres here in the port. And we delivered some 1,600 Christmas gifts. We also led a number of worship/prayer services on board ships as well as at our centres. Thanks for supporting this work and helping to make Ministry like this possible!
Positive Impressions
On board a ship recently, the Chinese chief officer shared his gratefulness and positive impressions of the kind service that he so often experiences at seafarers' centres around the world, like ours here. And then he remarked, “There’s nothing like this anywhere in China.” Indeed there are no seafarers’ centres in Mainland China, except for Hong Kong. He reflected that there is something “different” about these ministries that both impressed and baffled him. "What you do is very kind, but why do you do it?" he inquired. "And who supports this kind of work?" That, of course, led to a much longer conversation about our motivation for sharing God’s love in Jesus Christ with all seafarers, and how this Ministry reflects the call of Jesus on His Church to spread the Good News of His saving love all around the world. The CO was both perplexed and fascinated.
World Conference
In early October 2025 I (Gary), along with 2 other colleagues from Vancouver, travelled to Barcelona, Spain to attend the ICMA (International Christian Maritime Association) World Conference. 250 people attended the conference from some 45 countries. It was a very meaningful and fruitful time of networking, learning and praying together with the common goal of serving seafarers even more effectively, especially in the fast and ever-changing maritime world. What a joy and privilege to connect with many long-time friends, while also meeting so many new friends from all around the world. Most years we attend a conference of colleagues from around North America, so it was extra special to be able to experience this truly international event.
Christmas at Sea
Christmas at Sea for seafarers happened again here in the port this past Christmas. As always it was a privilege to share some of the joy of the season with seafarers, especially on Christmas Eve Day, when we delivered gifts to all the ships anchored in English Bay, but also through gift deliveries stretching from mid-December right through the first week of January. We held Christmas services at both the downtown and Roberts Bank centres, as well as prayers with seafarers on board many ships. The deliveries on Christmas Eve were more challenging than usual with sea swells making the transfer of gifts difficult at times. But we managed and were even able to board a couple of ships to connect with crews on board. Thanks for supporting this program.
Seafarer Happiness
The Mission to Seafarers regularly collects data to measure seafarer happiness and publish it each quarter. It’s called the Seafarer Happiness Index. In Q3 of 2025 they reported that seafarer happiness was down in all categories except for digital connectivity – not huge drops, but significant, nonetheless. The decline occurred in categories like: -manning level & crew shortages -administrative burdens -workload & fatigue management -decline in shore leave -compensation -food quality -health & exercise due to operational pressures -professional development -shore-ship relationship -interaction among crew Stressors like these have led to an increase in mental health issues on board and have resulted in suicide now being reported as the leading cause of death among seafarers. Over one in five (22%) seafarers report frequently experiencing stress and fatigue while on board their vessels. Factors that seafarers rely on for coping and resilience include family communication, exercise, and faith. 78% of seafarers say faith helps them face challenges at sea. As seafarers’ centres we aim to support seafarers however we can, which may include practical support like helping them come ashore and get a break from the close and often pressured environment on board. We also advocate for them at various levels – international, governmental, or at the company level – to work for more humane working conditions. And we provide pastoral care to encourage them, sharing the hope of the Gospel as we speak with, pray with, and share God’s Word with them.