Life as a seafarer is often lonely, dangerous, and physically demanding. Christian Reformed chaplains have long been reaching out to this marginalized workforce through ministries in the ports of Vancouver and Montreal.
Devotional for Seafarers
Now they have partnered with ReFrame Media, the English ministry of Back to God Ministries International (BGTMI), to produce a seafarers edition of Today, a new devotional to encourage seafarers far from home. BGTMI is the media ministry of the Christian Reformed Church.
Jason Zuidema of the Ministry to Seafarers Centre in Montreal wrote the devotions specifically for seafarers using familiar concepts and words. Each devotional has the Scripture reading printed out in full.
The format is similar to the Today devotional booklet that graces the homes of many CRC members in North America.
The initial English-language printing is 10,000 booklets, half for Vancouver and half for Montreal, all of which will be distributed by hand. The hope is that this will become a bi-monthly publication and that the devotionals will be printed in many languages. Many seafarers come from the Philippines, China, or Russia.
Vancouver and Montreal port chaplains and volunteers speak to seafarers from all over the world, often about issues of the heart. Often they are able to make a positive impact on people’s lives.
About the Author
Brenda Visser is the Banner's regional news correspondent for classis Eastern Canada.
