BASIC FOUNDATION
The basic foundation of the work has been the profound concern with the spiritual need amongst seamen. Seamen, living in poverty, doing hard labour far away from home. Seamen, from so called "closed" countries, where their government tries to keep out any Word of God. Christian seamen, living in spiritual loneliness, who are in need of support.
The work consist of two main targets:
Encouraging and helping fellow Christians, who are often very lonely on board of their ship.
Spreading the gospel to seamen of any nationality, giving them a way to find peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Beside these main targets we try and offer practical help to seamen, for instance by giving them warm clothes. At the end of the year we hand out many Christmas parcels containing sweets and small gifts, always accompanied by some literature in the won langauage of the seaman. Being disciples of Jesus Christ, we can do something for "the stranger passing through our gate". We provide a list of all the ports, where co-workers from "het Havenlicht/SCFS" visit ships, elsewhere on these pages.
The main aspect of the work for almost 40 years now has been visiting seamen, especially foreign seamen, aboard their ships. These used to be mainly freight carriers, but nowadays we visit the seamen at cruise ships as well.
The Netherlands have 28 seaports, ranging from enormous to quite small. In the port area of Rotterdam, for example, about 30.000 ships a year load and unload. In Zaandam (north of Amsterdam), on the other hand, probably less than 100 ships a year visit the port. Several port missionaries, sometimes assisted by friends or relatives, work in a numder of these ports. The port missionairies are mostly volunteers, doing this work beside their daily work. Some workers are fulltime active in the ports, supported by SCFS England and a circle of friends. The port missionairies visit the ports at all times of the day, at their conveniance. In this way they are able to establish contacts with hundreds of seamen, from literally all corners of the world.
A brief survey of the actual activities: most contacts are short and quick: a leaflet, a St. Johns gospel a CD or DVD is handed out and accepted by the seaman. Often this leads to a conversation, either with a group of people or a personal encounter. The nature of these talks differ from evangelizing to counseling. Many seamen hear the gospel for the first time in their life. Time and again, it is heartwarming to see people opening their heart to the saving message of the gospel.
Very important as well is the encouragement that can be given to Christian brothers amongst the seafarers, by means of sharing, encouraging, practical aid and counseling, and most of all by praying and thanking together, and opening the Bible.
Depending on the nature of the conversation materials are being handed over, usually in the seafarers native language. We prefer handing out complete Bibles, if possible, so the word of God may speak for itself, and thus can be studied by the sailors. Otherwise we hand out parts of the Bible, CD’s, DVD’s (the life of Jesus), Bible courses, study books and correspondence courses. The materials are available in most of the languages we encounter on the ships, which means in dozens of languages. Beside that we hand out broadcasting schedules of Trans World Radio, to help seamen listen to gospel transmissions in their own language when they are out on the open ocean.
WARM CLOTHING
Especially in wintertime, but on other occasions as well, we hand out warm clothing, wollen hats, shoes, coats etc. Beside those we always carry international telefone cards to be sold to the seamen at cost, so they can call their relatives at home. Sometimes seamen are being invited at our workers home addresses, this way we can give them a short time of fellowship. We provide them with transportation so they may attend the Sunday services at the local churches. Often a close contact by mail or phone starts in this way. If these seamen pass through, they call with one of our workers. Mostly a visit follows either on his ship or elsewhere. We get them in touch with co-workers around the world so they can be visited everywhere around the world. This works in two both directions.
Prayermeetings or a Bible study are set up on board of ships. Sometimes a small group of musicians accompany us. Even sometimes services for an entire crew are being arranged.
Seaman staying in hospitals are visited and assisted when they are in need. Letters and packages with material are sent all over the world.
CHRISTMAS PRESENTS
Around December we give away our Christmas presents, this means packing tens or even hundreds of boxes with practical things, like soap, shampoo, shaving cream, tooth paste, calendars, pens & paper. In every box we put a part of the Bible (or even a complete one if available) and a leaflet explaining the meaning of Christmas in their native language. Women all over the country are busy the whole year through with creating woolen hats, these are highly appreciated by the seamen.
We don't keep statistics, but one thing's for sure, the number of contacts we have are in the thousands. We were able to give away hundreds of bibles and lots of other materials. All together between five and ten thousand a year.
CO WORKERS MEETINGS
Once or twice a year we arrange a meeting for all of our co-workers as well as those who are working in the background. We share our experiences, our plans, receive co-workers from other countries. These meetings are also used to learn from each other for example how to approach other cultures.
The basic foundation of the work has been the profound concern with the spiritual need amongst seamen. Seamen, living in poverty, doing hard labour far away from home. Seamen, from so called "closed" countries, where their government tries to keep out any Word of God. Christian seamen, living in spiritual loneliness, who are in need of support.
The work consist of two main targets:
Encouraging and helping fellow Christians, who are often very lonely on board of their ship.
Spreading the gospel to seamen of any nationality, giving them a way to find peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Beside these main targets we try and offer practical help to seamen, for instance by giving them warm clothes. At the end of the year we hand out many Christmas parcels containing sweets and small gifts, always accompanied by some literature in the won langauage of the seaman. Being disciples of Jesus Christ, we can do something for "the stranger passing through our gate". We provide a list of all the ports, where co-workers from "het Havenlicht/SCFS" visit ships, elsewhere on these pages.
The main aspect of the work for almost 40 years now has been visiting seamen, especially foreign seamen, aboard their ships. These used to be mainly freight carriers, but nowadays we visit the seamen at cruise ships as well.
The Netherlands have 28 seaports, ranging from enormous to quite small. In the port area of Rotterdam, for example, about 30.000 ships a year load and unload. In Zaandam (north of Amsterdam), on the other hand, probably less than 100 ships a year visit the port. Several port missionaries, sometimes assisted by friends or relatives, work in a numder of these ports. The port missionairies are mostly volunteers, doing this work beside their daily work. Some workers are fulltime active in the ports, supported by SCFS England and a circle of friends. The port missionairies visit the ports at all times of the day, at their conveniance. In this way they are able to establish contacts with hundreds of seamen, from literally all corners of the world.
A brief survey of the actual activities: most contacts are short and quick: a leaflet, a St. Johns gospel a CD or DVD is handed out and accepted by the seaman. Often this leads to a conversation, either with a group of people or a personal encounter. The nature of these talks differ from evangelizing to counseling. Many seamen hear the gospel for the first time in their life. Time and again, it is heartwarming to see people opening their heart to the saving message of the gospel.
Very important as well is the encouragement that can be given to Christian brothers amongst the seafarers, by means of sharing, encouraging, practical aid and counseling, and most of all by praying and thanking together, and opening the Bible.
Depending on the nature of the conversation materials are being handed over, usually in the seafarers native language. We prefer handing out complete Bibles, if possible, so the word of God may speak for itself, and thus can be studied by the sailors. Otherwise we hand out parts of the Bible, CD’s, DVD’s (the life of Jesus), Bible courses, study books and correspondence courses. The materials are available in most of the languages we encounter on the ships, which means in dozens of languages. Beside that we hand out broadcasting schedules of Trans World Radio, to help seamen listen to gospel transmissions in their own language when they are out on the open ocean.
WARM CLOTHING
Especially in wintertime, but on other occasions as well, we hand out warm clothing, wollen hats, shoes, coats etc. Beside those we always carry international telefone cards to be sold to the seamen at cost, so they can call their relatives at home. Sometimes seamen are being invited at our workers home addresses, this way we can give them a short time of fellowship. We provide them with transportation so they may attend the Sunday services at the local churches. Often a close contact by mail or phone starts in this way. If these seamen pass through, they call with one of our workers. Mostly a visit follows either on his ship or elsewhere. We get them in touch with co-workers around the world so they can be visited everywhere around the world. This works in two both directions.
Prayermeetings or a Bible study are set up on board of ships. Sometimes a small group of musicians accompany us. Even sometimes services for an entire crew are being arranged.
Seaman staying in hospitals are visited and assisted when they are in need. Letters and packages with material are sent all over the world.
CHRISTMAS PRESENTS
Around December we give away our Christmas presents, this means packing tens or even hundreds of boxes with practical things, like soap, shampoo, shaving cream, tooth paste, calendars, pens & paper. In every box we put a part of the Bible (or even a complete one if available) and a leaflet explaining the meaning of Christmas in their native language. Women all over the country are busy the whole year through with creating woolen hats, these are highly appreciated by the seamen.
We don't keep statistics, but one thing's for sure, the number of contacts we have are in the thousands. We were able to give away hundreds of bibles and lots of other materials. All together between five and ten thousand a year.
CO WORKERS MEETINGS
Once or twice a year we arrange a meeting for all of our co-workers as well as those who are working in the background. We share our experiences, our plans, receive co-workers from other countries. These meetings are also used to learn from each other for example how to approach other cultures.
