
NAMMA Regions 2025
Introduction: For 2025, NAMMA is shifting from a single central conference to a series of regional seafarers’ welfare meetings, each uniquely tailored to the pressing needs and interests of its area. These gatherings will foster collaboration among NAMMA members and partners from ports, industry, and labor groups, uniting efforts to tackle challenges in seafarers’ welfare, like shore leave, cruise ship crew care, port access, mental health, wellness, partnerships, fundraising, spiritual care or whatever issues are relevant to those gathered. These regional meetings are more than discussions—they are opportunities for meaningful connection, inspiration, and mutual support, where we strengthen our shared commitment to enhancing the lives of seafarers.
Invitation: Any chaplain, ship visitor, staff, board member, volunteer or partner can register for these regional meetings. Registration is free. Thank you to local members and partners for their support.
Developing Dates/Program in 2025 (more dates/locations and program notes to be added)
February 27 – Houston, TX (area: West Gulf)
Location: Houston International Seafarers’ Center (9750 High Level Road, Houston, Texas, 77029)
Program: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.
- 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. – Lunch (provided)
- 1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. – Session 1 – Best Practices to Start or Renew a Seafarers’ Mission
- Welcome on behalf of the NAMMA Board of Directors – Sharon Emerson (NAMMA Board Member / Executive Director, Corpus Christi Seafarers’ Center)
- “How to Revive a Struggling Seafarers’ Center: Lessons from the United Kingdom” – Alex Campbell, CEO, Queen Victoria Seamen’s Rest, London, UK
- “Lessons for a Successful Gala Dinner Fundraiser” – Dana Blume, Executive Director, Houston International Seafarers’ Center
- “Texas Port Ministry: volunteer and staff recruitment and retention” – Rev. Chris Moore, Executive Director, Texas Port Ministries
- 2:30 p.m. – 3 p.m. – Coffee Break
- 3 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. – Session 2 – “For Those In Peril on the Sea”
- “The Impacts of the Red Sea Crisis on Shipping” – Prof. Dr. Max Johns, Hamburg School of Business Administration / Swiss Shipowners’ Association
- “NAMMA and ICMA: Updates on Advocacy and Our Coordinated Voice” – Dr. Jason Zuidema (NAMMA)
- 4:45 p.m. – 5 p.m. – Prayer – “For Those in Peril on the Sea” (a special time of remembrance for seafarers captured, threatened, abandoned, and who have died while at sea in the past year)
- 5 p.m. – Drinks and Dinner
- 6 p.m. – end
March 3 – Charleston, SC (area: Morehead City, NC to Brunswick, GA) – 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Location: Rooms 328 and 329 of Hugh K. Leatherman Terminal, Bldg. 2300 (South Carolina Ports Authority) 1500 Port Access Rd., North Charleston, SC 29405
Program: 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- 9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. – Session 1
- Welcome: Dcn. Paul Rosenblum (Stella Maris – Charleston / NAMMA president)
- Capt. John Reed, Port Operations Manager (A.P. Møller – Maersk)
- (Invited) representatives of maritime community and industry
- 10:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. – Coffee Break
- 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Session 2 – Advocacy for Seafarers: Best Practices and Support
- Moderator: Corey Connor (ITF Inspector)
- 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. – Lunch (provided)
- 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. – Session 3 – Learning from our Network
- NAMMA Member Round-Table (each ministry present is asked to prepare 5-7 min presentation on current work and challenges)
- Moderator: Dr. Jason Zuidema (NAMMA)
- 3 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. – Coffee Break
- 3 p.m. – 4:00p.m. – Session 4 –
- (to be confirmed) visit to the recently built seafarers’ center inside the Hugh K. Leatherman Terminal
- Closing Prayer
March 4 – Canaveral, Florida (area: Florida) – 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (lunch provided)
Location: Meeting room at East Coast Christian Center, 680 N. Courtenay Pkwy Merritt Island, FL
Program: 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- 9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. – Session 1
- Welcome
- 10:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. – Coffee Break
- 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Session 2
- NAMMA Member Round-Table (updates from members and discussion of common challenges)
- Dr. Jason Zuidema (NAMMA)
- 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. – Lunch (provided)
- 1 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. – Session 3
- Eric White (ITF Inspector)
- 2:15 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. – Coffee Break
- 2:45 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. – Session 4
- 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. – visit to the Canaveral Port Ministry (Canaveral Port Ministry, 8907 N Atlantic Ave, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920)
- 4:15 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. – Prayer
April 2 – Stamford, CT (area: North-East US)
Location: Meeting room in Hilton Stamford Hotel, 1 First Stamford Pl, Stamford, CT 06902
Program: start 9 a.m.
- Session 1
- Coffee Break (access to exhibitor area of the CMA Shipping Conference)
- Session 2
- 12:00 p.m. – Lunch (provided)
- after lunch (access to exhibitor area of the CMA Shipping Conference)
May 13 – Vancouver, BC (area: Canada West Coast / North-East USA) – 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Location: The Mission to Seafarers, 401 E Waterfront Rd, Vancouver, BC V6A 4G9
Program: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- 9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. – Session 1
- Welcome and Introductions
- SafeTALK course (part 1) – Rev. Joshua Messick (The Mission to Seafarers)
- 10:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. – Coffee Break
- 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Session 2
- SafeTALK course (part 2) – Rev. Joshua Messick (The Mission to Seafarers)
- 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. – Lunch (provided)
- 1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. – Session 3
- Round-Table (updates from members and partners, discussion of common challenges)
- 2:30 p.m. – 3 p.m. – Coffee Break
- 3 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. – Session 4
- “Seafarers’ Welfare Provision in Vancouver: History and Lessons Learned” Dr. Jason Zuidema (NAMMA)
- Conclusions and Discussion
- 4:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. – Prayer in Chapel
- 5:00 p.m. – Dinner (provided)
September 9 – New Orleans, LA (area: Gulf Coast – Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama) – 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Location: Global Maritime Ministries, 3635 Tchoupitoulas St, New Orleans, LA 70115
Theme: “Vision: What can we do to support seafarers’ welfare for a next generation?”
Program: 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- 8 a.m. – Breakfast
- 9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. – Session 1 – Expanding the Vision: Promoting Partnerships to Serve Seafarers
- Dr. Jason Zuidema (NAMMA)
- Phil Schifflin, Esq. (Center for Mariner Advocacy – The Seamen’s Church Institute)
- Dwayne Boudreaux (ITF inspector – Gulf Coast)
- (Invited) Coast Guard representative
- 10:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. – Coffee Break
- 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Session 2 – Attracting a Next Generation: Best Practices in Recruitment and Retention of Staff and Volunteers
- Dcn. John Archer (Stella Maris Mobile, AL)
- Rev. Philip Vandercook (Global Maritime Ministries, NOLA)
- 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. – Lunch (provided)
- 1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. – Session 3 – Sharing Our Vision: Cultivating Donors and Supporters
- Rev. Stephen McKinney (Global Maritime Ministries, NOLA)
- Others to be invited
- 2:30 p.m. – 3 p.m. – Coffee Break
- 3 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. – Session 4 – Discussion groups and Closing Prayer
[Oct 6-9 – ICMA World Conference – Barcelona, Spain]
To be confirmed.
(with CMAC meeting in Ottawa)
Sponsorship Information
Contact: executivedirector@namma.org




