By Jack L. Rozdilsky, York University – The Conversation As the scope of the Aug. 4 explosion at the port of Beirut becomes clear, the tolls of the loss of life, injuries, homelessness and property damage are staggering. In the immediate chaos of large explosions, it can be difficult to make sense of what has happened. There […]
By Maia VanderMeer, Banner It’s Friday afternoon, July 24, and Michelle DePooter-Francis is on her way to Walmart to pick up items requested by seafarers restricted to their ships. DePooter-Francis is lead chaplain of the Ministry to Seafarers, a mission in the Port of Montreal, and a commissioned pastor with the Christian Reformed Church. On this […]
by Susan Huppert, NAMMA The Lighthouse Harbour Ministries in the port of Vancouver, British Columbia sees itself as the evangelical outcome of God’s work among committed communities with an eternal purpose. This mission understands its mandate: to love and honor God by serving the seafarers of the world in word and deed. Incorporated in 1981, […]
By Jason Zuidema, NAMMA I have been looking forward to writing this list for a long time. I love podcasts – listening to great audio is one of my favourite pastimes. Though we might think of the 21st century as a time of the image or the screen, it is equally, I think, the golden […]
By Susan Huppert, NAMMA Shared experiences enable us to care about others. We connect with others if we can personally relate with their experience. Such was the case when Anglican priest, Steven Gilbert, started a mission to seafarers in Sarnia, Ontario, in 1983. His son was a seafarer. Communication is crucial to meeting needs. So […]
By Rev Un Tay, Senior Chaplain, Mission to Seafarers – Sydney, Australia Shopping for Seafarers Many of you know by now that despite the lockdown we have been very busy serving the seafarers calling at our Port. Though we have stopped our bus pickup services at the different terminals, we have commenced a new type […]
The International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN), and the International Christian Maritime Association (ICMA), with their respective memberships of concerned shipping companies and seafarers’ ministries in Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas, encourage governments and the maritime industry to continue to work together to facilitate crew changes for seafarers around the world. Seafarers are […]
By Susan Huppert, NAMMA Between the grain fields of western Canada and continents across the Atlantic rests a small port where industry experts balance grain supplies and global demands. As of June 30, the Thunder Bay Port Authority reports exports are up seven percent over last year. Thunder Bay boasts the fastest ship turnaround time […]
By Dr. Jason Zuidema, Executive Director, NAMMA (Montreal, Quebec) with Kevin Walker, Executive Assistant, NAMMA (Halifax, NS) Introduction Since the early 19th century, faith-based, not-for-profit organizations have existed in ports in Canada to help visiting seafarers with whatever needs they have. Over the years, those needs have continually changed. At the end of the 19th […]
By Susan Huppert, NAMMA It seems seldom that we hear true stories of sacrificial concern for others, but when a Canadian business man, Paul Tremblay, decided to study English, his eyes were opened to far more than a language class. A rare but true story began. The great north has been harvesting its natural resources […]
