While Christians nationwide wrestle to find ways to help settle immigrants coming across our national borders, a handful of Presbyterians in Texas carry out a little noticed outreach to short-term foreign workers. Seafarers, those sailors who transport cargo and fuel from country to country, are greeted by Ben Stewart and David Wells, Presbyterian pastors who serve as chaplains at the Howard T. Tellepsen Seafarers Center in Houston. The Seafarers Center, sponsored by the Presbytery of New Covenant, is the only ministry of its kind in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
“The men and women who sail these ships come from all over the world, and [in] many ships one encounters many different nationalities working together to transport the world’s goods to the world’s ports,” says Stewart. Port chaplains who visit the ships offer hospitality and care to the seafarers catching a few hours’ break between tours of service that last as long as a year at a time. “It is the only ministry I know of where a Christian is regularly welcomed by Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and even non religious folk.”
Wells recalls the appreciation one seafarer from India expressed to him: “I became a Christian this year because a chaplain helped me when I had many problems on a ship. He helped me with my problem, said a prayer for me and gave me a video about Jesus. I learned that Christianity is a religion that really helps other people and is not just personal worship.”
Presbyterian churches in the Houston area often send small groups to join with the chaplains in serving their short-term visitors. They bring desserts and snacks to share. Mostly the seafarers enjoy the conversations.
