Jacksonville Port Ministries

“ The Bridge” is moving to quarterly editions beginning with this Spring edition. We will be publishing Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter editions during 2010.

Security continues to be a “front burner” at the port. With increased security, our port chaplains have become more essential than ever! No one can have access or pass through the port without a Transportation Workers Identity Card (TWIC) or be escorted by an official escort with a TWIC card. All of our port chaplains are qualified as “Escorts” transporting seafarers with shore passes and visas from the ships to the International Seafarer Centers and off port shopping. That has resulted in increased schedules and putting many more miles on our vans.

Seafarers tell us how much they appreciate our willingness to transport them from the ships and are so happy to get relief from being stuck onboard for long periods of time. Anyone who has been at sea for any amount of time knows how good it is to get off the ship for a short time. Our commitment is that no seafarer with a shore pass will be left on a ship if we can help it!

Easter is April 4 th. “He is not here, but is risen . . .” (Luke 24: 6a) The message of Easter is that Christ died, has risen, is making intercession for us and will come again! Our port chaplains are blessed to share with seafarers that Christ loves them. Out of that love he paid the penalty for their sins as he died on the cross. He was resurrected from the dead and is the only living Savior in the world today. His desire is to be invited into their lives!

Thank you for your prayers and continued support. 

2010 Seafarer Christmas Gift Project
Each year we give Christmas gifts to international seafarers.  For many of them this is the only Christmas gift they will receive.  Here is how you can participate.

Collect the following items and put them in a shoe box, wrap the box with Christmas wrap and mail or deliver to:                                                   
Bob Loy, Jacksonville Port Ministries                   
 Jacksonville Baptist Association                              
2700 University Blvd. S.
Jacksonville, Florida 32216-2557

 

Bar of Soap	Shaving Cream
Deodorant	Comb
Washcloth	English Bible or Gospel Tract
Toothbrush	Small Writing Pad & Pen
Toothpaste	Church Bulletin
Razor	Christmas Card

 

What does candy, coffee and prayer have in common?—Port Chaplain Charis Williams

An opportunity to be a blessing presented itself as  I was passing out candy to the crew on the cruise ship. One of the crew members called me over to the table where he was having coffee before going on duty and asked me is to pray a prayer of blessing for him.  It was his 43rd birthday and he wanted a blessing from God. I prayed asking the Lord Jesus to give him a special blessing and a safe day at work on this his birthday. After the prayer we continued talking and he called some of his co-workers to join us as I shared some spiritual resources with them. 

You never know when the opportunity will present itself to be a blessing to someone. When the opportunity comes, just do it!

 

 

International Airport Chapel

 

Due to renovations to the airport terminal in recent months, the chapel has not been open. We hope to have it open soon.

 

Chapel provided by the Jacksonville Port Ministries.

 

Little things mean a lot!—Port Chaplain Mary Reagan

Accidents happen from time to time at the port. After an accident a port worker came into the International Seafarer Center very emotionally “shook up.”  He asked if we had a prayer room. What a blessing it was to have prayer with him in the chapel.

Many of the seafarers have laptop computers. We have wireless internet service in the International Seafarer Center. Recently a seafarer came into the center with a new computer which he did not know how to operate. I called my nephew and he was able to get the seafarer on line. One happy seafarer!

Two port workers were trying to stop smoking. Each day they would come to the International Seafarer Center where I had the opportunity to encourage them to not smoke a cigarette that day. Good news! One of them has not had a cigarette in three weeks and the other four weeks! Please pray they will continue to stop smoking.

I praise God for the opportunity He gives me to be a blessing to seafarers.

 

DVD Duplicator

We need a CD/DVD duplicator that will copy several discs at one time. Contact Bob, 904.727.6800 or bloy@jaxbaptist.org

 

Prayer Need

There are 400 seafarers from 25 countries being held hostage in Somalia. Please pray for their immediate release.

 

2010 Seafarer Christmas Gifts
Church / Individual	City / State
Northside	Plant City, FL

 

 

 

 

 

 

2010 Ministry Report
Activity	MAR - JUL	YTD
Ships Visited	650	925
Decisions for Christ	10	13

 

Please remember to pray for Chaplain or their Spouse on their Birthday

 

  

 

 

 

   

home - bridge - contact - involvement - ministry - club anchor - resource links - volunteers