Port of Hope Canada
Time and again captains tell me, "You are the only one who comes to us and spends time with us
A Unique Chaplain Ministry to Seafarers
Imagine saying, "I work here."
Considering a ministry career change?
Circumstances keep you from returning overseas? Thrive on cultural, political, linguistic and religious diversity?
Then grab your hard hat and hi-viz vest and be a cross-cultural chaplain to "those who go down to sea in ships"...
the international seafarers who arrive at the Lower Mainland.
You'll love these guys!
Port of Hope Canada is an evangelical chaplain ministry to the seafarers on cargo vessels that routinely arrive at the Fraser-Surrey Docks in Surrey, BC. It is unique among ministries to seafarers.
~ Port of Hope Ministries maintains the high tradition of Christian charity and ethics as it serves everyone without regard to race, nationality, rating or rank, religion or personal lifestyle.
Most of the men we serve are Indian, Sri Lankan, Filipino and East European.
And we've been serving seafarers here since 2003.
Our strategy
About Port of Hope
is to maximize our ministry effort by:
~ building strong, ongoing relationships with seafarers by
~ building a long-term presence on vessels that
~ return regularly to our port, on which we face
~ the fewest language obstacles and
~ least cultural resistance so we can
~ openly serve the practical and spiritual needs of all seafarers,
~ present Christ in an appropriate and respectful manner, and
~ seek out and encourage Christians.
Our strategy
A seafarer looked down and said to me,
"We belong everywhere, yet we belong nowhere. The world doesn't even know we exist."
Chaplaincy
~ We serve with the permission of the Captain and agent. We serve highly educated men who work in a dangerous profession. We serve on their deck and in their home and workplace.
~ Our first task is genuine care and compassion toward all crewmen. We give respectful emotional, physical, and spiritual care regardless of their rank, social position, nationality, personal beliefs or lifestyle.
~ We build relationships with seafarers. Those relationships lead to honest conversations about life, families, work, our own struggles, values and faith. Sometimes talking about faith leads to a timely and appropriate opportunity to share our faith story, Christian life-values, the many messages of Jesus Christ and Him as Saviour...always done with respect and courtesy.
I often hear the captain say, "You are the only one who comes and visits us.
Thank you for coming to our ship."
Men of Peace
We serve men who love and devoutly follow the great world religions. Every man's faith is dear to him. Most would die for their faith. But a man can only know the God of Jesus when he knows his own God. Only then can he change his heart. That's why we strive to become “Men of Peace” with seafarers.
This is why we go to "repeat vessels." It takes time to become Men of Peace. We let them explain their beliefs and we respect their faith as their intelligent decision. We listen and learn from their spiritual journeys. We exchange thoughts and ideas about life, spirituality and God. We encourage each other in basic faith, morality and integrity and allow them to teach us. We are friends, free to share our heart.
Then, following the example of Jesus and Nicodemus, we share Christ...friend to friend to a listening heart in an appropriate, timely and respectful manner…man to man and heart to heart as Men of Peace.
And we look forward to talking, “messaging” and meeting again as friends and fellow "journeymen."
I asked a Burnese Christian officer, "If I have tem minutes left on the ship, who do I visit...a Christian or a non-Christian?" He said, "The Christian. He may be ready to give up."
Port Chaplain to International Seafarers
Port of Hope Ministries Canada, an evangelical ministry to international seafarers, is looking for a three-quarter-time to full-time port chaplain to make onboard visits to seafarers on cargo ships at the Fraser-Surrey Docks in Surrey, British Columbia.
This position would be ideal for someone…
looking for a ministry career change or transition to a chaplain and cross-cultural ministry...who already has financial support but is looking for change...who has served in overseas ministry but is unable to return for various reasons.
The candidate must be a self-starter. He must be a keen administrator and the harshest critic of his own work. Ingenuity in ministry is essential. Port of Hope has never been a "run of the mill" ministry.
General duties and responsibilities
The chaplain will be responsible to monitor ship arrivals and make consistent visits to “his” select cargo vessels. (Approximately 10 vessels, each of which routinely returns to Canada every 6 to 12 weeks.) Please note: this ministry has a very steep learning curve. Training will be OJT and one-on-one. The chaplain will be expected to adapt and "come on board" rapidly.
The chaplain will be expected to build an ongoing presence on these vessels by visiting them each time they return and where possible build and maintain friendships through social media.
The chaplain will eventually be encouraged to expand his ministry to other maritime and port opportunities at the Docks or on the Fraser River. As well, Port of Hope Ministries is legally allowed to minister to members of the private security industry.
The chaplain will be expected to raise his own personal support and ministry operating expenses. Because of the effort to raise support and at least two years to establish himself in the ministry, this should be viewed as a long-term commitment.
About Port of Hope Ministries Canada
Port of Hope Ministries Canada is a British Columbia Society and federally recognized Registered Charity (Registration No: 860879808RR0001) located in Fort Langley, BC. We have served international seafarers at Fraser-Surrey Docks since 2003.
Job description
Is this for you? (The fine print)
Is this for you?
Our chaplaincy is a very special calling and style of ministry. We need a down-to-earth man who is more comfortable on the work site with working men than on a platform with the saints. Dress code: hard hat, hi-viz vest and steel-toed boots. Must be a self-starter and keen administrator of your their work.
This is a ministry of presence, care and compassion and almost 180 degrees different than evangelism, missions or preaching. Chaplaincy is not “spiritual results” oriented…it is “care and compassion of Christ” oriented. Please review our two foundations of ministry: Our Strategy and Men of Peace.
Education and training
The hallmark of a Christian chaplain is first and foremost genuine gentleness and compassion toward everyone.
Bible training is necessary but seafarers are not theologians. The chaplain must accurately yet simply share the Gospel in a timely and respectful manner. (Jeremiah 9:24, Romans 3:23 and 6:23, Ephesians 1:7, 1 Corinthians 15:2-4, 1 Peter 3:15)
The chaplain must be able to blend Biblical values and counsel for everyday situations into his conversations, and sincerely “rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn.” (Romans 12:15)
The chaplain must be able to appreciate the faith and “Godward-ness” of nearly all men, walk beside them in their spiritual journey and draw them one step closer to Jesus.
The ministry is in English but the chaplain will be expected to learn and use “ship English” in general conversation as well as learn basic greetings and social graces in several languages. His greatest school for learning about other cultures and religions is the seafarer himself.
What now?
Send an email or call me. We will talk more about the ministry and your interests and ministry vision.
If it looks good we will move ahead with more information from you and let you learn about Port of Hope.
Then we will make a ship visit followed by an interview with our Directors.
Once accepted we will begin training and getting you self-sufficient in the ministry.
Without a doubt, these are some of the nicest guys you'll ever meet.
They've sacrificed so much to provide a better life for their family.
Chaplain Phil DuFrene
Port of Hope Canada
Box 621
Fort Langley, BC V1M 2R9
Mobile: 360-510-5123
or 604-855-1311
Email: pdufrene@portofhope.org
or immediate email: ramansdad@hotmail.com
Facebook: Search: "Phil DuFrene" and look for this thumbnail photo (not the dog!)
and seafarers page at "Port of Hope 7"
Contact
"If I had another chaplain we could serve another 10 repeat vessels...that's a potential of serving 230 men every seven to eight weeks...and always a few new men at each arrival."