Serving those the world rarely sees: Interview

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[ABOVE: Global Maritime Ministries Port Chaplain Meets with Seafarers—Photo by David Rider / Global Maritime Ministries]

Though different from the traditional parish model, maritime ministry continues to be one of the most international, ecumenical, and quietly transformative expressions of Christian care. To explore how this ministry has evolved and why it matters today, Dr. Jason Zuidema, executive director of the North American Maritime Ministry Association (NAMMA), gathered three leaders deeply involved in port chaplaincy: Chaplain Michelle DePooter of the Ministry to Seafarers of the Christian Reformed Church in Montreal; Reverend Stephen McKinney, assistant director of Global Maritime Ministries; and Deacon Paul Rosenblum, port minister for Stella Maris in Charleston. All three have served on NAMMA’s board, shaping national and international collaboration in seafarers’ welfare.

GOD’S LOVE IN THE MARGINS

For Michelle DePooter maritime ministry reflects the gospel’s universality and Jesus’s concern for those often forgotten. “People from all over the world come into the Port of Montreal,” she explained. “We’re able to talk with people from around the world and see their unique differences. You could have ships with many different nationalities. Jesus often ministered to the ones who were forgotten, the ones on the margins. And in many cases, seafarers are still like that. . . . Seafarers are not known. They’re not remembered. But . . . we show them that Jesus remembers and cares.”

Stephen McKinney’s journey began in childhood. “I have an early memory of packing Christmas boxes for seafarers as a child at our church, not knowing that this would be my calling later in life.” He sees the port as a unique place: “As a follower of Christ, we are called to be his witnesses to the ends of the earth. And as we say at the port, we have the ends of the earth coming to us. It’s like the Great Commission in reverse.”

Maritime ministry, for him, is simultaneously compassionate and practical. “We get to be home away from home for men and women who are on the margins, who feel invisible.” And in simple acts of service, he sees transformation. “Meeting needs encourages them, being present gives them hope, helping them to have peace through faith in Christ.”

For Paul Rosenblum the call to maritime ministry came as part of a deeper spiritual shift. Shortly after moving to Charleston, South Carolina, he realized: “I actually had to live out my Christian identity. It was not just a matter of going to Mass every Sunday; I had to take this forward.” 

Seafarers’ ministry became the place where belief and action meet. “I feel we’re making a difference in the lives of people whom we know are invisible to most people,” he said. “We need to say, ‘thank you’ to these men and women, but we also need to live out our lives as disciples and love our neighbor as ourselves.”

FAITH IN FLEETING MOMENTS

What distinguishes maritime chaplaincy from other chaplaincies or parish work is the fleeting nature of encounters. McKinney emphasized this: “Our ministry opportunities may be very short, on a gangway, in a van, in a mess hall. We never know how long we’ll have with them.” Without long-term relationships, chaplains must be “prepared for ministry immediately, because it may be the only opportunity we have to meet the seafarer.”

“With other chaplaincies people are there for a specific length of time,” DePooter explained. But in port, “we might just have a few moments to meet them in that need.” Seafarers may arrive in joy—“they’ve just been promoted”—or heartbreak—“finding out that somebody has passed away at home.” 

In her words maritime chaplains often help someone take only the “zero to one” step in faith, trusting that “another port, another chaplain, will walk with them” further. This fragmentation requires trust in God’s providence. “We don’t necessarily see how the seeds that we plant grow to fruition,” DePooter said, “and we have to trust that God has them.”

A TRADITION OF SERVICE

Each chaplain reflected on how their organization’s history shapes their work. McKinney, whose organization recently celebrated 60 years, sees history as evidence of God’s continued provision. “It is just a testimony of God’s faithfulness, that this ministry is still thriving. When challenges come up, we don’t have to worry that God will provide.”

After reflecting on her mission’s history, DePooter saw “times when everything should have just collapsed, but it didn’t.” 

For her the memory of earlier generations strengthens present commitment: “We’re here because of the people who have gone before; what they put in place so many years ago continues at its core.”

Rosenblum’s reflection reached back even further. “Star of the Sea [Stella Maris] is one of the oldest names for the Virgin Mary, as early as the second or third century,” he noted. The Catholic chaplains of Stella Maris, founded in 1921, continue this long-standing devotion. “To be part of an organization that has a long history gives us grounding. We are following in the footsteps of many others who saw this as an important ministry.”

ONE AT SEA, ONE IN CHRIST

All three chaplains emphasized that maritime ministry is inherently ecumenical—and must be. DePooter spoke of the richness of working across traditions. “We might express ourselves differently,” she said, “but at the heart of it, we worship the same God. If we’re not able to work together then how can we respect and interact with seafarers who come from so many different backgrounds?”

McKinney stressed humility. “Despite our differences, we are united in Christ, united in expressing Christ’s love to the seafarers. I know there are others doing the same in their ports; we’re better together.”

“If you want to look at a model for ecumenical relationships that the entire church world could look at, then seafarers’ ministry is one of those,” Rosenblum added. For him maritime ministry shows what Christian unity can look like in practice: “We put aside differences to serve a common purpose. That’s what the church is supposed to be.” CH 

By Jason Zuidema

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