Ministry News This year's banquet was a great success!  Thanks to all who attended, and to all who contributed to make the event possibe.  The next banquet will be held at Wayne Presbyterian Church on March 12th at 5:00 pm. This year's Christmas Ditty Bag project is under way.  We will be packing bags at the Seamen's Church Institute at 10:00 am on December 13th.  If you would like to help, please call or email the Mission Office to let us know.  If you would like to make a donation, $10.00 will provide the contents of one bag, with items such as sweatshirts, hats, and warm gloves.

The Mission to Chinese Seamen is a Christian Evangelical Mission reaching out to Far East Seamen in the port of Philadelphia

To Make Christ Known to Far East Seafarers

To Help Christian Seafarers Grow Spiritually

The Mission to Chinese Seamen (MCS) reaches out to seafarers from many nations right here at the port of Philadelphia.  Merchant Seamen typically spend ten months or more each year on board ship and only two months in their home country with family and friends.  The life of a seafarer is often lonely, monotonous and many times dangerous.  Seamen are truly a forgotten people group because they are an international population constantly on the move. 

The ministry of MCS focuses on Far East seafarers, particularly those of Chinese ethnicity because of the restrictions against preaching the gospel in their home country.  Seafarers of Chinese heritage also make up a large percentage of the world’s merchant seamen.  It is estimated that 80% of the world’s merchant seamen are Asians.

The Mission to Chinese Seamen seeks to make the most of the opportunity God has provided by bringing these Chinese crewmembers literally to our doorstep at the ports of Philadelphia and Camden.  Our overall goals in ministry are:

·          Making Christ Known to Far East Seafarers

·          Helping Christian Seafarers Grow Spiritually

We fulfill this mission by sharing the Word of God and the love of Christ.

The Mission to Chinese Seamen is a faith prayer ministry dependent upon contributions from mission supporters.

John Stott challenges all Christians who live in the 21st century.  He says, "it is always very important to find new and effective ways to preach the Gospel."

The Mission to Chinese Seamen fits this new globalized context in the 21st century.  We can contribute to world mission through seamen's ministry.  Dr. Kverndal, who is a prestigious maritime missionary, said "Seamen's mission is the frontier of all mission.  If seafarers participate in world mission, world mission can be advanced."

The souls of over one million seafarers in the waving seas are agonizing under the chain of sins.  Yet the church bells do not sound loud enough to reach the last frontier of the sea.  Those people of the sea should not be deprived of the gospel.  The sea is a mission field.

In light of this, we appeal to churches and committed Christians everywhere to respond to the urgent need and providential opportunity offered by today's maritime fields.  We must remember that the whole Gospel can never be brought to the whole world, so long as the world of seafarers is not reached.  We have pledged ourselves to "proclaim Christ until He comes." But only by enlisting the unique witness of the Church maritime can we expect the glory of the Lord to completely" cover the earth - as the waters cover the sea!"