This month I'll give you a snapshot of recent ship visits at the four Port of Hope ministry locations.


Cap Haitian, Haiti: Judgment Day
We chuckled over the May 21 Judgment Day, but for many it was a worrisome day. God can use false prophesiers.

During the week of May 21 the SEA STAR was at Cap Haitian. Pastor Raphael visited it and met Nikolai, a Honduran crewman. Nikolai was afraid of God's judgment on Judgment Day because of some sins in his life.

Raphael showed him Matthew 24:36: No one knows the time of Christ's return. When he was presented the Gospel of forgiveness, Nikolai accepted Jesus. Pastor Raphael gave him a new Spanish Bible.

Pastor Raphael doesn't know when the ship will be back. Nikolai is in God's care now.


Fraser-Surrey Docks (FSD), Surrey, BC:   What did I accomplish?
I almost missed the arrival of the SANTIAGO EXPRESS. It was already in port! The agent sent a quick email to get me on board. The crew was Indian and they were in the middle of changing captains.

After the visit I wondered, "Did this trip accomplish anything?" I didn't meet any of the Christian crewmen and had no 'spiritual' discussions. I had lunch with both captains and will meet the new captain again in 10 weeks. And everyone I had conversations with will be on board when they return.

I gave a crewman a new Tamil-language Bible. When asked if his family was Christian he said, "Hmm…they were about 60 years ago." A seed is planted.

Last Sunday evening I returned to FSD to visit the HANSA RENDSBURG. What a joy to share the assurance of salvation with two Christian Filipino cadets and "pray them on their way".

Fort Pierce, Florida:  Building relationships with ships
Chaplain Rick has rallied his church to serve the crew of the ABACO TREASURE. They collected a large box of videos and DVDs for them and raised funds to purchase a Bible for each man. They also raised funds for a Bar-B-Que in June followed by a visit to the National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum in Ft. Pierce.

Way to go, Rick! He's now looking for openings with the port's tugboat fleet.


Georgetown, Guyana: When not to get involved!
Chaplain Darrio visits four ships in Georgetown and shares Christ with the security guards. He takes his Internet computer on board so seafarers can contact their families and friends by e-mail and Facebook.

Sometimes he's overwhelmed by the plight of the seafarers. Last week the men on a ship complained they were not getting paid. Would he contact the International Transport Workers' Federation for them?

It's not a good idea for a chaplain to get in the middle of someone's salary dispute. He prayed with them that God would intervene and move the ship's owner's heart to pay their salaries.

   Flashback: In 2004 I went to Guyana to initiate the recording of the JESUS Film in Guyanese Creole. It was
   recorded last year and broadcast on TV this Easter. Five hundred people attended the premiere on May 26,
   Guyana's Independence Day. Darrio was the film's narrator and his wife, Kathleen, was the dialogue director
   for the recording. Kathleen will have surgery on June 8th and will be hospitalized for four days. Pray for her.


Well, there you have it.
Thank you for being a part of this ministry through your prayers, gifts and encouragement. Your financial help is so appreciated. You keep these ministries moving ahead.

As you can see, there is a lot to pray for:
   Raphael and Nikolai,
   our brief contacts at FSD through Debbie and me and the local volunteer chaplains,
   Rick and the Bar-B-Que, and
   Darrio's ministry, Kathleen and the JESUS Film in Guyanese Creole English.

Very sincerely yours in Christ,



Phil DuFrene
Director, Port of Hope Ministries