My Harbour Mission

by Alex Kim

I was born in Korea. Prior to arriving in Canada, I served for eight years as a missionary in the Philippines. While in the Philippines my wife and I experienced an allergic reaction to mosquitoes and red ants and the resulting swelling and pain that I suffered was unbearable.

We came to Canada during my sabbatical year and have now settled here permanently. After arriving, I tried to find a job in ministry but was unsuccessful. However, a positive thing happened when a Korean Pastor with experience in harbour ministry introduced me to Lighthouse Harbour Ministries (LHM).

My early involvement with LHM amazed me. After climbing my first gangway to the deck of a ship, I met crew members who were kind and very approachable. The ships, I thought, were an abundant harvest field. Jesus said: “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

I now feel that God has called me to be a harvester on ships. After a year of serving at the seamen’s mission, I understand that harbour ministry is very different from what I had experienced at Church in the Philippines. There is something different aboard every ship. I feel an atmosphere of depression on some of the ships, while on others there is a sense of warmth. When I visit with sailors (also called seafarers) who follow a religion which is negative towards Christians it is very hard for me to evangelize. However, in contrast, other crews, such as the Chinese, are easy to approach because they listen to God’s words. When I try to approach seafarers such as these they are very receptive and, while on board their ships, they ask me to have tea and/or lunch with them.

From time to time I meet Korean captains and they like to discuss world news and issues in Korea. I often bring them to my house for dinner and have fellowship with them. When I come across a Christian chief cook in the ship’s galley, I am treated to food and coffee. I like Indian food and am able to enjoy this on some of the ships.

Now and then seafarers ask me to pray for their families. When I meet Filipino crew members I connect with them well because of my time spent in their country. Most of the Chinese seafarers do not speak English well but the Holy Spirit helps us to understand each other through our hearts. In contrast, I have found that Burmese seafarers are shy and passive which, I believe, is due to the difficult political situation that exists in their country.

Most seafarers are very kind and receive me well. When I meet a crew member that I have met previously through the Mission, they usually express genuine delight. Often, when visiting with seafarers, I provide them with small gifts such as knitted hats, pens and soap and also share with them Gospel materials like Our Daily Bread and small booklets. Noon is a good time to board the ships because many crew members are available at that time and I then try to share the Gospel effectively. Seamen we bring to the Fraser Surrey Centre usually send email and make long distance telephone calls to their families.

I truly believe in the effectiveness of sharing the Gospel to seafarers who have been at sea for a long time because it is inevitable that they will experience loneliness and homesickness as a result of their time away from home. This provides a good opportunity to build up friendships. We can then share the Gospel with the seafarers.

Seafarers’ mission is incredibly important and an indispensable means for expanding the Kingdom of God. Since I have been involved in this ministry I am not only happy but feel drawn ever closer to the Lord.