By Sylvanus OBASI, Lagos
The Mission To Seafarers Lagos Centre has assured seafarers visiting Nigerian seaports that their well-being is adequately catered for spiritually and materially.
This assertion was made recently by the Anglican clerics at a Sea Sunday Service held at All Saints Anglican Church in Lekki Lagos.
Speaking to PLATFORM REPORTERS immediately after the church service, the Bishop of Lagos, Anglican Communion, Rt Rev Ifedola Senasu Gabriel said that Sea Sunday is a significant day for the Anglican Church.
He traced the history of Mission To Seafarers back to the efforts of Rev John Ashely, an Anglican priest who at Bristol saw that seafarers were not being catered for and decided to go into the ships to preach for them, sell Bibles to them and also pray for them; thus birthing what is now known today as Mission to Seafarers in the Anglican Church.
Bishop Ifedola said, “So it means that we care for every soul at sea. This is because they are facing a lot over there such as turbulent waves; unfavourable weather; they are far from their families and different types of things happen to them”.
“So we remember them, we pray for them, we raise funds for them, and at the end of the day, whenever they come to the ashore, we have a place for them in Apapa where we take them to.
“Those that are sick, we give them medical care; those that are hungry, we give them food. Those that are homeless that don’t know what would happen to them, we still give accommodation and help them in one way or the other”, the Bishop said.
Speaking further, the cleric encouraged seafarers to keep doing their good job at sea in moving goods globally. Even as he prayed for God’s continuous protection upon them in the course of their jobs.
Group photo of the Lagos Anglican Bishop with some maritime dignitaries and seafarers that attended the Sea Sunday Service at All Saints Anglican Church, Lekki Lagos last Sunday.
Also speaking at the occasion, the Chaplain, Mission to Seafarers, Rev Canon Francis Aduroja said that Sea Sunday is a significant day to seafarers and to Mission to Seafarers. He disclosed that the Sea Sunday is held in over 200 centres across the world in the Anglican Church.
In his message to seafarers, the chaplain said, “My message to them is to know that they are not forgotten; they are not abandoned. They should know that there are some people outside there that care about them; that pray for them; that are concerned about their wellbeing physically, spiritually and emotionally.
“That is why I have a team of sea visitors. So regularly, we go onboard, meet with them, pray with them if necessary, counsel them, ask them about their wellbeing, their families back at home now. And easily, they open up and we offer necessary support spiritually, materially and otherwise”, he said.
Group photo of some seafarers that attended the Sea Sunday Service at All Saints Anglican Church, Lekki Lagos last Sunday.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Mission to Seafarers, Chief Adebayo Sarumi also added his voice to the message of the day.
According to him, “With over 3000 ships visiting Lagos annually, the MTS Lagos is strategic to seafarers support and can calm the storms in the lives of those invaluable seafarers”.
He revealed that deprivation of seafarers Shore Leave due to imagined perceptions of security have been managed with recent renewed visits of seafarers to the MTS Centre.
He however noted that these visits are trickles compared to the hordes of 6000 seafarers who travel thousands of nautical miles monthly only to experience the joy of a nation eager to receive them from the bows of their ships.
Sarumi used the occasion to call on companies, organisations and individuals to support the work of MTS through donations.
“We therefore eagerly encourage your institutions to include the Mission to Seafarers, Lagos Station in your itinerary of operations and budgets, as this would not only mutually strengthen our social responsibility initiatives, but also greatly improve stewed perceptions”.
Group photo of the Lagos Anglican Bishop with the Awardees and some maritime dignitaries that attended the Sea Sunday Service at All Saints Anglican Church, Lekki Lagos last Sunday.
Highlights of the occasion include Award Presentation to four notable maritime dignitaries in recognition of their immense support to the Mission to Seafarers.
The awardees include Mr Mohammed Bello-Koko, Former Managing Director of NPA; Princess Vicky Haastrup, Vice Chairman, ENL Consortium; Dr Taiwo Afolabi, Group Chairman, SIFAX Group and Mrs Olufunke Agbor, SAN, Senior Partner, Dentons ACAS Law.
Speaking to PLATFORM REPORTERS after the occasion, the awardees said they were highly elated by the honour, and pledged to do more in support of the works of Mission to Seafarers in Lagos.
