Mission to Seafarers – One Small Box

This reflection was written by Jayne Preston, a lay worship leader in the parish, and delivered at Saint Luke's on Sunday 20 September 2026. I enjoyed reading Jayne's talk and thought many of you would enjoy reading it too. If you would like more information about 'One Small Box' please contact Jayne.

Well, the time of year has come around once again when the chart for collection items for the mission to seafarers has gone up on the wall. So, I thought I would research and give you an insight into the work of the Mission to Seafarers and the countries that they cover.
 
The mission to seafarers provides help and support to the 1.89 million crewmen and women from across the world who face danger every day to keep our global economy afloat.

A seafarer is defined as anyone who works onboard a seagoing ship.  Seafarers are responsible for transporting over 90% of the world’s goods and fuels, making them essential key workers who often go unrecognized by the general population; collectively there are an estimated 1.89 million seafarers across the world operating on 74,000 ships.

​The number of seafarers equates to about twice the population of Cyprus. These men and women of all nationalities and beliefs spend up to 9 months at sea, far from families, friends and loved ones. The mission to seafarers have over 200 plus ports in 50 countries operating day and night, 365 days a year.
 
Seafaring remains one of the world’s most dangerous occupations, with piracy, shipwrecks and abandonment, all adding to the problems that seafarers face. Coupled with these everyday hazards they now have the major additional problem of the war in the middle east blocking the straits of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf blocking movement and bombing ships.
 
With a history dating back to 1856, The mission to Seafarers supports the men and women working at sea when they are needed the most, as they experience loneliness and mental health issues, combined with limited access to the internet on board ships. In addition to loneliness and mental health issues, many seafarers often endure money worries, with the average Filipino seafarer sometimes supporting up to 15 family members on their one wage alone.
 
A lack of facilities available to the seafarers often exacerbates these issues. External communications only have limited access, also there are a limited number of ships with exercise facilities on board, although this is improving as new ships are built.
 
In port seafarers rely on Mission to Seafarers chaplains to transport them to the nearest Seafarers centre or local leisure facilities. The seafarers’ centres spread across 50 countries aim to provide Seafarers with: 
 
Access to Wi Fi and SIM cards
A comfortable place to rest and relax
The chance to get food and toiletries
Transport to shops and local amenities.
 
It is not just practical support the mission offers. They need emotional and frequently spiritual support as well. There is a large network of Port chaplains who come on board ships, giving seafarers a listening ear and offering prayer, if needed, and they can also connect seafarers to other organisations, or speak to them on their behalf. The mission is to care for the shipping industry’s most important asset: Its people
 
Throughout the long and distinguished history, the Mission to Seafarers has grown to become one of the largest sea port-based welfare operators in the world.
 
Ports
The mission to Seafarers work in 200  ports in 50 countries all over the world including Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Australia, Canada, East Asia, Europe, the Middle East and South Asia, Oceana, Latin America and the Caribean,  the USA.
 
Here in Cyprus the Port in in Limassol, and Reverand John Attenborough who has worked for 30 years with the Mission to Seafarers is the Regional director for the Eastern Mediterranean, the Middle East, UAE, Bahrain,  and South East Asia and India. I spoke to Revd John about the situation in the Cyprus and the gulf and he told me generally ships into Limassol port are in and out in 3 days, and Limassol is different to other ports in the areas he covers as it  is the only port with any kind of welfare, so seafarers welcome coming into Limassol where they can get what they need and get refreshed.  He said he is reminded of St Paul when he got shipwrecked on Malta and the locals showed unusual kindness.
 
The Middle East is a problem with the missiles and the blocking of ships in the gulf.  He told me that the piracy in Somalia could be looked out for but the missiles were the unknown. When going off the ships in port in the middle east, the seafarers continue to wear their protective headwear.
 
The position in the middle east has of course had a major impact globally and financially. Our Contribution to the Mission to Seafarers. Cyprus contributed last year about 200 boxes at Christmas.

Well that’s the facts - but imagine being stuck on a ship away from your family, your country, no money, no internet, limited or no leisure facilities and feeling very lonely at Christmas. And when you are at your lowest you are given a small box wrapped in Christmas paper. You take it back to your berth and open it to find;
 
A warm hat
A pair of fingerless gloves
A warm pair of socks
A tube of toothpaste
A brand new toothbrush
A bottle of shower Gel
A bottle of shampoo
Some deodorant
A bar of soap
And a bar of chocolate.
 
Just one small box from someone you will never meet, but gives you a little luxury, comfort, and some Christmas cheer at a lonely and difficult time.
I think giving a gift to someone anonymously  who you don’t know but know that they will enjoy that gift sums up the spirit of Christmas given.
 
As in  Pauls 2nd letter to the Corinthians chapter 29 verse 9, The people rejoiced because they had given willingly. Or in Matthew 6:4 So that your giving may be in secret and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
 
So as we put extra items in our shopping bags to fill that one small box, I’m sure we will be thinking of the Seafarers who are out there transporting 90% of the worlds’ goods away from their families at Christmas.