The Strategic Review is moving ICMA forward in leaps and bounds.  The Association has now arrived on the eve of a new era that promises to strengthen ICMA by transforming the secretariat and promoting the work of its members.  These challenges call for new skills and fresh commitment. The last decade’s implementation of the GRUBB Report, ICMA’s previous review, and the ever changing environment of our ministries have led ICMA to branch out and break new ground.

I am gratified by the time I spent with ICMA.  Moving across continents to take up this role has been worth every sacrifice. 

I have been blessed with a world of new friends and family in faith. I have met remarkable people. I have discovered treasures in Christ’s church that I had never imagined.  I have seen growing unity.  Together we have celebrated difference. We have shared moments of great achievement while battling the complexities of life and work. We have seen excellence and failure, and together we have overcome. We have experienced firsthand the love of Our Father at work in this unique ecumenical community. Of course ecumenical communities need nurturing, and tolerance remains key.  God’s Spirit, I pray, will help you to guard over this precious chunk of his kingdom.  

I have the utmost respect for port chaplains who serve God and care passionately for his people of the sea. I thank God for you. Your labours, performed against impossible odds, are an inspiration.  May God bless you with fulfilment, as that is the reward, I know, you desire most.

I hope that I have been able to contribute, just a little, to Christian unity, to the dignity of port chaplains and to the wellbeing of seafarers, fishers and their families.

I hope that I may have instilled in the industry and among our partners in the welfare sector, a sense of faith’s value in inspiring selfless commitment to care. 

I hope that ICMA, its members and its chaplains, are a little more valued as a resource that can be relied upon even to swim that extra mile, when walking on the water is not an option.     

Thank you all for having me!  Thank you for your friendship and hospitality. I have not always been able to deliver what was expected or required, but you loved me all the same, as Christians do.

May God bless you all.

Hennie la Grange

Celebrating its 20th anniversary of fellowship to seafarers at Port Manatee, USA, Anchor House is an integral part of the independent ecumenical Christian ministry to seafarers, affiliated to ICMA’s member in North America, NAMMA.

The Bradenton Herald reported that Chaplain and Director Tim Huppert and Chaplain and Manager Trish Alligood board ships with an outstretched hand even when they can’t speak the language of the crews to offer support, reading materials, worship and a listening ear to whoever’s on board.

More than 5,000 international seafarers visit the port annually. Those seafarers able to come ashore, come to the small building that houses the mission for free computer use, telephone access and other kinds of communication, as well as food and other personal necessities.

Port workers and various volunteers stop by Anchor House to help out or participate in programs or Bible study. Anchor House has Bibles in 30 different languages to offer seafarers.

A local port worker who regularly eats his lunch there, said it’s the environment the chaplains create that takes him back there again and again.

“You walk in here and its spiritual. These two touch us. They give everything, their whole heart and all, for everybody. It’s good to be here,” Stanfield said.

Click here to read the whole article authored by Dee Graham

The IMO’s Day of the Seafarer 2013 campaign will reflect the human face of seafarers.

ICMA members have begun to participate by sending us photographs of seafarers plying their trade.  This photo is from Florin Garbea, Director of ICMA member LIFE International Ministries in Constantza, Rumania.  Florin himself visits ships and runs the local seafarers’ centre.  LIFE International will host this year’s ICMA Annual General Meeting in Bucharest.

This smiling seafarer affirms the positive attitude of seafarers who work to keep ships moving.  Seafarers are professionals. Seafarers are happy at doing their jobs.  Seafarers are a vital workforce.  Seafarers are real human beings.

Florin wrote:

Those pictures were taken in Constantza port this year, 2013, and remind us of the sacrifices that the seafarers make for all of us.  May God bless all seafarers around the world, their families and all the seafarers’ centres dedicated to the benefit of those who work on board.

The International Christian Maritime Association’s members continue to serve seafarers in every way we can.

At the invitation of ICMA member LIFE International Ministries, the 2013 Annual General Meeting of the International Christian Maritime Association is, God willing, set to take place in Bucharest, Rumania.

At its meeting in London on Friday 17th May, the Executive Committee accepted the invitation of LIFE to gather in Bucharest.   The decision was taken in line with the policy to visit members of the Association.  Two members had offered to host the 2013 Annual General Meeting.  ICMA appreciates its members’ hospitality.

Our smaller members face unique challenges.  Our visit to LIFE shows the Association’s solidarity with its smaller members.

Director of LIFE, Florin Garbea, said:

“We are a small member, but would be honoured to host the ICMA family in Rumania.”

Members will be expected to arrive in Bucharest by the evening of September 30th, in time for the opening reception.

The members will meet on the 1st of October to discuss the results of the ICMA Strategic Review, and will participate in the planning for its implementation.  The Executive Committee will present a Strategic Plan for ICMA that reflects the outcomes of last year’s Members’ Consultation in Rome.  The Strategic Plan will be available by September 1st, 2013.

The Annual General Meeting will take place on the morning of October 2nd, 2013, followed by an ecumenical service of worship.

Members will depart from Bucharest after lunch on 2 October.

At its meeting earlier this year in Dublin, the Executive Committee urged members to participate in the discussions on the Strategic Plan.  To facilitate input from the whole Association, papers would be circulated well in advance. Comments and suggestions sent to the Secretariat by e-mail before the meeting, would be considered, even if the member cannot be present in Bucharest.  In London, the Executive Committee invited members to send delegations to Bucharest.  It was hoped that all members would be represented.

Information and registration forms will reach members shortly.   Guests are encouraged to book flights well in advance to ensure the best fares.  LIFE has secured excellent accommodation in Bucharest at a good price.

Delegates will pay all their own costs.  ICMA and LIFE will do our best to keep costs down.

Deacon Albert Dacanay and his wife Delia, his kids, his in-laws, the entire family in fact, have been a part of his ministry to Seafarers for many years now.

Doreen wrote:

I met Deacon Albert around 1995 or 1996 at a North American Maritime Ministry Association (NAMMA) Conference. Later, we served together on the NAMMA Board and that is when I really got to know him and learned just how talented he was. He brought technological skills to the table, and created NAMMA’s first website. However, what I recognized the most at that time, was that he was a Maritime Minister who really did the hard work of a dedicated Port Chaplain. And, he had an inner calmness and spirituality that enabled him to work with everyone and to help ease tensions whenever difficulties arose.
 
Later, when he became the National Director for AOS Canada, I knew they had found a great leader. He went on to become the Regional Coordinator for AOS North America and the Caribbean. Though this is a position that has no funding, he took it on, and has spent a great deal of his personal funds to accomplish the goals of AOS North America.

Doreen speaks warmly of how Albert consulted and listened and advised wisely, smoothing over the difficulties that arise when change occurs. She witnesses to to his calming intercession:

There was one challenging meeting where Deacon Albert consoled and reassured me by saying “Don’t worry. Delia and I have been praying for the Peace of Christ to be present at this meeting.” Then the day of the meeting came. I got up to speak, and the moment I did, I felt utter calm. The meeting went smoothly and I knew that it was the Peace of Christ which had truly entered the room that day. There was no other explanation. I had never experienced that Peace of Christ in such a real way. I learned that it is very real, and I learned that from Deacon Albert and his wife Delia.
 
I’ve thought about that many times since, and have learned to truly pray for the Peace of Christ, for myself, and for others. So today, I would like to ask each of you to join me in prayer. Pray that the Peace of Christ will be with Deacon Albert and Delia Dacanay as they start a new journey.

ICMA most certainly joins Doreen in her prayers for the Dacanays.