At the close of an intensive week of training in Kaszuby, Poland, seventeen students from across the globe gathered one final time to present their “One Photo” assignments—each a single image paired with a carefully crafted 250-word story that distilled the heart of maritime ministry. This capstone project of the Introduction to Seafarers’ Welfare and Maritime Ministry course, hosted by ICMA and supported by the ITF Seafarers’ Trust and Stella Maris Gdynia, turned out to be much more than an academic exercise.
The rules of the “One Photo” exercise were deceptively simple: choose a personal photo from your own maritime ministry experience and use it to tell a story that could move someone to care—volunteer, give, pray, or simply pay attention. The assignment was introduced on day one, with time carved out each day for reflection, small group feedback, and personal crafting. What emerged by the final day was a treasure trove of stories—funny, emotional, informative, and profound.
What did we learn from this storytelling journey? First, that photos matter. The best images didn’t just show people—they revealed relationships, context, and emotion. Second, that clarity and brevity can be powerful. In just 250 words, some presenters moved their audience to tears. The most memorable stories spoke of real people, real names (or at least first names), real emotions, and often one unexpected moment: a forgotten phone, a child never seen, a seafarer who only wanted to touch grass.
Equally striking was how presenters used their stories not to boast about services offered, but to invite listeners into a shared human experience. Whether the storyteller was a chaplain on cruise ships, a port chaplain delivering Christmas boxes, or a professor teaching maritime law, each conveyed why they do what they do. The “what” was simply the vehicle. These stories reminded us that chaplaincy isn’t about programs—it’s about people.
The exercise also highlighted storytelling best practices. Start with a quote, a feeling, or an image. Don’t waste words on introductions—drop the listener straight into the heart of the scene. Use concrete details: the name of a ship, the warmth of cinnamon buns, the sound of laughter, or the silence of grief. And above all, invite your audience to care—not through statistics, but through shared humanity.
One student told the story of a female spa worker on a cruise ship, overwhelmed by sales pressure, who months later remembered a chaplain’s visit and prayers. Another captured the quiet loneliness of a man standing on deck, looking skyward, suspended between duty and longing. One presentation spoke movingly of maritime students, and another of life rings hanging from the ceiling of a seafarers’ center, each one a token of thanks from a grateful mariner.
The “One Photo” assignment taught us that compelling stories are the key to advocacy. They don’t just fill newsletters or social media feeds—they open doors to empathy. They invite people outside our circle—churches, donors, civic leaders—to see seafarers not as distant workers, but as brothers and sisters, with joys and needs that are strikingly familiar.
Perhaps the most enduring insight from the assignment is this: when we tell stories well, we are no longer simply ship visitors or chaplains—we become translators of the human spirit. We interpret the sacredness of small moments and point others toward what is hidden in plain sight.