
Drew (2nd left) with an international crew at the Cromarty Firth: the Seafarers’ Centre at Invergordon puts believers in touch with other Christians on the same vessel
Seafarers’ centre encourages Christians far from home
A seaman from Indonesia told volunteers at Invergordon Seafarers’ Centre that he was missing his family and his home church very much. At home, every morning and evening, his family read from the one copy of the Bible which they have in their own language. “He was so pleased when we offered him a bible for himself,” says port chaplain Drew Anderson. “We were able to tell him that there was a Christian fellowship on board his vessel. Later he met the fellowship leader and they left the church together, taking more bibles for the group.”
Around 130 cruise ships visited the Cromarty Firth in 2023, some of the bigger vessels having crew of 1,000 or more. On ships of such a size, crew members are not all known to each other and may be unaware of colleagues who share their faith. The Seafarers’ Centre can play a vital role in putting visitors in touch with other Christian believers on the same boat.
Hosted by Invergordon Parish Church, the Centre is just six miles from Blythswood’s headquarters at Highland Deephaven. This year Blythswood Care has provided the Centre with Scriptures – complete bibles and copies of the New Testament – in no fewer than 18 languages, reaching crew members from Europe, Africa, Asia and South America.
“A young man from Zimbabwe came to the church and told us they were starting an onboard fellowship that week,” Drew says. “We offered him the last NIV Study Bible which we had and he was overjoyed. Through tears he told us that he had prayed daily for three years for that bible. He was praising and thanking the Lord for providing this the very week he was to start leading a group.”