 Records indicate that on July 4, 1903, the Rev. Harry Ferneyhough, having arrived from Portland, established the TACOMA SEAMEN'S INSTITUTE. There is some question about the relationship between the Mission and that operated by Chaplain Stubb.
During World War II, American Merchant Seamen came under the influence of the military. Seamen, themselves, were given a new name, Merchant Marine. To a great extent, the Seamen’s Mission was incorporated into the Serviceman’s Center and the USO. This continued in and beyond the Korean War.
In an attempt in 1964 to separate Merchant Seamen from the military, the Seattle Seamen’s Center, relying on their own success, purchased the rights of the PORT HOME MISSION from the TACOMA SERVICE CENTER. The PORT HOME MISSION became the TACOMA SEAMEN’S CENTER, an agency of the American Lutheran Church and a branch of the Seattle Center.
Robert Marcello served as the Centers Director from 1968-1978. During this time the Tacoma Seamen’s Center, became a member of the International Council of Seamen’s Agencies.
When additional funds became a necessity, the Board decided to reach out to other Christian denominations. In October of 1976, Rev. Ray Eckhoff joined the staff as Chaplain and became Director in November of 1978. The Port of Tacoma made land available for a Seamen’s Center in the Spring of 1979. Through the generosity of various foundations, churches and individuals “a home away from home” for seafarers became a reality.
The Rev. G. Edward Johnson became the Executive Director and served from 1997 until retirement September 2001. The current Executive Director , H. Gene Lawrence, is a licensed Deacon with the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod and officially became the Executive Director in September 2001.
| Some things to know about our Center |
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The backbone of our ministry is our volunteers. People, who love the Lord and who wish to share Christ’s Love, support us with their time, talent, and treasury. But most importantly we are supported with prayers of all these people. They love all of God’s people and they recognize the arduous and dangerous life of the seafarer.
 We have a small store in which to buy some snacks, souvenirs, stationary, some clothing, vitamins and other such items. Any profit goes back into the Center to purchase our scriptural materials.
We have a recreation room that contains a T.V.&VCR, pool table, foosball table, books and videos, and a rack of clothing that is free for the taking. Or you can just lounge in the comfortable furniture. Outside we have a basketball hoop and a place to barbecue during the nice days. Downstairs we have a second T.V. that one can view channels from their homeland. At present we have a Chinese station and a Filipino station. Others are available upon demand.
In our downstairs area we have, at present, two computers that are hooked up to high-speed Internet service. E-mail is a big thing these days. We offer this Internet and eMail service for free. We also have a kitchen area which is used from time to time for preparing special meals for various functions, which the Seafarers are always welcomed to share in. Our common area can comfortably sit 40 people around our five big round tables.
We offer free transportation to shopping at the local mall and Costco store, as well as transportation to the bank, Doctors office or whatever the need may be, as our vehicles and personnel are available.
Our main goal is sharing the Good News of Jesus to our guests. We have good Christian fellowship, with prayer and limited counseling. We offer a ten booklet Bible Correspondence Course to any and all that wish to learn more about their precious Savior. The Late Rev. Ray Eckhoff authored this course.
| In Memory of Rev. Ray Eckhoff |
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 On this the 20th anniversary observation of L.AM.M. It is fitting that we should remember and mention Rev. Ray Eckhoff. Among the many accomplishments in Ray’s life work of service to Jesus Christ, is the fact that Ray was a co-founder of L.A.M.M. Many, if not all of you know Ray or have heard of him.
I personally thank the Lord for the blessing of Rev. Ray Eckhoff in my life. I have come to believe that the Holy Spirit works in our hearts through people that he sends to us. Just a few years ago I was pondering what the Lord had in store for me as I felt a stirring in me to serve Him. In time the answers became evident as Ray guided, encouraged, uplifted and pointed me to become more deeply involved in the Maritime Ministry. Ray influenced me so greatly that I undertook the Lay Assistant Minister program through Concordia Lutheran University, Oregon. Rays patience, and especially his love of the Lord that he showed through his life’s work, in spreading the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus to the Seafarer’s, was contagious. Little did I know that the Holy Spirit was leading me to a more fully complete service, through Ray. It was inspiring to see Ray pursue his Ministering Seafarer’s program through the many sailors that he served. He seemed to have a sense of urgency in all that he did. Even though, these past few years, it was said that he was to have been retired, Ray was known to work many long hours in his correspondence with his Seafaring Ministers and those who undertook the Bible Correspondence Course that Ray had authored. Ray only moved his office from the Center, to his office at home. Ray’s office is now in Heaven!
MAJOR MARITIME MISSION INITIATIVES
In which Ray Eckhoff was Largely Instrumental over the years.
(Taken from an article by the Rev. Dr. Roald Kverndal in the December 2000 Newsletter of International Association for the Study of Maritime Mission (IASSM))
- From 1977: launched the Ministering Seafarers Program, from which emerged (in the 1980’s) related Training Seminars, Christian Seafarers’ Fellowship Lists, an International Committee on Maritime Follow-up & Fellowship Ministry, and eventually a computer based Ship Tracking System (to facilitate inter-agency cooperation).
- In 1980: Completed building of new Tacoma Seafarers’ Center.
- In 1981: Co-founder of Lutheran Association for Maritime Ministry (LAMM), and for many years its President.
- In 1984: Successfully advocated for integration of Maritime Ministry in Lutheran World Federation at Budapest Assembly.
- From 1985: Joined with LWF Maritime Ministry Consultants on world travels (incl. Philippines, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and Indonesia), to promote participation in indigenous maritime ministry by LWF and/or LCMS partner churches.
- In 1985: Initiated a special cooperative relationship between Tacoma Seafarers’ Center and the indigenous Pusan-based Korea Seamen’s Mission (KSM) – later Korea International Maritime Mission (KIMM).
- From1986: Sponsored indigenous Philippine Maritime Mission, first with the founding of a nondenominational Manila-based agency, supplemented later(1989) by an indigenous Lutheran port chaplaincy linked to the British & International Sailor’s Society (BISS).
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