OUR SERVICES @ Tacoma Seafarer's Center

The seafarer spends many long days at sea between ports. While it is true that they are fed while at sea, there are many things that the seafarer does not have access to aboard ship, therefore when the ship is in port the seafarer must leave the ship to obtain anything he/she needs.

The work schedule is so varied and unpredictable that often times they are left with a very short time to do whatever they have to do. The Tacoma Seafarers Center personnel are ready to help. We know that in order for the seafarer to be receptive to our Gospel message that we must also take care of the physical and emotional needs of them as well.

We remember what the late Rev. Ray Eckhoff always said; “THEY Won't CARE WHAT WE KNOW, IF THEY Don't KNOW THAT WE CARE”

With the above in mind we offer the following:

Store:

We have a small store where the seafarer can purchase some personal items such as, soap, toothpaste, deodorant, towels and such. There are some gift items, maps, postcards, lighters, pens, and some souvenirs. Since the ships do not generally have ships stores, we also provide snack items such as candy, chips, nuts, canned fruits and meats (such as Spam & corned beef) and soft drinks. These types of items are meant to help the seafarer, who does not have time to do any major shopping at the local malls and stores. Any proceeds from the sale of these items are directly put back into the Center bank so that additional bibles and materials may be purchased. Everything we do is centered on obtaining resources to further spread the Word of God and His saving Grace through Jesus Christ.

Recreation:

The seafarer spends many long, lonely and dangerous hours at his/her duty station, in all types of weather and seas. Besides their berthing space, all they generally have is the mess hall, which in many cases doubles as their eating area and their recreation area. The only recreation many may have is reading, playing cards or some kind of board game. TV reception is not very good, if any at all, so VCRs provide the visual entertainment.

While the seafarer visits us at the Center, we offer a pool table, foosball table, ping-pong, basketball, cable television, VCR movies, and on good days, time permitting a barbecue can be leisurely enjoyed. From time to time as resources permit, we take the seafarers to points of interest in the Puget Sound Region. We understand that the seafarer needs to have a means to relax and enjoy his/her shore time. We also offer television channels on cable TV that are broadcast from their homeland. It is important for the seafarer to stay attuned to community events from home, in a timely manner.

Computer:

The seafarer is gone from home for as long as a year at a time. The separation from loved ones seems endless. It is difficult to communicate with loved ones while at sea. Even when the seafarer has the opportunity to have access to a telephone, the costs can be very high to some regions of the world. We feel that one way to show the seafarer that he is cared for while in a foreign port is to put them in touch with their loved ones. One of these means is via the internet eMail service. While it is true that many seafarers can not afford a computer, often times they can gain access through a friend or fellow seafarer. The families at home often have to rely on friends or acquaintances also for eMail access.

We offer high-speed computer service for eMail and or internet browsing. The seafarers enjoy receiving eMail from home. They can save their messages to disk or print it out. We believe that eMail and the Internet are the way of the future for the seafarer to communicate with family or to conduct business with their agents. We therefore, are ready for this major change of communication demand.

Transportation:

If you have ever taken a cab somewhere, then you know how expensive a proposition that can be, even if you share the cost with a fellow passenger. The reason many of the seafarers are doing the seafarer gig is because it is the only means of providing support to their families. They need to send most of their hard-earned money home and do not have the luxury of cab fare. That is where the Tacoma Seafarer’s Center can help. With the blessing of grants from the ITF over the years, we have been able to provide some much-needed transportation.

We offer transportation to the malls and grocery stores for shopping for necessary items, doctors visits, banking or any reasonable need, time and manpower permitting. Sometimes this is the only means that the ship may have for transporting their replenishment needs. We have often filled our vans to capacity and then turned right around for a second trip, to complete the process.

Since one of the main bridges over the waterway has been removed, the seafarer needs to have us pick them up to bring them to our center. It is no longer possible for them to walk to our center. If we did not pick them up, we would lose the wonderful opportunity to fellowship and share with them.

Fellowship:

If you can imagine the loneliness of being away from home for so long and then realize that many crews are made up of multiple nationalities, you could then realize the need for fellowship with someone who cares about and for you. This isolation even goes so far as to only having one person of a particular origin in the crew. Not only is this person isolated from their family, they may often be isolated from their own culture.

We address this issue by going aboard and sometimes just sitting and talking with some of the crew. Many times we have the opportunity to provide fellow countrymen for the seafarer to talk to. Some of our local churches provide fellowship from among many cultures.

Good Christian fellowship can be had by all. At the Center we have an electronic keyboard, to accompany singing, reading materials galore, Port Chaplains to talk with, or just sit around and visit over a cup of coffee or carbonated beverage. We play the Jesus video in many languages so as to draw the attention of our visitors to this important message we wish to share.

Bible Study:

In addition to our Bible Correspondence Course, one can engage in Bible study with our Port Chaplains or among the seafarers themselves. We have Bibles in many foreign languages from which to choose.

The late Rev. Ray Eckhoff developed the Ministering Seafarer Program. We identify at least one Christian aboard ship and enlist they aid in providing a Bible study setting aboard ship. We can not possibly carry the load of Bible study in the brief encounter we often have with the seafarer, therefore, it is important to provide the guidance and materials to those who can carry out this function while at sea. Many of our Bible Correspondence Course graduates often then continue on to become Ministering Seafarers.

They write or eMail us for any of their needs. We continually have need of support for obtaining more Bibles and gospel tracts. We ask that you pray for us often as we plant the seeds for the Holy Spirit to nurture.

Can you help our Mission?

Our ministry at the Tacoma Seafarer’s Center has been blessed with a supportive group of people who believe as we do, that we must work hard to bring the message of salvation to the lost and unsaved. This support has come in the form of prayers, volunteers and financial support. Most of our support comes from individuals, with the remaining from churches, groups and grant requests. Our work requires money to survive.

Our resource materials such as bibles and Jesus videos cost money. Of course there are plant maintenance costs and such that must be addressed as well as payroll. We are very frugal with our precious monies but our hard work does not come without continued support from like-minded people, who believe in the importance of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We have much work to be done before the return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

We would appreciate your prayer support, and please listen to your heart as the Lord guides you to support us. We are also in need of volunteers. If you would like to volunteer or ask questions, please eMail or call us at 253-272-0716.

We accept checks and money orders made out to the TACOMA SEAFARER'S CENTER. If you wish to donate by credit card you may go to our donation page, click on the "donate now" button and follow the instructions for using your credit card.

God Bless You for your support.