Coming Onboard SCFS Portsmouth

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Coming Onboard SCFS Portsmouth

My name is Sharon Brooks and I heard about the Seafarers' Christian Friend Society from an email that was forwarded to me about the need for volunteer ship visitors in my local port of Portsmouth. So as I enjoy anything to do with the sea/boats and meeting people from other parts of the world who happen to be in Portsmouth, I replied to the email and arranged to meet up with the team lead Peter, Brian and Angela to find out all about the role. They explained the need for local Christians to visit ships which were now coming into the port in Portsmouth, commercial and more recently cruise ships. To show the love of Christ through friendship and our presence onboard, taking practical goods like woolly hats and SIM cards, as well as equally important sharing the Gospel as appropriate. This ticked all the boxes for me and they equally thought I fitted their criteria.
We arranged a date for my first ship visit, which would be after I had completed my mandatory training. I really enjoyed that visit and learnt a lot from the existing team members as well as experiencing the kindness shown by everyone onboard the ship. I have now completed five ship visits, all very different, but one thing that is the same is the appreciation of seeing us come aboard. Though our time may be limited with the seafarers, there is plenty of chatting about various topics and sometimes even eating together. The woolly hats are a prized possession and the SIM cards help them keep in contact with their families. Christian books and Bibles in their own language are given away free and discussions develop especially if Peter starts his Jesus cube, explaining who Jesus is and why He died for us all and wants a personal relationship with us all... the seafarers listen intently and with respect.