Biblia Harbour Mission
aims to reach foreign seamen for Christ.

Biblia's strategy is to make contact with seamen and personally share the Gospel with them. Scripture and portions in the person's home language are made available along with study guidance. To accomplish this a Seamens' Chapel/Centre has been built in the Port area. A full time Missionary and part time staff carry out the work, along with voluntary helpers. A committee sees to,and assists in the overall direction of the mission. While primary focus is on preaching Christ, help is also given to foreign seamen who are stranded in port and in contractual breaches with owners. Port Elizabeth's Biblia Mission while independently run and financed has sister missions in other South African ports. These work together with the World Wide network of Evangelical Missions reaching out to sailors in port.

Seamen from more than 60 countries visit our port. Every possible belief system's encountered and presents an opportunity to wisely and courageously present Christ as the Saviour of Man.

 Countries where it is difficult or impossible to preach the gospel are amongst those that man the ships. Officers and crew are away from their homes from 9 to 24 months at a time. Communication with home is difficult and expensive.

Going to sea is thought of as an adventure for some, but in reality it is a very stressful life. It's lonely, almost like being imprisoned at sea, difficulties of languages, strange customs, unfamiliar laws and money. Few are at sea as a chosen career, most are forced to go to sea by the economics of their country. People from poorer Nations are often exploited in their contracts and form the bulk of the crewing of ships. Those at sea and those at home have to virtually stand alone in any unforeseen crisis. Many times a ship may be arrested in a foreign port and the crew, like Jonah, spat out on foreign soil and abandoned to their own fate.

Where we cannot go God is bringing people who in turn can go back as precious seed to start a work. Seafarers are particulary vulnerable as they are away from their homes and cultural restraints for long periods of time, they are exposed to a world view and often a world ready to exploit them; it is for this reason we need godly and winsom Christ-like witnesses to befriend them for Christ. Family men miss their loved ones and often appreciate being able to visit in a home where there is a family structure.

The world is there to meet the sailors: the bars, the prostitutes,the crooks and muggers. An occasional neutral friend is there as well; the chandlers,the taxi drivers, harbour workers and officials. Should not the church be there as well?

How can you be involved? Prayer is greatly needed; for the Mission, its workers and committee members; the seafarers, their homes and countries, access to them. Finance is needed for this work; the seaman are not asked for donations, most times the Scripture are given without charge. There is no one paymaster reaching into his pocket monthly for this work. Money comes from churches making voluntary contributions and private donations. People are the most important asset that this Mission can ever have; people who will open their homes to seamen for a meal, people who will fetch the seamen for church, people who will go with other trained workers to visit seamen on board their ships, people who will serve on the committee -are you the person God is waiting for?

Feel free to contact Martin Britz and Rina Liebetrau at Biblia Mission, Charl Malan Quay, port of Port Elizabeth.

P.O. Box 47 Port Elizabeth 6000
Tel 041-585 5483 Fax 041- 585 1901
E-Mail biblia-pe@xsinet.co.za

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P.E. Church Net has posted this page to support Biblia Harbour Mission
last updated 19 April 2000