CHAPLAIN MINISTRY NEWS

NOTE: If you have an article published about you or written by you and your ministry, submit the article to us and we will place it on this page for others to enjoy.

"Mary" Christmas

Merry Christmas is "Mary" Christmas for seafarers arriving at the port of Jacksonville, Florida on Christmas Day. While most of us enjoyed Christmas with our families, Mary Reagan spent her Christmas Day at the port ministering to seafarers arriving from around the world. The following is some of her story: 



I have heard people say, "I can't go or do because I am old." Well, it's different for me. I'm approaching 80 years old next year, a cancer survivor, have high blood pressure, a widow, and live on a very small retirement but I have found that God still has things for me to do.

 

I became a Christian at an early age and felt God's call to international missions. I did what many people do, I did nothing about it for a long time. After working for 28 years at First Baptist Church in Tampa, Florida my late husband and I volunteered with the Home Mission Board now North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention to work with Campers on Mission. Those 11 years were great but I still had a deep desire for international missions.

 

A number of years before my husband passed away we were introduced to the Jacksonville Port Ministries of the Jacksonville Baptist Association. It didn't take me long to realize that ministering to seafarers was the fulfillment of my call many years ago to international missions. 

 

I live in Franklin, North Carolina and commute several months a year to Jacksonville, Florida in my motor home to serve as a port chaplain to seafarers. December is one of my favorite months to serve the seafarers.  They are far from families, friends, homelands and very lonely especially during the Christmas Season. They are always excited to see that our Seafarer Center is open on Christmas Day. I always enjoy giving them Christmas presents and sharing the "Reason for the Season" with them. I can think of no other place I would like to be on Christmas day than at the port.

 

Whether it is Christmas Day or any other day of the year, seafarers have needs. They always want to call home.  When they finish their calls I always ask, "How was everything back home?" Sometimes they share sad news about a loved one being ill or has died. When something like that happens, I listen to them and then ask if I may pray for them. They always appreciate prayer. Services such as computers with internet access, literature, refreshments, games, television, Bibles and a place to enjoy being off the ships make their visits meaningful.

 

I am grateful to my Lord for the privilege of making Christmas Day more meaningful to the seafarers.

 

 

 

Chaplain Josh Culley Serves As Chaplain Intern

Florida Department of Corrections

Chaplain Intern Has Impact!

Chaplain Intern Joshua Culley served in Florida through the North America Mission Board and Florida Baptist Convention as a Summer Missionary. The Mississippi native arrived in late May and left in early August. During his short ten weeks of service, God used him to impact Gulf Correctional Institution, a facility in the Florida Department of Corrections system.

The Gulf Correctional Institution currently has approximately 3200 inmates. Chaplain Intern Culley assisted as Worship Leader, Spiritual Counselor, Substance Abuse facilitator, Confinement Visitation and performed limited Chaplaincy administrative duties. His major role was assisting the Chaplain and volunteers teach the 128 inmates in the Faith & Character Based Dorm. He made several hundred influential contacts with Florida Department of Corrections staff and inmates while serving as Chaplain Intern.

The highlight of the summer for Joshua came on his last Friday night Worship Service at Gulf Correctional Institution. On that eventful Friday night, Joshua assisted the Chaplain in baptizing twenty four inmates who had prayed to receive Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Chaplain David Ring, who serves as Chaplaincy Services Specialist for FDC and serves on the Florida Baptist Chaplaincy Advisory Team, said, “The Department of Corrections appreciates the involvement of this Intern who modeled excellent character and work ethics before the staff and inmates. Mr. Culley personally gained valuable Chaplaincy experience and provided much needed assistance to the Chaplaincy Department during a time of Chaplaincy downsizing.”