The Mission to Seafarers (MtS), Lagos, hosted both Nigerian and foreign seafarers at the annual ‘Sea Sunday’ service, which it celebrated at the Church of The Resurrection (Anglican Communion), Victoria Island.
Speaking at the programme themed: “Peace in the Storm,” the Chairman of MTS Lagos and former Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Chief Adebayo Sarumi, emphasized the immense value and sacrifices of seafarers across the globe.
His words: “Everybody is talking about the data which says over 90% of the world’s trade is being carried by ships. When you look around you, probably the only thing made in Nigeria will be yourself and your family members. Everything else comes from a foreign land, and who brings them to your shores? It is the seafarers.
“In times of war, these seafarers find themselves in the eye of the storm but they still go out to do their jobs. When the Houthis were sending missiles to ships crossing the Suez Canal, seafarers still went there, irrespective of the fact that their lives are in danger.
“We know about the Ukraine-Russia war as well as Gaza and Israeli war, seafarers remain committed to carrying materials needed to bring about peace to those stormy areas of the world. This is why celebrating them and praying for them. Participate by giving the little you can, particularly to the various missions.”
Noting that there are over 200 Mission to Seafarers in 50 countries of the world, Sarumi described the MTS centre as an oasis to provide succour for seamen traversing through international waters which he likened to a desert.
“As my vicar has said, and it was reiterated by the assistant chaplain, the MTS is there to cater for seafarers when they get into trouble. If the need arises for us to take action, we try the best we can legally, psychologically, spiritual, and all forms. Sometimes we even give our homes,” Sarumi posited.
He thanked the leadership of Church of The Resurrection, Victoria Island for hosting the Seafarers Sunday service even as he appreciated the congregation for coming out in a large number.
While giving the Vicar’s sermon, Venerable Oduwole Tunde, observed that despite spending months at sea, long separations from their families, suffering from loneliness and harshness of weather, in danger, and sometimes still abuse or exploitation.
“Our church has voluntarily but passionately opted to stand as Christ’s ambassadors and representatives, and on the spiritual front as Christ’s extended hands, as a voice of comfort, a presence of hope, and an advocate for justice, so that all troubled souls at sea, made like the disciples of old, find soothing and comfort peace amidst whatever may be their storms.
“I decree into your lives that whatever may have been those things that have given you cause for exasperation and worry until now, today you will experience peace anew in the name of Jesus.
“Many, many years back, the Diocese of Lagos African Communion found such needs and took bold steps to confront them headlong. That was what gave birth to what we now know as the Mission to Sea Fearers, MTS for short,” the Vicar said.
Also speaking, an Assistant Chaplain of MTS Lagos and former seafarer, Engr. Emmanuel Ilori, recalled a humbling experience as a seafarer when he returned after a 6-month voyage and his baby couldn’t recognise him anymore.
Ilori also recounted the traumatic experiences of sailing through stormy seas even as he commended the practicing seafarers for giving their all at sea and also appreciated the seafarers who attended the church service.
Sharing from the point of view of seafarers, Engr. Zainab Ayomide, remarked that although the hassles of the sea pose immense challenges, they take solace in the fact that although they are far from land they are never far from God.
On her part, a management team member of MTS Lagos, Mrs. Yetunde Akinluyi, noted that the 2025 Sea Sunday witnessed a better participation with seafarers joining in the service from a ship.
Akinluyi also expressed delight at the massive impact that the MTS Lagos Centre has been able to do for seafarers since the transformation carried out by Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) few years ago.
