| Today, the task of securing an adequate Christian ministry for seafarers in a growing number of world ports is still far from complete. This is due in part to the fact that most of the missions to seafarers strive to achieve good will in the maritime community by dealing overwhelmingly with socio-economic, racial, and human rights issues. During the last two decades the make-up of ships' crews has undergone a major change from the West to the East. Today around 80% of the world's merchant seafarers are from Asia, the Third World.;A library survey was employed as the major research method to study the documentary history of the origin and early growth of the maritime mission movement, and to determine how to study biblical missiology can provide an authentic answer to the very real identity crisis within the mounting secularization of the maritime mission. The library survey also provided information regarding what is currently happening in the mission field.;A secondary research method was the study of unpublished papers presented at meetings, letters, articles regarding seafarers' work and mission, and personal communications. Along with the studies carried out through the library survey and the secondary sources, the author's experiences in the maritime mission field were adapted to develop appropriate ways, means, and methods for a pragmatic mission to seafarers.;The result of the study is that the given mandate of the Church is to preach the Gospel in both word and deed in order that the universal salvation of Jesus Christ be revealed to all the world. Approaching seafarers in that spirit must become the Gospel-based strategy for mission to seafarers.;For these reasons, this thesis-project researches and proposes a theological and pragmatic perspective of mission relevant to these situations shaped by and developed out of the author's experience in maritime missionary field work. The primary purposes of this thesis project were: (1) to study the history of maritime mission; (2) to reflect upon the work and people of maritime mission; and (3) to evaluate the contemporary seafarers' mission based on the history and philosophy of maritime mission in light of biblical perspectives and the wider activities of the Church. These processes assist in the development of Gospel-based strategies for a ministry to seafarers within the wider context of today's maritime mission. |
