Port Hedland Seafarers Centre has adopted fly-in-fly-out work arrangements to ensure chaplains are available to care for seafarers 24/7.
The new set-up was proposed to overcome the challenge of finding ministry workers able to live and serve in Port Hedland permanently.
Bishop Darrell said he was grateful that Rev’d Mee Ping Lau and Rev’d Un Tay are available to serve for 10 or 12 weeks in Port Hedland followed by four weeks at home.
After 40 years in parish ministry, Mee Ping is loving the chaplain role where “sharing the gospel is the most important thing”, which he does in Chinese, English, and a bit of Korean, Malay and Indonesian.
“The seafarers know we are Christian so if we don’t talk about the gospel, that would be strange,” he said.
“People quietly come and speak with me and ask, ‘Can I have a Bible?’ ‘Can you tell me more about the Bible?’ ‘How can I be admitted to the Christian club?’”
The Chaplain role brings many opportunities to support the shipping community. Mee Ping conducted a memorial service on board ship for a seafarer who had died and was surprised to find that it had been recorded by the captain and posted on TikTok in China. He also holds a Bible study onshore for a small group of Chinese migrants.
Prompted by conversations with captains and seafarers who shared about the challenges of seafaring, Mee Ping developed a support resource. The brochure covers issues like burn-out, fatigue, art of communication, and ‘Your Word, my Comfort’ which includes a prayer seafarers can use. The brochure is available in English, Chinese or Korean.
Mee Ping says that life for seafarers can be challenging, with months away from family and loved ones. Seafarers appreciate the friendship and care they receive at the Seafarer Centre. He says that sharing the hope of eternal life, which comes through faith in Jesus, is a natural way to show love for seafarers.
“If the founder of this mission heard we weren’t talking about the gospel, he would wake up from his tomb, I think,” Mee Ping added.