Seafarers Ministry Training 2011 a truly South African experience
The International Christian Maritime Association aids the professional development of port chaplaincy. The annual Seafarers Ministry Training is a vital instrument in achieving this goal.
The 2011 Seafarers Ministry Training (SMT) was held in Cape Town, South Africa. SMT Coordinator, Reverend Martina Platte (DSM, Hong Kong) reports:
For the second time the SMT was held in Cape Town, South Africa. The course venue was the Dutch Reformed Church in Bloubergstrand, a half hour’s drive outside Cape Town. Participants and speakers stayed in holiday homes at the beachfront.
The atmosphere and the hospitality at the church were great and everyone felt very welcome.
Eleven subjects were on the course schedule including a full course on pastoral care, advocacy for seafarers and MLC 2006, an introduction to trauma, maritime health, ecumenism and inter-religious dialogue with visits to the synagogue and the mosque. Another focus was the ministry to fishermen which could be experienced “hands on”.
Visits to the Seafarer’s Center, Table Mountain, Robben Island, a township and two barbecues made the SMT a true South African experience.
A big THANK YOU to Patty, Gerard, Johan, Geraldo, Elmie, the staff of the seafarer’s center, the church staff and all the speakers who volunteered their time for the training.
For more information on ICMA’s training and education programmes, please follow this link to the webpage: CLICK HERE