Steven Loader seeks to provide a safe harbour for seafarers
Bristol docks were once the powerhouse of the British Empire.
They brought the wealth of the world into our country. And now seafarers from all across the globe can receive a warm Christian welcome from new evangelist Steven Loader. Steve works with Counties – formerly known as Counties Evangelistic Work.
Steve, a builder by trade, was brought up on a tough Bristol estate in a church founded by his father. Through the Holy Spirit’s leading he has joined Counties to evangelise the Portbury and Avonmouth docks as a new mission field.
A father of three, Steve is supported by his wife Dawn and his grown-up children: Natasha, who works locally in retail; Danielle, who is currently enjoying life in Australia; and Reuben, who still lives at home in Bristol.
Prayer to share faith
The journey to full-time evangelism has taken him to Capernwray Bible School, and to ten years in church leadership, as well as a preaching ministry in local churches. Then in 2005 Steve prayed that God would use him more in sharing his faith with others. God answered through the port chaplain who said Steve would be suited to ministering to the seafarers who came into Bristol.
Steve said: ‘Through my years of working on building sites encountering a negative and sometimes hostile reception, I can see now how God had prepared me for a ministry that has at times felt like being on the set of Pirates of the Caribbean! The Lord graciously answered my prayer and has provided me with opportunities each week to share God’s love to people from many nations.’
Steve went on to say: ‘Since the port chaplain retired in 2012, it became increasingly difficult for me to balance growing opportunities and challenges in ministry with life as a builder. My constant prayer to God over the years has been “Here I am, send me” and the relationship with Counties is now providing more space to develop these areas of ministry in fulfilment of that prayer.’
Challenging job
With those answers have also come the tough challenges, with seafarers having one of the most dangerous jobs on the planet.
Steve said: ‘There is so much need amongst the seafarers. Often they are on a nine-month contract. They are lonely, overworked, over-stressed and even sometimes under threat from pirates. Twice I have comforted crew who have lost colleagues through accidents that have occurred while the ship has been in port. No matter what is going on in the life of the men that I meet, I always make it clear to them that God has not forgotten them.’
Away from home
An evangelist should feel for the people he is trying to reach. Steve says: ‘Over the Christmas period, many seafarers feel that separation from their families the most. So with Christmas shoeboxes given by caring individuals and churches, I have been able to give in the region of 400 gifts to the men who arrived in Portbury and Avonmouth last Christmas.
‘For the first time since I have been involved in ship visiting, the seafarer centre in Portbury held a Christmas Eve service, which was attended by about 15 Filipino sailors.’
There are people from every nation, it seems, at docks. ‘I love the diversity of my mission field. As I climb up another gangway, I meet seafarers from all across the world. Will they be Russian, Filipino, Indian, or another of the many nationalities I meet each week? I don’t know till I reach the deck of the ship.’
Steve said: ‘Praying with the men is important, for the Lord to touch their lives in a life-changing way. There has often been tears shed when hardened men experience God’s care and compassion for them. Nothing thrills me more than to see God’s light being brought into dark places.’
Here are some other examples of the kind of conversations Steve has had as he seeks to share God’s love.
In the mess
‘A little while ago I went onto a car carrier at Portbury docks. I met two Filipinos at the top of the ramp who gave me a warm welcome. One of the men took me on a long walk to the mess room, which was on the top deck of a very large ship.
‘In the mess room I sat down to chat with the Filipino who brought me there. His name is Rauld and he was a great guy to talk to. He told me he was a Christian and that he ran a Bible study group on the ship. We were both having a wonderful time sharing our faith with each other. I then asked him what his job was on the ship; thinking maybe he was an AB seaman. He replied; “I’m the Captain”! I had no idea; he was such a humble man.
‘He then radioed the other guys in the Bible study group to come and meet me. So there we were, a group of men sharing and encouraging each other. It was such a lovely time together. I then prayed for them and their families. I told the Captain I had better go as I could appreciate he was a busy man. He asked me if I could stay a while longer, so we all chatted some more. I gave the men some Christian literature, which they might find useful in their study group. He then walked me back to the ramp and waved me off. A very worthwhile visit.’
Helping a ship’s cook
‘On another day I found myself talking to a Filipino cook. He asked me if I could help him with something. The Captain and one or two of the crew were Ukrainian and were expecting the cook to provide some meals in their traditional way. The cook, who called himself Morris, had no idea how to cook Ukrainian food and was becoming increasingly concerned about not being able to provide the meals that the crew wanted. I told him I would try and get a relevant cookbook, but as the ship was leaving the next day, I didn’t have much time.
‘When I returned home, I surfed the Internet and quickly found that I would not get a cookbook in time before the ship left for its next port. So I began printing off a number of recipes and saved a load more on a memory stick. I returned the next day to the ship and handed over the Ukrainian recipes to the delighted cook. He continued to shake my hand from the mess room all the way out to the gangway. His broad smile revealed the gratitude he had for helping him in a very practical way. Before I left the ship, I prayed for Morris and asked God that he would continue to help him be the best cook the ship ever had.’
Comforting a ship’s crew
‘Quite a while ago a 27-year-old Filipino died suddenly, on a container ship that comes regularly into Portbury. Even now, no one knows why he died – it came as a complete shock to the rest of the crew.
‘On the day they took the body off the ship I went on board with a colleague of mine and offered our help if it was needed. The Captain notified the crew and ten of them came to see us in the mess room. It was uplifting to witness the leading of God in such sad circumstances. The Lord reminded me we were to comfort the broken hearted. We read from the Bible, we prayed and we poured our hearts out to them. There weren’t many dry eyes in the room that day.’
