Oluyinka Onigbinde
The chaplain of ‘Mission to Seafarers’, a non-government organisation devoted to the welfare of seafarers; Rev Canon Bimbo Aduroja has opened a new dimension in the search for the challenges facing Nigerian seafarers as a result of the nature of their job.
The chaplain of the Apapa, Lagos-based charity organisation, in a recent chat with our correspondent, informed that Nigerian seafarers sometimes come under psychological and spiritual attacks including emotional trauma that sometimes become overbearing for them.
Speaking on the role of the Mission to Seafarers in Lagos, the chaplain stated that the mission conducts prayers and counselling for some of these seafarers on board vessels, this is even as he called for support towards reaching more seafarers.
He told our correspondent that, “while the seafarers that come to our port are sailing, they face a lot of emotional, psychological and spiritual challenges, because of the nature of their job and the challenges they face, they need prayers and counselling.
“They want to see someone to talk to and open up to. They want to share their challenges. When they see you as one they can talk about their family back at home. These are the people who can be away for months without seeing their wives and children. So they need someone they can share their mind with, someone who can counsel and encourage them despite what they are facing due to the nature of their job. They need someone who can tell them that, all will be well”.
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When asked about some of the spiritual attacks the seafarers encounter, he said: “For example, there was a time I received a call from the port to come and pray for some crew members that are seafarers. When I got there and saw the condition on the ground, you will agree they need prayers. What happened was that one of the crew members (a cadet) who just joined the team for not up to a year committed suicide inside the ship and he died immediately. You can imagine what will happen to the rest of the crew members because of that fear of not wanting to travel again. They sent for us, we went there, anointed the vessel, encouraged and preached to them, letting them know they will be fine and all will be well. That is part of what we do”.
Speaking further, he explained that, “the spiritual controls the physical. Whatever happens in the physical, there is always a spiritual meaning to it. So it can happen because these are people who see water 24/7; every day, so there is a connection. That is the reason why they need more of our support, prayers and counselling”.
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