About Us
Who We Are
New England Seafarers Mission (NESM) is an outreach ministry of the local church that serves the international seafarers of the maritime business community. Our goal is to bring the comforting presence of God onboard the ships we visit, offering spiritual and physical assistance where we can. Our ordained chaplains and trained lay ship visitors reach out in the ways of advocacy, companionship, support and prayer. During our busy cruise ship ministry, we are assisted by caring volunteers who offer their time and talent to create an oasis of help and a house of prayer for crew members.
NESM began in the 1880s with the arrival of the Swedish Covenant Church during the great Scandinavian immigration to the US. We began with a single pastor who worked the waterfront, visiting primarily crews from the many Swedish ships calling in Boston. Over the years, that ministry grew to include people from all over the world. Today, NESM provides chaplains and services in Boston, Providence, and Narragansett Bay, and now reaches 35,000 people per year from 167 countries. Our core belief is that as a Christian organization, we are called to open our doors of hospitality to ALL women and men who reach our ports.
NESM is an agency of the East Coast Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church, and we have an endorsement as a co-operating ministry of the New England Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. We are supported by individual congregations from a large number of denominations, including a few free churches as well. We also enjoy the support of local businesses and government agencies.
How You Can Help
There are any number of ways for you and/or your church or group to get involved. We believe each person has TIME, TALENT and TREASURE to donate.
Would you like to be involved in our Cruise Ship Mission Ministry? Spend a short day with us and you’ll meet seafarers from dozens of countries and have a direct impact on their lives. We’ll even get you home in time for supper!
How about becoming a regular volunteer ship visitor? Year-round our chaplains and visitors climb onboard the ships that call into Boston and Providence ports and bring much needed friendship and assistance to the crew members.
Want something a little closer to home? How about knitting, sewing or assembling our Christmas Ditty Bag items. Each year our chaplains bring 1500 Ditty bags onboard the ships and with it, a little of the Christmas message.
Of course, we ALWAYS need your: