Our History
In the 1700s pastors began to visit the sailors on the tall-masted sailing ships in the Port of London. They would row out to the ships and hold worship services with the crews. In time a ship in the harbor was actually transformed into a church. Then the crew members from the ships anchored in port could attend services on the water. This was the beginning of seafarers ministry. In the US seafarers ministry has been going on in places like New York City and New Orleans for the past 50 years.
1987-1992
Pastor Joe Mutter of First Baptist Church of Cape Canaveral began working to meet the physical and spiritual needs of seafarers who came to Port Canaveral. Records at the Brevard Baptist Association mention that there were hundreds of baptisms during that time period.
1993-1997
Roy Dunning helped Pastor Ken Babington start the SeaPort Ministry out of First Baptist Church of Cocoa Beach. The primary focus of their ministry was visiting on Premire Cruise Line’s “The Big Red Boat”.
1997-1999
In 1997 a retired couple, Bill and Emily Richard, from Live Oak, Florida came to offer their experience, talents and time to begin a ministry at Port Canaveral. Following the leadership of the Brevard Baptist Association Director of Missions Harold Brantley and its executive committee the Baptist churches stepped out by faith to begin the Space Coast Seafarers Ministry. Bill and Emily prayed and developed relationships in the port and in churches. They began to visit cargo ships and in time gained permission to minister on cruise ships. They passed out Bibles and tracts and magazines. They shared the love of Jesus with hundreds of seafarers in dozens of ways. They were able to obtain a van and an office. They provided phones and a computer for crew use. They shared their vision in worship services, prayer meetings, Sunday school classes, mission meetings and banquets across the county and many joined with them through their prayers and financial support.
Although there were individuals and groups that reached out to the international crew members of Port Canaveral in the 1990s the official history of Canaveral Port Ministry (CPM) didn’t begin until 1997.
After two years the Richards had laid the foundation and built a healthy ministry. They felt they had completed what the Lord had called them to do. They asked the Association to find someone to take over the ministry. Brevard Baptists then called Dan Bailey to come serve as the full time director/chaplain. A year later the ministry purchased and renovated a 4,000 square foot former Post Office building for a hospitality center. They hired a part time and then full time assistant for the ministry. We currently have 4 full-time and 2 part-time staff members, and over 100 volunteers, 4 vans, two buses and WiFi for 300 personal devices to connect to the internet on a busy day. This ministry touches thousands of international seafarers from over 80 different countries each year.
