Maritime Bethel Savannah

05/21/2026

🚢⚓ AHOY, FRIENDS OF MARITIME BETHEL SAVANNAH! ⚓🚢

Well, it's been nearly a month since our Executive Director, John Houchens, forwarded us that sobering update from Jason Zuidema over at the International Christian Maritime Association, and I wish I could tell you the waters have calmed down in the Strait of Hormuz. But folks, the situation out there is still rougher than a nor'easter off Cape Hatteras, and those seafarers need our prayers and support now more than ever.

Here's what we know as of today, May 21st, 2026:

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⛵ THE SITUATION AT SEA – AND IT AIN'T PRETTY

You may have heard on NPR back on April 22nd that Iran fired on three commercial vessels near the Strait of Hormuz – the MSC Francesca, the Epaminondas, and the Euphoria – right after President Trump announced an indefinite ceasefire. Well, as my old Georgia grandmother used to say, "Bless their hearts, they didn't get the memo."

What we've got out there right now is essentially two overlapping blockades – one from Iran, one from the United States – and in the middle of all that geopolitical chest-thumping are real human beings trying to do their jobs and get home to their families.

Let me give you the hard numbers, because these aren't just statistics – these are souls:

⚠️ 29 vessels confirmed attacked in or near the Strait of Hormuz
⚠️ 10 fatalities recorded
⚠️ More than 20,000 seafarers are still effectively trapped in the region
⚠️ Multiple ships seized, crews held with no clear answers on when they go home
⚠️ Pirates off Somalia have added yet another threat – because apparently, one crisis at a time was just too simple

The IMO's own Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez put it plain as day: "No safe transit anywhere now in the Strait of Hormuz." He also shared the story of a repatriated seafarer – a man who worked on a tanker in the Gulf, couldn't sleep as missile debris rained down nearby, satellite connection too weak to properly call his family, telling his loved ones "I'm fine" when he was anything but.

As Secretary-General Dominguez said, and I want you to hear this loud and clear: "They feel forgotten. They don't feel valued… invisible and taken for granted."

Friends, that right there is exactly why Maritime Bethel Savannah exists.

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📞 THE NUMBERS TELL THE STORY

India's Directorate General of Shipping has handled over 7,400 calls and more than 15,600 emails from seafarers and families in crisis. The International Transport Workers' Federation has received nearly 1,900 requests for assistance from seafarers in the Persian Gulf alone – half of them involving unpaid wages, about 20% desperate to get home, and 10% on ships running dangerously low on essential supplies.

Crew changes have become a nightmare. Finding sailors willing to sail into a war zone to relieve exhausted crews is – and I say this with all due respect – like trying to find a volunteer to walk into a hornet's nest wearing a ham suit. It's a growing crisis on top of a crisis.

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🙏 WHAT CAN YOU DO RIGHT NOW?

Look, I'm a Georgia boy, and I know that when the creek rises, you don't stand on the bank and wring your hands – you grab a rope and start pulling.

Here's how YOU can grab a rope for Maritime Bethel Savannah:

✅ PRAY – These seafarers feel invisible. Pray that they know they are seen, valued, and loved by a God who walks on water.

✅ VOLUNTEER – We need warm bodies and willing hearts right here in Savannah, Georgia. When ships do make port, our ministry is on the front lines offering fellowship, support, transportation, and a friendly face. Come be that face! Contact us at www.maritimebethelsavannah.com to find out how.

✅ DONATE – This ministry doesn't run on good intentions. It runs on your generosity. Every dollar you give helps us reach the men and women who keep global commerce moving and who right now feel like the world has forgotten them. They haven't been forgotten – not as long as Maritime Bethel Savannah is on the dock. Give at www.maritimebethelsavannah.com

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🎉 NOW – A LITTLE SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO…

I know it can feel heavy reading all this, and trust me, it weighs on me too. But I'll tell you what Mike Jenkins always said in so many words – after every hard Georgia summer, fall always comes. And speaking of fall…

We've got something BIG brewing at Maritime Bethel Savannah, and I am not yet at liberty to drop anchor on all the details – but mark your calendars right now:

🗓️ OCTOBER 14th, 2026 🗓️

Something special is coming to Savannah, and you are going to want to be part of it. Stay close to our page, stay subscribed to our updates, and keep your eyes on the horizon. This is going to be one for the logbooks, friends. I promise you that.

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⚓ CLOSING THOUGHTS FROM THE CAPTAIN'S CHAIR

Our friends at the International Christian Maritime Association, the Mission to Seafarers, the Sailors' Society, and the Norwegian Seamen's Church are all working overtime providing remote support, helplines, and pastoral care to men and women stranded at sea. We are proud to stand in that same great tradition right here from the Port of Savannah.

These seafarers aren't just workers on a ship. They are fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, and neighbors to someone somewhere who loves them dearly. They deliver the goods that stock our shelves, fuel our cars, and keep our economy afloat – quite literally. The least we can do is make sure they know somebody cares.

Maritime Bethel Savannah cares. And with your help, we'll keep showing it.

Fair winds and following seas, friends – and God bless every soul on the water today.

— Dean Burnette
President, Board of Directors
Maritime Bethel Savannah
🌐 www.maritimebethelsavannah.com

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05/06/2026

🚢 SHIPMATES, LEND ME YOUR EARS ⚓

Friends, right now — as you're reading this from the comfort of dry land — there are 20,000 seafarers trapped in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz. Sleeping in their clothes. Rationing food and water. Watching missiles and drones fly past their ships. Waiting. Wondering if they'll ever make it home.

These aren't soldiers. They're merchant sailors — hardworking folks from India, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Pakistan and dozens of other countries — who haul the goods that stock your shelves, fuel your car, and keep the lights on. Ninety percent of everything you own got to you by ship. And the men and women who made that happen? Right now, a lot of them are scared, hungry, and feeling mighty forgotten.

At least 44 Iranian seafarers have been killed. At least 10 more killed in attacks on shipping overall. Some haven't been paid in eleven months. Some have been threatened by their own shipowners for refusing to sail into a war zone. The UN's International Maritime Organization is calling it an "unprecedented humanitarian crisis."

And here's the thing that keeps me up at night — public attention on seafarers is already starting to drift.

We can't let that happen.
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Here in Savannah, we sit at one of the busiest ports in America. Ships come and go every single day. And the seafarers on those vessels — whether they're in the middle of a crisis or just grinding through a long, lonely voyage far from home — need to know somebody on shore gives a damn.

That's what Maritime Bethel Savannah does.

We are your port's welcome mat. We are the friendly face that says "You matter. You're not forgotten. Come on in." We provide practical help, a warm place to rest, a phone call home, and the simple gift of human kindness to men and women who spend months at a time cut off from family and everything familiar.

This ministry has been doing this work right here in Savannah for a long time. And we do it because somebody has to. Because seafarers deserve better than being an afterthought.
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But here's the honest truth: We can't do it alone.

We need YOU.

🙏 Local Churches — Your congregation can make a real difference. Volunteer. Adopt a seafarers' ministry as a mission partner. Give. Your people have skills, time, and hearts that are needed right here in your own backyard.

🏢 Port & Logistics Businesses — If your company moves cargo, you owe a debt of gratitude to the people who crew those ships. Partner with us. Sponsor our work. Show the seafarers calling on your port that Savannah is a city that cares.

👤 Individuals — You don't have to go to the Persian Gulf to help a seafarer. You can help one right here, right now, through Maritime Bethel Savannah. Volunteer. Donate. Share this post.
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There's a doctor in Savannah who once told me something I never forgot. He said, "The patient who suffers in silence is the hardest one to treat."

Seafarers have been suffering in silence for a long, long time. The world is paying a little more attention right now. Let's not waste it.

Share this post. Say a prayer. Make a call. Write a check.

Because somewhere out there on the water — maybe closer than you think — somebody needs to know that Savannah has their back. 🌊

⚓ https://www.maritimebethelsavannah.com

📍 Maritime Bethel Savannah | Serving the Seafarers of the Port of Savannah

04/28/2026

From the Desk of Dean Burnette
President, Board of Directors
Maritime Bethel Savannah

April 28, 2026

Dear Friends and Partners in Maritime Ministry,

Well, here we are again. Another fine mess in the Strait of Hormuz, and once again it’s the seafarer caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. As I read Jason Zuidema’s update and listened to that NPR piece, my heart gets heavy as a full bunker of IFO 380. Twenty thousand-plus brothers and sisters still stuck out there after six weeks? That’s not just a crisis, that’s an outrage.

We at Maritime Bethel Savannah want to be crystal clear on two things:

First, to every seafarer still trapped in that dangerous stretch of water — whether you’re Filipino, Indian, Ukrainian, Montenegrin, Croatian, or any flag — you are not forgotten. You are not invisible. You are not “just cargo handlers.” You are hardworking men doing one of the toughest, most thankless jobs on earth, and the Christian maritime community is praying for you by name and by number (when we have them). We’re grateful for the helplines from Sailors’ Society, Mission to Seafarers, the Norwegian Seamen’s Church, and all the rest who are standing by those phones day and night. If you can hear this, hold the line, shipmate. Help is coming, even if it’s moving slower than a tanker with a dirty hull.

We also thank the IMO’s Secretary-General for speaking up as he did. That story he told about the seafarer who kept telling his family, “I’m fine” while missiles and debris rained down? That one hit me right in the stern. We’ve seen this movie before during COVID. Seafarers deserve better than being treated like ghosts with a boiler suit on.

Now, on the other matter: Some folks want to lay all this trouble at the feet of the United States and President Trump. With all due respect, that dog won’t hunt.

President Trump called for an indefinite ceasefire with the clear hope of getting negotiations back on track and bringing some stability to that part of the world. That was a serious offer made in good faith. Iran responded by attacking and seizing commercial vessels. That’s not how you respond to a ceasefire. That’s how you keep the pot boiling.

Our administration is working to bring real peace to the Middle East, not the kind that looks good on paper but leaves tankers burning and crews hiding in their cabins. Sometimes that means enforcing consequences when one side decides the rules of international navigation don’t apply to them. Freedom of navigation isn’t a suggestion — it’s been the lifeblood of maritime trade since sailcloth and rope. When somebody tries to turn the Strait of Hormuz into their own private toll booth with gunboats and mines, somebody else has got to stand up.

That said, our prayers remain with every seafarer in harm’s way, regardless of politics. We pray for the crews of the MSC Francesca, the Epaminondas, and the Euphoria. We pray for the families back home who haven’t had a real night’s sleep in weeks. We pray for the port chaplains, welfare workers, and mission folks on the ground in Dubai and elsewhere who are doing the Lord’s work in impossible conditions.

And we pray that cooler heads will finally prevail, that blockades will lift, that crews can get home to their families, and that the Strait can once again become a highway of commerce instead of a shooting gallery.

Until that day comes, Maritime Bethel Savannah will keep doing what we’ve always done — standing by the seafarer, lifting him up, and reminding him that he matters to God and to us.

If you can help — whether by prayer, financial support for the ongoing work, or just spreading the word — now’s the time. These boys need to know somebody back home still gives a damn.

Fair winds and following seas to all our maritime friends. May the Lord watch over every ship and every soul aboard them tonight.

Dean Burnette
President, Board of Directors
Maritime Bethel Savannah

03/05/2026

This morning at the Maritime Bethel Savannah Seafarers Center, I found myself praying a simple, stubbornly Savannah kind of prayer:

Lord, bless the seafarers.
Bless this ministry.
Bless our Board, John Houchens, our Executive Director, and Rich Hadeed, our Port Manager.
And anoint us with the skills, abilities, and resources to glorify You—while we bless each other and everyone who crosses our gangway.

Because here’s the truth, y’all: Savannah is a port city, and ports don’t sleep. Somewhere out there on the river right now, a crew is finishing a watch, missing home, wondering if anybody on shore sees them as more than a job title and a hard hat.

At Maritime Bethel Savannah, we do.

We meet folks who’ve been at sea for months. We listen. We help them get a ride, make a call home, find a warm welcome, a cup of coffee, a safe place to breathe for a minute, and a reminder that God hasn’t misplaced their address.

And I’ll tell you what—joy is contagious. The kind the Holy Spirit brings. The kind that says, “You matter,” without needing a sermon to prove it.

If you’ve been looking for a way to serve that’s real, practical, and downright Gospel-shaped, consider this your invitation:

Come aboard with us.

Ways you can help (no captain’s license required):
- Volunteer: Give a few hours—drive, welcome, listen, help us care for crews.
- Donate: Your gift keeps the lights on, the coffee hot, and the help available when ships come in.
- Support & Share: Tell a friend, share this post, pray for seafarers, and for our ministry.

Savannah has always been a place where neighbors look out for each other. Seafarers may be “from away,” but while they’re here, they’re our neighbors.

If you’d like to volunteer, donate, or learn more, send us a message right here on Facebook, and we’ll get you squared away.

Let’s be the kind of shore-side welcome that points people to Jesus—steady as a lighthouse and warm as a kitchen light.

—Dean Burnette
President, Board of Directors
Maritime Bethel Savannah | Christian Ministry to Seafarers

02/12/2026

🚢 A Harbor Full of Gratitude ⚓

Well, shipmates, let me tell you about something that happened last week that warmed our hearts more than a cup of coffee on the morning watch.

John Houchens, our Executive Director, and I had the pleasure of dropping anchor at the Savannah Maritime Association's After Hours event at Cohen's Retreat. Now, I've seen some crowds in my day, but this gathering was packed tighter than a container ship headed to port!

During the evening, John accepted a mighty generous check for $2,000 on behalf of Maritime Bethel Savannah from the Savannah Maritime Association. Friends, that's not just a donation – that's a lifeline that helps us continue our Christian ministry to the seafarers who sail into our beautiful port city.

These mariners travel thousands of miles from home, away from their families, bringing the world's goods to our shores. And thanks to the good folks at the Savannah Maritime Association, we can keep providing them with a safe harbor, a friendly face, and the love of Christ when they need it most.

From John Houchens, our entire Board of Directors, Rich Hadeed, and every seafarer we serve – we thank you, Savannah Maritime Association. Y'all are the real deal, and this port community is blessed to have partners like you.

Fair winds and following seas to all!

Dean Burnette
President, Board of Directors
Maritime Bethel Savannah
"Serving Those Who Serve the Sea" 🙏⚓

02/06/2026

This evening (Friday the 6th) should be a great evening for ship spotting on River Street in Savannah :

Lucie Schulte departing Ocean Terminal (that’s under the Talmadge Bridge) at 5:30 PM passing River Street soon after;

Ta**us departing GCT (Garden City Terminal) at 6:00 PM;

Ever Fond departing GCT at 7:00 PM;

Maersk Singapore departing GCT at 7:00 PM. Enjoy!

Pic is of crew from Lucie Schulte.

01/29/2026

Captain’s Log: Star Date, the year of our Lord 2026. Thursday, January 29.
Well, friends, I’m sitting here at the Seafarers Center in Savannah, watching the mist roll off the Savannah River and thinking about the folks we don’t usually see. While we’re all tucked away in our warm living rooms, clicking "Buy Now" for those Amazon gadgets or restocking the pantry with Walmart goodies, there’s a world of brave souls out there on the big blue water.

Right now, as I type this, there are men and women working in sub-zero temperatures, chipping ice off railings and navigating swells the size of a Georgia pine—all to make sure our "goodies" make it to our doorstep.

Every year, 3,300 ships pull into our port. That’s 60,000 seafarers from 50 different countries. They’re a long way from home, often for nine months at a time, and sometimes the only "welcome" they get is the sound of a container being slammed onto a chassis.

Now, if you’ve been looking for a mission field, you don’t need a plane ticket to the other side of the world. The world is literally docking at our doorstep.

We’re looking for a few good souls to "come on board" with us here at Maritime Bethel Savannah. We need folks who can share the love and hope of Jesus in word and deed. Whether it’s providing a ride to the store, a warm word of encouragement, or just being a friendly face for a sailor who hasn't talked to his family in weeks—you can be the lighthouse in someone's storm.

As my old friend Lewis Grizzard might have said, "Life is like a bowl of Brunswick stew; it’s a lot better when you share it with somebody who’s hungry."

So, don't just stand on the pier watching the ships go by. Help us reach them. Come visit us at our website to see how you can volunteer or donate. Let’s show these seafarers that Savannah has a heart as big as a cargo ship.

Fair winds and following seas,

Dean Burnette
President of the Board, Maritime Bethel Savannah
⚓️ https://www.maritimebethelsavannah.com/

01/22/2026

01/22/2026

John Houchens, our Maritime Bethel Savannah Executive Director, conducted a short celebration of life service on board Ain Snan Express at 1300. Their Captain passed away on 17 January while alongside in Charleston. He was on board late last night with the crew. Please keep the captain's family and the Ship's Crew in your prayers. https://www.maritimebethelsavannah.com/