This church boasts no paintings or trimmings, no stained glass windows or holy symbols or icons. There is no silent music to create a calm atmosphere or a giant Bible that the preacher sets up for sermons.  

In contrast to Sunday services that are as white as snow, with purple robes that are ironed precisely and smell of lavender, this church is more scarlet, greyer like iron, with a smell of all earthly things. The members of the congregation are different too. 

They are not dressed in their Sunday best. You can see the odd oil stain, as well as signs of rust and dust that clings to everything. This church is loud. The noise is overwhelming, often causing a feeling of dizziness. The spaces are rusty and smudged with grease. The harsh iron and steel are unforgiving. It is stripped of any and all symbolism that may remind you of the invisible reality of God.  

Chris stands within the boundaries of a dry dock. It is probably one of the harshest environments in any harbour - perhaps on earth. The hammering continues non-stop. The screeching of hundreds of angle grinders used to remove the cancerous rust that started somewhere on the open seas, attack your hearing acutely. They are but the beginning of the process to try and curb the cursed rust.

It is a little strange for Chris to be standing here. It is not probable to find someone with a backpack filled with Bibles and literature in the midst of all the dirt and noise. It is highly improbable to find someone that just wants to say hi, find out how you are and bring Good News...  

Somewhere in the dust and smut, the oil and grease, Chris notices a cross. It is a random cross, created for some practical purpose, but it is unmistakable - it is a cross. It has a long, vertical mast and at the right height a horizontal bar. It towers over the ants' nest of activities. Chris quickly takes a picture of it.    

This is the reason for the CSO's existence. We belong here with the men working at sea, because our Saviour is here too. He is here in the improbable dirt and noisy areas, using His cross to help clean people and helping them to find peace. 

The men we serve in the harbours, the men hearing the message we bring, live in a very different world compared to ours. They find themselves in one of the toughest industries and working conditions on earth. They are away from loved ones for months on end. They suffer attacks by so many different things, including the ocean and pirates, so they need someone to remind them that there is always a Cross in the midst of the dust and soot, the oil and grease.    

Please we need your donation to continue our work. We work with heart and soul, but your donation helps to make a simple but huge difference.

To give a monthly donation through debit order, click here to download the debit order form. Email the completed form back to us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Click here for the different methods you can use to support us.

PS: Rina Hugo did an online concert last year to raise funds for the CSO. She has now made it available on youtube for you to enjoy!

'Worst day of terror by Myanmar Junta leaves 100 dead', shouts the sombre headline. Days later in bold accentuated letters in deathly black, 'Official number of innocent deaths following coup now 1001' ...  '87 child victims dead' a brief while later...  

For most people it is just another day, another headline. But, if it is about your roots, where you are from, it changes your world into a melting pot of fear, anger and a thousand mixed other emotions. One can only wonder how it will affect the men on board ships, themselves children just a short time ago in tropical Myanmar. Communication is erratic, the cruelty played down - an attempt of the militants to manipulate and polish news before it is released to the rest of the world.  

In the Durban container cargo terminal some ships visit again and again. Typically it takes about a month and a half, or two months for a ship to complete one route. This is why Chris often has a chance to meet the same men more than once. 

Today the man standing in front of him is from Myanmar. As their eyes meet, they both realise that they have met before. Chris tries to find ways to identify the man as a frequent visitor, reaching for all corners of his memories to find the information. He remembers that the man refused a Bible in the past. That does not stop Chris. He asks again...  

This time the man does not speak much, but he nods his head and holds out his hand, an open hand. The earlier resistance, the stern fist grip of his hand then, the attitude with which he refused the Bible have disappeared. It is as if the assuredness has vanished. It is as if his foundations, or what he thought to be his foundations, have dissipated. Those appear to have been fables. 

They do not speak much, but there is a reciprocal understanding that this is a turning point. For this man it is a radical step to find sense in a world that no longer makes any sense. It is shocking to know that something as horrible as '87 child victims dead' leave most people untouched, hardly warranting blinking an eye.  

Chris prays for him that the Holy Spirit will work within him, powerfully within him and that he may find peace in the Man of the Cross that also died for him, a seafaring man from Myanmar. This is because of your support.  It helps Chris again and again, month after month, to turn a tight fist into an open hand. Thank you for that!

In our world, the probability that no one has come across it, is really remote. Here it is commonplace. They are stacked on bedside tables, neatly on the corner of a desk, or on the sideboard in the living room. Perhaps they are made to stand in an honorary position on the shelf in the living room. They are available freely at the corner shop. It is so common to see them. Perhaps not for all.

Loffie is visiting the JOSCO HUIZHOU, a majestic coal carrier anchored in Richards Bay. A twenty strong Chinese crew manages the iron giant – guiding it en route. Two of the twenty men are on duty as security personnel and Loffie must report to them. They are responsible for visitors arriving and departing.   

When you hear about a pure Chinese crew, you pray hopefully and trust that a Bigger Hand will guide and unexpectedly stir hearts. However, no one will blame you if you feel a little pessimistic before your visit. With history as a guideline, chances of a meaningful discussion about the Gospel are slim indeed. A lot of experience, visits to ships and closed doors temper optimism when you climb the ladder to board the vessel. 

But, Loffie is brave, always hopeful, always praying, always believing in Him that remains so much stronger than the closed doors. So, he climbs dedicatedly, despite the historical disadvantages, to get to the deck. He made it his task to learn basic phrases in Mandarin, to open doors in often closed or even hostile situations. 

'Nǐ hǎo', is the greeting. Loffie explains why he is there, as well as he can. His Mandarin is good enough to convince the two sceptics to give him a chance. They make small talk before Loffie takes off his backpack to open it. He takes out Chinese DVDs and two Chinese/English Bibles. The men take these carefully, clearly not sure what to expect. 

'Ever seen a Bible?'

'Never!', they answer. They have never seen one, held one or heard about it.  

Suddenly a situation that could be viewed from a pessimistic stance, becomes a situation where a Bigger Hand sows seed on a greenfield. Using the English translation of the Mandarin, Loffie can explain about the Man of the Cross. He can package the seeds carefully and give water as he spends time with the two men. Just before he leaves for the next ship, he gets broad smiles when he says 'miang fy' – it is a gift!

Donations towards our work make this possible! 

God hears you. It is such a wonderful, positive statement. God listens and hears. From experience, you also know that it is not always that easy or how it works exactly.

You should take the time today to read Genesis 21. It is the story of Abraham, Sarah and Hagar. Hagar bears Abraham’s son. Jealousy overcomes Sarah and she convinces Abraham to send Hagar and Ismael away. The two leave and start the journey through the desert. Conditions are so terrible that Hagar puts her son down under a bush, expecting him to die. 

We then read: God heard the child. He gave them a way out, a godsend.

In the text and story about the three people, it is very clear. My God hears. God hears Abraham’s deepest wish, a longing for a child of his own. Abraham waited very long for him. God hears the pain of a father’s empty heart. God hears the pain of the child he has to sacrifice. He hears the father screaming against the heavens. My precious child!

God hears Sarah’s wish too. He knows about her barren womb. 

God also hears Hagar’s pain as she is chased into the desert, having to flee from her owner. He hears her fear as she places her first born child under a bush to let him die of hunger and thirst. 

God hears you. There is no trauma and despair that passes Him by. He hears your pain, worries, hurt and longing today. God hears and listens through all the turns and tribulations of life. Even through all your own made plans...

This is what the seafarers, must hear from the CSO and you.  This is what you must hear:  God hears you. 

Listen to this beautiful song by Rina Hugo (shared with permission)
MY HERE HOOR.
Album: Die Nuwe Jerusalem.