Resumen de History of the Maritime Faith Welfare Organizations

Paul G. Mooney

• The organized outset of modern Christian outreach to seafarers can be traced to the foundation of the Naval and Military Bible Society in Britain in 1779. Yet, structures existed for ministry to the maritime community in the medieval and early modern periods. The concept of welfare in terms of maritime faith welfare organizations includes several dimensions, such as, the spiritual, mental , moral, physical and temporal wellbeing of seafarers and maritime communities. The emphasis on the different aspects of welfare may have changed at different points in the development of maritime faith welfare organizations. Nevertheless, along the history of such an outreach, the constant factor is the commitment of the maritime faith based organizations to the seafaring community.