by the Rev. Geoffrey Davis

SCI Chaplain, Ministry on the River, Lower Mississippi & Gulf Coast Region

From the December 2025 Quarterly Activity Report

One of the great aspects of working in the maritime industry, particularly on the inland side, is the abundance of advancement opportunities. As an SCI Chaplain, it is a tremendous blessing to come alongside mariners, to minister to them during moments of struggle, but also to celebrate their accomplishments with them.

Most people understand the importance of talking with someone when facing difficulties. However, for mariners, who often work long hitches away from home, finding someone to confide in can be difficult. This is especially true if they are uncomfortable sharing personal struggles with shipmates. Sometimes, fellow crew members can be the best source of support, as the closeness built on board can create a meaningful space to talk through issues. But other times, the onboard environment makes it necessary for a mariner to seek help from someone outside of their immediate circle.

This is where SCI MOR Chaplains fill the gap. Our 24/7 availability ensures that there is always someone ready to listen. An example of this involved a mariner who reached out to me after seeing my availability posted online. I make myself available to mariners who may need someone to talk to, and in this mariner’s case, they were facing a crisis that affected both their career and their home life. We began regular conversations that helped the mariner process and navigate these challenges one step at a time.

In this case, the mariner was struggling in a challenging environment. Life onboard a vessel—especially with only a few crew members—can easily narrow one’s perspective, making personal successes and failures feel amplified within that small space. The mariner felt overwhelmed by a situation that seemed, at the time, to be a career-ending challenge.

Through our conversations, we were able to shift the mariner’s focus from the immediate problem to a broader view of the opportunities ahead. This helped him move through the crisis and begin taking positive steps forward. Over time, the mariner would check in occasionally, often just to say hello and share updates about life. Having the ability to reach out, beyond his vessel, and process those struggles made a tremendous difference for this mariner.

More recently, I had the joy of celebrating with this mariner, who had just earned a promotion to what he called his dream job. Witnessing his journey—from a place of despair to a moment of fulfillment—was profoundly meaningful. As a Ministry on the River Chaplain, my work is rooted in presence. Since joining SCI, I’ve come to see more clearly how powerful that presence can be in offering hope to those who may feel they have little to no options.

This experience was a beautiful success story, and I’m grateful for it. Not every crisis ends this way, of course, but I am here to listen, to support, and to remind mariners that there is always hope, even in the hardest situations. Sometimes simply showing up for someone in their moment of need can make all the difference.