“For me, it’s a privilege to serve our Shetland fishing communities. My Christian faith underpins my work and ministry.”
For more than 145 years, we have stood alongside fishermen and their families. Much has changed in fishing communities over that time, but our commitment to caring for fishermen remains.
Fishermen still face heavy seas every day, drawing on their skills and experience to bring home the catch. When accidents happen, or families face difficult times, our Port Staff are there to offer practical, emotional and spiritual care.
Our work is firmly rooted in our Christian faith and driven by the compassion we see in the life of Jesus.
There when fishermen need us
Aubrey, our Area Manager in Shetland, knows just how important it is to be ready when fishermen need support.
“The seas around Shetland are home to some of the world’s richest and busiest fishing grounds. We are often a staging post for fishing emergencies at sea, with casualties arriving by boat or helicopter at Shetland’s hospital.
“This can happen at any time, day or night. I always strive to be alongside the injured fisherman – often arranging their journey home when they are well enough, or, if they need to transfer to the mainland, ensuring their care continues through my Fishermen’s Mission colleagues.
“Being there in those first moments can make such a difference. Fishermen and their families know they have someone alongside them when they are facing uncertainty and distress.”
Faith at the heart of our work
Shetland’s communities stretch across a remote and beautiful landscape. For Aubrey, serving fishermen means travelling wherever people need him, sometimes reaching communities that are difficult to access.
“Shetland is a wonderful place to live and work, although many people are unaware of just how remote it is. I’m often taking ferries to the islands to support fishing families in the more distant communities.
“I recently conducted a funeral on Out Skerries. The community there consists of fewer than 40 people, with the ferry only running on demand. I was there to greet the coffin and be with the family and friends as they grieved together in this close-knit community.”
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
2 Corinthians 8:9
Practical Christian ministry
From responding to fishing emergencies to travelling to remote islands, we are putting Christian compassion into practice every day.
Our Port Staff build trusted relationships with fishermen and their families, offering practical care alongside emotional and spiritual support. They meet people wherever they are.
We are grateful to everyone who makes this ministry possible.
Please remember the practical Christian ministry of the Fishermen’s Mission in your prayers, and consider making a gift to help make God’s mission to fishermen and their families possible.
