The International Seafarer Ministry of Miami began in September 2012 as a simple act of obedience.

The International Seafarer Ministry of Miami began in September 2012 as a quiet act of obedience.

Founded by Pastor Daniel Bailey, the ministry was born from a growing awareness that behind the movement of ships and commerce at PortMiami were men and women living far from home—carrying loneliness, fatigue, and spiritual hunger in silence. Seafarers help keep the world moving, yet they are often unseen and rarely pastored.

God placed a simple calling on our hearts: to be present.

As Pastor Daniel often reminds us,

“Our calling is simple: to be present, to listen, and to love seafarers as Christ loves us.”

What started as a small step of faith has become, by the Lord’s grace, a steady ministry of hospitality, listening, and care. Today, we serve more than 130,000 seafarers each year, offering a place that feels less like an institution and more like family—a safe space to rest, connect with loved ones, receive prayer, and be reminded that they are known and valued.

At its core, the International Seafarer Ministry of Miami is not built on programs, but on people. The faithfulness of local churches who pray, send, and walk alongside us makes this ministry possible. Business partners generously open doors and share resources, allowing care to reach the docks where it is needed most. And volunteers, giving their time, compassion, and presence, serve as the hands and feet of Christ—often through simple conversations that become holy moments.

Serving alongside this mission, Dr. Julio Salas, Executive Director, Missions Pastor, and Port Chaplain, captures the heart of our hospitality when he says,

“We cannot replace home, but we can offer family—if only for a few hours.”

Together, we serve seafarers from every nation, language, and background—not as projects to be managed, but as neighbors to be loved.

As a Christian ministry, our desire is to reflect the heart of Christ through quiet faithfulness: welcoming the stranger, tending to the weary, and offering hope without condition. Everything we do flows from the belief that the Gospel is not only proclaimed, but lived—often through small acts of kindness done with great love.

This ministry exists because God continues to stir the hearts of His people—churches, partners, and volunteers—who believe that caring for those at sea is part of the Church’s calling on land.

And that story, begun in 2012, continues today—one seafarer, one conversation, and one prayer at a time.