Right Around the River Blog

Maritime Ministries Hosts Open House at Rocketts Landing’s Marina

Post Date: 10-10-2013

In July, we profiled local nonprofit Maritime Ministries, an interfaith organization that sails up and down the Eastern Seaboard to “reach and mobilize remote maritime communities for Christ.” They dock their vessels at the Rocketts Landing marina, and we enjoy seeing their sailboats on the James River between their travels building relationships with churches along the Intracoastal Waterway.

 

(Maritime Ministries outreach vessel docked at the Rocketts Landing marina)

This past weekend, Maritime Ministries hosted their first open house and invited the public to come down to Rocketts Landing and board their sailboats to learn more about their outreach efforts — and life on a boat. On October 5, about 60 people came out to our riverfront community, including visitors from across Virginia and as far away as Elizabeth City and Ocracoke Island, N.C.

 

(Maritime Ministries crew)

When Maritime Ministries isn’t docked at Rocketts Landing’s marina, they spend their time generating goodwill. Whether through sharing a meal with people on deck, handing out bread to those in need at local ports or even holding Sunday church aboard the boats, Maritime Ministries certainly keeps busy! Throughout their travels, they offer faith organizations an alternative way to perform outreach and engage in humanitarian work. And they attribute their relationship with Rocketts Landing to helping them fulfill their organization’s mission.

 

(Maritime Ministries second outreach vessel docked at the Rocketts Landing marina)

“We appreciate what Rocketts Landing has done for the riverfront in Richmond and the help we at Maritime Ministries have received,” explains Capt. Rev. Roy Armstrong. “What a wonderful place [Rocketts Landing is] to live and work from.”

 

(Maritime Ministries boats docked at the Rocketts Landing marina against downtown Richmond's skyline)

Maritime Ministries plans to make their open houses an annual event. Their vision for next year is to host a three-day seminar with Maritime Ministries affiliates from the UK, Sweden, the Bahamas and potentially Mexico. If you’d like to learn more about the organization, be sure to check out their website. They have more events planned and invite the public to visit their boats, as well as their office in Shockoe Bottom.

 

(Maritime Ministries outreach center on Main Street in Shockoe Bottom, Richmond, Virginia)

We’re honored to be able to host downtown Richmond’s only public marina at Rocketts Landing and provide a space for people and organizations, such as Maritime Ministries, to embrace and fulfill their river lifestyle. Ahoy!