Bringing hope and healing to the world’s poor for nearly 40 years
Our Mission.
Mercy Ships, a global charity, has operated a fleet of hospital ships in developing nations since 1978. Mercy Ships follows the 2000-year-old model of Jesus, bringing hope and healing to the world’s forgotten poor.
Our Vision.
Mercy Ships uses hospital ships to transform individuals and serve nations, one at a time.
Our Values.
Desiring to follow the model of Jesus, we seek to:
- Love God.
- Love and serve others.
- Be people of integrity.
- Be people of excellence in all we say and do.
why a ship?
A ship is the most efficient platform to deliver a state-of-the-art hospital to regions where clean water, electricity, medical facilities and personnel is limited or nonexistent. And, because more than 50% of the world’s population lives within 100 miles of the coast, we can reach more people who need care.
learn about our ships
Don Stephens, Founder
Don Stephens founded Mercy Ships in 1978 with the purchase of the Anastasis, where he and his family lived for ten years. As President, Don directs and leads over 1,000 professional volunteers from 45 nations with offices in 16 countries.
He’s also the voice of “The Mercy Minute”—a radio broadcast aired on over 840 stations daily—and the author of three books: Trial by Trial (1985), Mandate for Mercy (1995), and Ships of Mercy (2005). In 2009, he was awarded the International Humanitarian of the Year award from Variety International.
listen to today’s Mercy Minutethe volunteers who keep us moving ahead
From the Captain and our Chief Medical Officer to deckhands and administrative assistants, it takes an enormous number of dedicated people to keep a floating hospital ship like Africa Mercy going strong.
meet our crew
