History. Mercy Ships was founded in 1978 by Don and Deyon Stephens in Lausanne in Switzerland. The first ocean liner acquired was the Victoria, which was purchased for its scrap value of US $1 million. The nine-deck vessel was transformed into the hospital ship MV Anastasis over a four-year period.

Mercy Ships began our mission to provide hope and healing to those in need in 1978. Each year we send hospital ships filled with volunteer medical professionals who selflessly provide life-changing surgeries to children and adults who otherwise would go without.

This charity's score is 99%, earning it a Four-Star rating. If this organization aligns with your passions and values, you can give with confidence. This overall score is calculated from multiple beacon scores, weighted as follows: 80% Accountability & Finance, 10% Leadership & Adaptability, 10% Culture & Community.

Mercy Ships is an international faith-based charity whose foundation rests on an integrated biblical worldview of service to others and a personal relationship with Jesus.

Mercy Ships Key Executives. Bert Dijk serves as the CEO / President of Mercy Ships. Jim Paterson serves as the Senior Vice President International Operations of Mercy Ships.

Don Stephens Don Stephens first imagined a fleet of hospital ships as a teenage Christian. He later founded Mercy Ships in 1978, inspired by a meeting with Mother Teresa and the birth of his son with additional needs. “ We operate a world class hospital on a ship – it's a powerful tool!”

Mercy Ships delivers free, safe medical care to the world's least-developed countries. Our hospital ships are crewed by volunteers who treat dental and eye problems, cleft lips and palates, benign tumours, Noma, club feet, obstetric fistulas, burn contractures and various other conditions.

Over the last 30 years, Mercy Ships has been based exclusively in Africa, serving the nations of Benin, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of the Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Madagascar, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, and Togo.

In accordance with the Geneva Conventions, Mercy and her crew do not carry any offensive weapons, though defensive weapons are available.

This charity's score is 99%, earning it a Four-Star rating. If this organization aligns with your passions and values, you can give with confidence. This overall score is calculated from multiple beacon scores, weighted as follows: 80% Accountability & Finance, 10% Leadership & Adaptability, 10% Culture & Community.

We are sponsored by Mercy Health Ministry, which was established by the Catholic Church to oversee the healing ministry and Catholic identity of Mercy Health. The mission started by one woman is now 250,000 strong.

He was also nominated for a Congressional Gold Medal in 2017. He and his wife, Deyon, attend Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler. They have four children.