| About Mercy Ships |
| Introduction |
Mercy Ships, a global charity, has operated a growing fleet of hospital ships in developing nations since 1978. Following the example of Jesus, Mercy Ships brings hope and healing to the forgotten poor, mobilizing people and resources worldwide, and serving all people without regard for race, gender or religion.
With the dawning of Democracy in South Africa in 1994, Mercy Ships Southern Africa (MSSA) was established shortly thereafter. The Mission of MSSA is to support the work of the global charity in Developing Nations. Following the example of Jesus, Mercy Ships brings hope and healing to the poor, mobilising people and resources from our region.
Over the past 12 years more than 300 Southern Africans have served on Mercy Ships, at present more than 10% of the staff and crew on the ships is from our region.
Our goal is to facilitate the work of Mercy Ships International in the Southern African Region through:
• Propagating the work of Mercy ships throughout the Corporate, Media, State, fChurch and Humanitarian sectors of our communities.
• Sourcing Material Resources.
• Providing Logistic/Organisational support.
• Sourcing Volunteers.
• Raising funds for loving action projects; eg. Mercy Vision: South Africa.
• Identifying and motivating upliftment/social projects in the region.
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| How it all began |
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In 1978, Don and Deyon Stephens, with a team, began the process of finding a suitable vessel to fulfill the dream in their hearts of a hospital ship serving the world's poor.
After surveying many ships, the Anastasis (ex Victoria) was selected as the most suitable in relating to fulfilling the objectives laid out in the feasibility study. The deposit was made at the signing of the contract on July 7, 1978. The purchase for $1 million was completed on October 5 through loans, primarily through a Swiss bank.
Don and Deyon began recruiting crew to staff the ship and raising the funding to bring the Mercy Ship into compliance with international standards, which had recently expired. Four years were required - one year in Venice, Italy and three years in Elefsina, Greece to lay the foundation for future service and to pass sea trials with Lloyds Registry as a "100".
Ongoing efforts resulted in the transformation of the passenger ship into a hospital ship. Following the model of Jesus, Mercy Ships believes the nature and character of a loving God must be demonstrated both visibly and verbally. Today there are three hospital ships in the fleet bringing hope and healing to some of the world's most needy. |
From the beginning, Don Stephens has served as Founder/CEO of Mercy Ships. Don holds a bachelors degree in religious studies from Bethany College, Santa Cruz, California. Deyon, a registered nurse, serves as the Director of Training and oversees the Ships Watchmen program. Married in 1966, Don and Deyon have four grown children and became grandparents in 2002.
Dr. Stephens has received the Two Hungers Award and the Religious Heritage Award. He is also a Paul Harris Fellow through Rotary. Conversant in German and French, Don lectures internationally and is the author of two books, Trial by Trial and Mandate for Mercy. His third book, Ships of Mercy is published by Hodder and Stoughton in the UK and Thomas Nelson in the USA fall of 2005.
Don is the voice behind the Mercy Minute, a daily radio broadcast aired internationally on over 720 radio stations. Don and Deyon often speak at seminars and conferences worldwide and appear as radio and television guests.
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| Mercy Ships' offices worldwide |
Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Holland, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States of America.
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| Nations Served |
Benin, Brazil, China, Cook Islands, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Fiji, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Latvia, Liberia, Lithuania, Madagascar, Mexico, New Caledonia, New Guinea, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Pitcairn Island, Poland, Samoa, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, South Korea, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad, Vanuatu. |
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| Into an ocean of need, dedicated volunteers representing over fifty nations bring together their wide-ranging skills to make a lasting difference. |
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The 499-foot 16, 572 GRT Africa Mercy is currently undergoing the final stages of conversion from rail ferry to hospital ship in a Newcastle UK shipyard. The purpose-built hospital covers most of the original rail deck and includes six state of the art operating theaters, intensive care and ward bed space for up to 78 patients. Originally built in Denmark in 1980, the newest Mercy Ship will have a berth capacity for 484 and will be the largest non-governmental hospital ship in the world when completed.
Fact Sheet <--Click Here
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