THE BLACKBURNS

In 1994, I joined Mercy Ships as an elementary teacher, as a single person (more to come on that story later). My Dad drove me to Albany, New York. He dropped me off at the M/V Anastasis, and I sailed down the Hudson River, past the Statue of Liberty and then to Rotterdam, Holland. A few weeks later, the Anastasis sailed to Tema, Ghana, West Africa. I will be joining the Global Mercy in the Canary Islands on Wednesday, the 29th of July, and then sailing down to Ghana, wh

Please pray for our new CEO of Mercy Ships, Dr. Michelle White from the UK. We are very encouraged by her leadership during this new season in Mercy Ships. Mercy Ships Appoints Dr. Michelle White as New CEO - Mercy Ships

Warrie and I served on our hospital ship in Africa from 1994 to 2007, and then as a family from 2017 to 2020 (Covid). From 2007 to 2017, we served at our Texas office, with Warrie working with our leadership team, and I was directing our ship school remotely. From 2020 to present, Warrie has worked with our international chaplaincy team, and I have been supporting our teachers and leaders in our ship school from Texas. I occasionally go to the ship to help with various scho

Merry Christmas from our home office in Texas! Getting 17-year-old girls to pose for a family Christmas photo is no easy task, so instead, we’re sharing a special memory from Christmas 2008—the year the twins were born. We’re deeply grateful for your presence in our lives as we’ve had the privilege of serving with Mercy Ships, both on board and from Texas. This season, we celebrate the true meaning of Christmas: the birth of our Savior, Jesus. Everything else is just a beaut

Born with a growth that weighed down her head and no access to safe surgery, little Armella faced an uncertain future. Her mother prayed for a miracle; she just wanted her daughter to be okay. When the #AfricaMercy docked in Toamasina, Madagascar, everything changed. Through generous people like you and the dedication of #MercyShips volunteers, Armella received life-changing surgery. Today, she can lift her head high in joy, health, and hope. 'Tis the season to celebrate th