Our Founder - Don Stephens
Don Stephens founded Mercy Ships in 1978 with the purchase of the Anastasis, where he and his family lived for ten years. During his time as President, Don directed and led thousands of professional volunteers from over 40 nations as well as employees in 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.
