The agreement describes what the Community of Faith is and the commitment its members make to one another. Membership in the Community of Faith is required for all who serve onboard a ship for 12 months or more, and includes participation in the OnBoarding discipleship and cultural orientation program. Crew serving 3-12 months participate in the Equipping to Serve program. Crew serving 0-3 months are welcome and encouraged, but not required, to attend Equipping to Serve.

The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen.

Members of the Community of Faith aboard a Mercy Ship set the culture and environment of a unique venue with which thousands of patients, short term volunteers, day workers, and others interact. While all individuals who serve at Mercy Ships locations worldwide are expected to respect and live out Mercy Ships Core Values in their service and employment, members of the Community of Faith have the added call and responsibility of ensuring that these values are always dynamically sustained and expressed in life and service on a Mercy Ships hospital ship. As such, members of the Community of Faith formally commit to live by, encourage others in, and model these core values. As such, members purpose to uphold and serve one another, as they also exercise the responsibility of welcoming short-term volunteers, day workers, and guests into the ship community.

Mercy Ships Core 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

It is expected that individuals who are called to serve and become Members freely and voluntarily contribute and dedicate their labors, their talents, and their life’s purpose to Mercy Ships efforts to carry out its mission and calling to follow the 2,000-year-old model of Jesus, bringing hope and healing to the forgotten poor. Members are expected to wholeheartedly serve sacrificially and joyfully, placing this calling and commitment above other goals and ambitions as they invest their lives into the mission of Mercy Ships.

The spiritual ethos of Mercy Ships is distinctly one of community. Members aboard the ships meet regularly for staff meetings, devotions, worship, Bible study and prayer. Members are expected to maintain daily disciplines to undergird and grow in their personal relationship with God. In keeping in conformity with Mercy Ships Core Values, they are expected to exercise self-control and abstinence in issues of Biblical sin, and to abide by the Code of Conduct. Where self-control or abstinence becomes difficult, members are expected to seek the necessary help to deal with the issues. Living and serving in close community and working cross-culturally bring great joys and fulfillment, as well as frustrations and disappointments. Members are expected to use their experiences in community life to grow in character, self-awareness, and love.

Mercy Ships conducts entry training and formation to prepare individuals for their service and participation in the Community of Faith on a Mercy Ship. Members are expected to successfully complete such training and to apply what they have learned to their service, and to their personal, spiritual, and professional/vocational growth.

I have read the above and freely choose without reservations to become a Member of the Mercy Ships Community of Faith. I ascribe to the Statement of Faith. I commit to live by, uphold, and model to others Mercy Ships Core Values. I will serve sacrificially and wholeheartedly, setting aside other ambitions and priorities as I apply myself on behalf of the forgotten poor and seek to follow the 2,000-year-old model of Jesus. I will live in community striving to love, serve, and be at peace with others.