A Community of Faith
“What does the Lord require of you,
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?”
Micah 6:8
Our Mission
“We believe that the way of Jesus inspires and informs our calling to be a tangible expression of love, and that His Spirit is working in us and in the world around us, enabling us to join in with God’s mission to heal and restore all creation.”
Mercy Ships Philosophy of Service, Section I
A Community of Faith
The merging of professional excellence and spiritual passion makes Mercy Ships a truly unique community. There is a strong Christian community of faith aboard that desires to reflect the love of Jesus to our patients, our partners, and one another. This shared faith fosters a deep sense of belonging, where crew members support and encourage each other in both work and daily life. Together, we seek to create an environment marked by compassion, unity, and genuine care.
Aboard our ships, you can expect to see Christian faith integrated into daily activities, including worship, prayer, Biblical teaching, small groups, and visits to local churches. All leadership and long-term crew (serving more than 12 months) are personally committed to the Community of Faith and share a commitment to following the model of Jesus and supporting their fellow crew in life and service aboard. This group adopts The Apostles’ Creed as our Statement of Faith, bringing unity to the diversity of Christian denominations and traditions that make up our community.
We also welcome those who don’t share Christian faith as short-term crew, valuing their contribution to the mission and participation in the community.
All crew serving with Mercy Ships are expected to abide by the Code of Conduct and be supportive of our mission, vision, and values. It is our goal to see all crew grow in their faith, love, character, skills, and competence, no matter their tenure.
Service
Our faith motivates why we serve but is not a condition for those who receive service. All our services to patients, caregivers, and local medical professionals are offered without discrimination. As long as our patients are medically qualified to receive the services we offer, we serve them unconditionally with integrity and excellence, demonstrating the love of Jesus.
Support
Our Chaplaincy and Member Care professionals are available to support crew members’ spiritual, emotional, mental, and relational health. Chaplains organize Sunday services and Community Gatherings, support crew-led small groups, and offer listening, counsel, and advice. The Member Care team supports the mental, emotional, and relational health of individuals, couples, and families during their time of service, with a Member Care Chaplain aboard each ship as a mental/emotional health professional.
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