Mercy Ships, bringing hope and healing

(Mercy Ships is an international organisation. This photo is from their English site)

How cool is this? Mercy Ships is a fleet of volunteer-run (no government funding) which makes and takes hospital ships where they are needed around the world. When you think that Liberia has just been through an 11-year civil war and has only 25 doctors, you can see the need. This Christian charity only goes to the countries with the greatest problems.

"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 poor, mobilizing people and resources worldwide, and serving all people without regard for race, gender or religion. Our goal is to serve one million people a year.

"Since 1978, Mercy Ships has impacted over 5.5 million people; delivered more than $21 million of medical equipment, hospital supplies and medicines; completed close to 350 construction and agriculture projects including schools, clinics, orphanages and waterwells; and demonstrated the love of God to people in 95 ports in 53 developing nations."

Readers know that I have problems with Christianity, but I'm always the first to admit that there aren't a whole lot of charities run by your local Pagans, Marxists or Anarchists, so good on Mercy Ships for what they are doing, and I hope they get lots of donations.

Tagged: charity, poverty, war, health, activism