This Christmas Mercy Ships Founder Don Stephens will feature on a special televised carol service on TBN UK December 16. As well as sharing his story, Don will be announcing the charity’s latest developments, with news of their newest vessel the Global Mercy.
“I’ve known since I was a little boy that God had a call on my life. Even then I was searching for a purpose,” remembers Don who grew up in a Christian family in the mountains of Colorado.
“Fast forward three decades later to a meeting in Calcutta with Mother Teresa, who asked me three very important questions. First of all, she asked me ‘Why were you born?’ I explained to her a dream that I had about a hospital ship for Africa.
“She gave me several gifts – and one of them was she didn’t laugh at me. I don’t have a maritime background. I’m not from a family that knows the sea and I’m from a rural area thousands of miles from the sea.
“The second question was ‘Where’s your pain?’ She quickly let me know that God often uses pain as preparation for purpose. I didn’t want to talk about it, but my wife Deyon and I have four children.
This story is from the Christmas 2020 edition of Direction Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the Christmas 2020 edition of Direction Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
‘Imagine Everyone On This Planet Is Your Equal'
David Beasley, Executive Director of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning UN World Food Programme, reveals the words his work is founded on
God Sets The Example Of Adoption...
Many people have ruled themselves out for fostering or adoption when the system would rule them in, explains Krish Kandiah
The Work Of Missionaries In Lockdown
When lockdown brought Ian and Katie Moore’s mission work in Macedonia to a halt, they used the time to seek a refined vision for reaching their local area. They told Chris Rolfe their story
How Nurse Helped Acid Attack Model Find Faith
Katie Piper explains how a life-changing incident changed her life in more ways than she expected as she recovered in hospital
Big Challenges Issued At Online Conference
Elim’s first online theological conference examines how our understanding of the ‘End Times’ shapes our view of mission
Lockdown in London deepened my faith
Living alone in London may not have been what he dreamed about, but Chelsea’s Christian Pulisic says it has driven him closer to God
The Really Good News about new initiative!
Elim’s new online mission programme could be the biggest evangelistic outreach we’ve ever done, says national evangelist Mark Greenwood. As we gear up for Easter, he gives the lowdown on the campaign
It's the gospel of liberation, not renovation
When Jesus was 30 he went to the prison of sin, and knocked on the door. Satan opened that little window and said, “What do you want?” Jesus told him: “I have come to set the captives free!” A sermon by the late Reinhard Bonnke
The mystery of Skull Hill
Skull Hill is a rocky hill rising just outside the north wall of Jerusa-lem, not far from the Damascus Gate. It was given that name because of the striking resemblance to a human skull appearing on the weather-beaten formation of its southern face.
A decade of mission
With an Easter evangelism programme, the Elim Leaders Summit and a renewed call to mission, General Superintendent Chris Cartwright outlines Elim’s plans for 2021 and beyond
