HR616 - Honoring Donald K. Stephens for his work as the founder and president emeritus of Mercy Ships.

      H.R. No. 616       R E S O L U T I O N          WHEREAS, Donald K. Stephens has had a transformative impact   in the lives of countless people through his efforts as the founder   of Mercy Ships, an international faith-based charity that uses   hospital ships and volunteer professionals to provide free medical   care to men, women, and children across the globe; and          WHEREAS, In 1978, Don Stephens founded Mercy Ships along with   his wife, Deyon; its vision was inspired by the work of the   international hospital ship S.S. Hope , as well as by their   experience as the parents of a child with disabilities; he oversaw   the growth and development of the organization until his retirement   from operational duties, and he also hosted a daily radio broadcast   called "The Mercy Minute," which aired on some 840 stations for over   two decades; today, he continues to promote the Mercy Ships mission   internationally in his role as president emeritus; and          WHEREAS, A global Christian missionary organization, Mercy   Ships operates two vessels, the Africa Mercy and the Global Mercy ,   the latter of which was funded by a capital campaign managed by   Mr. Stephens and commissioned into service in 2022; each ship is   deployed to field missions in low- and middle-income nations, where   thousands of volunteers perform such surgical procedures as cleft   lip and palate surgery, cataract removal, and orthopedic and facial   reconstruction; all patients are treated free of charge, regardless   of their religion, race, or gender, and since its inception, close   to three million people have directly benefited from the services   the charity has provided; and          WHEREAS, In addition to overseeing the operations of the   organization, Mr. Stephens has authored three books, Trial by   Trial , Mandate for Mercy , and Ships of Mercy ; in 2009, he was   presented with the International Humanitarian of the Year award   from Variety International; and          WHEREAS, Under the compassionate leadership of Don Stephens,   Mercy Ships has been a beacon of hope to the world's most   vulnerable, and his lifelong service in behalf of the   organization's mission and his steadfast dedication to the greater   good are indeed worthy of special recognition; now, therefore, be   it          RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas   Legislature hereby honor Donald K. Stephens for his work as the   founder and president emeritus of Mercy Ships and extend to him   sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further          RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be   prepared for Mr. Stephens as an expression of high regard by the   Texas House of Representatives.     Hefner     ______________________________   Speaker of the House                 I certify that H.R. No. 616 was adopted by the House on March   31, 2025, by a non-record vote.     ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House