Founder/President of Mercy Ships (1978 - present).

From the International Operations Center in Garden Valley, TX, Don directs and leads an international workforce of over 850 professional volunteers in 17 national offices and on hospital ships.

Mercy Ships operates three hospital ships worldwide. The flagship of the growing fleet, the m/v Anastasis, is currently the world’s largest non-governmental hospital ship. The ships are crewed by skilled professionals from around the world including deck officers, engineers, lab technicians, doctors, surgeons, galley crew, etc. Mercy Ships crews serve as volunteers. All community development services and health care services are provided, gratis, for the poorest of the poor.

Voice of "The Mercy Minute", a radio broadcast aired on over 700 stations daily.

Married to Deyon Stephens since 1966; four children.

Member of United Methodist Church, Van, Texas.

Author of three books: Ships of Mercy, “The improbable but thrilling story of how a farm boy built a navy, how a retired ocean liner learned to be a hospital, and how a boat load of volunteers are changing the face of the world…one person at a time.” Thomas Nelson Publishers US and Hodder & Stoughton UK Publishers, 2005; Trial by Trial, Harvest House Publishers, 1985; and Mandate for Mercy, YWAM Publishing, 1995.

Conversant in German and French.