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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Donald K. Stephens has had a transformative impact |
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in the lives of countless people through his efforts as the founder |
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of Mercy Ships, an international faith-based charity that uses |
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hospital ships and volunteer professionals to provide free medical |
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care to men, women, and children across the globe; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1978, Don Stephens founded Mercy Ships along with |
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his wife, Deyon; its vision was inspired by the work of the |
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international hospital ship S.S. Hope, as well as by their |
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experience as the parents of a child with disabilities; he oversaw |
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the growth and development of the organization until his retirement |
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from operational duties, and he also hosted a daily radio broadcast |
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called "The Mercy Minute," which aired on some 840 stations for over |
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two decades; today, he continues to promote the Mercy Ships mission |
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internationally in his role as president emeritus; and |
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WHEREAS, A global Christian missionary organization, Mercy |
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Ships operates two vessels, the Africa Mercy and the Global Mercy, |
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the latter of which was funded by a capital campaign managed by |
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Mr. Stephens and commissioned into service in 2022; each ship is |
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deployed to field missions in low- and middle-income nations, where |
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thousands of volunteers perform such surgical procedures as cleft |
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lip and palate surgery, cataract removal, and orthopedic and facial |
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reconstruction; all patients are treated free of charge, regardless |
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of their religion, race, or gender, and since its inception, close |
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to three million people have directly benefited from the services |
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the charity has provided; and |
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WHEREAS, In addition to overseeing the operations of the |
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organization, Mr. Stephens has authored three books, Trial by |
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Trial, Mandate for Mercy, and Ships of Mercy; in 2009, he was |
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presented with the International Humanitarian of the Year award |
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from Variety International; and |
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WHEREAS, Under the compassionate leadership of Don Stephens, |
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Mercy Ships has been a beacon of hope to the world's most |
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vulnerable, and his lifelong service in behalf of the |
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organization's mission and his steadfast dedication to the greater |
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good are indeed worthy of special recognition; now, therefore, be |
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it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor Donald K. Stephens for his work as the |
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founder and president emeritus of Mercy Ships and extend to him |
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sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Stephens as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |