Our Vision
Vessels of Mercy International is a leading provider of practical assistance to those in need, both at home and around the world. We respond to God’s leading in obedience to know Him and make Him known to the forgotten, discarded, vulnerable, hopeless and unloved. We unite the body of Christ through partnership with diverse organizations, serving shoulder to shoulder to equip people to be self-sustaining and reach their God-given potential. We empower those we serve with the gospel of Christ to transform their families, communities and nations.
Our Mission
First and foremost, let us say that it is not about us; it’s about Him! We are committed to transforming lives and the world’s nations with a touch of His mercy! One heart…one life at a time!
Vessels of Mercy International is a worldwide charitable relief and development organization that alleviates poverty and human suffering by providing practical assistance and hope through the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Poverty and disaster are both physical and spiritual. We believe by extending both hands of the gospel, we can bring physical and spiritual wholeness to thousands of people in poverty-stricken areas of the world. We accomplish this through strategic tools such as emergency and support roles, providing vocational training, discipleship, education, medical aid, and the basics of life, such as food, clothing, and clean water. As we share the unshakable gospel of Jesus Christ and the practical love of Jesus Christ, we offer them HOPE. As a faith-based relief & development organization, our philosophy is to provide for the basic human needs of less fortunate people without regard to gender, religion, or social or ethnic origin. Vessels of Mercy Intl. seeks to help individuals discover truth through example and principle. His Compassion and Mercy in Action!
Vessels of Mercy International follows the 2,000- year-old model of Jesus, bringing hope and healing to the world’s forgotten poor.
We accomplish this through strategic tools such as emergency and support roles, providing vocational training, education, medical aid, and the basics of life, such as food, clothing, and clean water. As a faith-based relief & development organization, our philosophy is to provide for the basic human needs of less fortunate people without regard to race, gender, religion, marital status, age, social, national, or ethnic origin. Vessels of Mercy Intl. seeks to help individuals discover and reach their full potential through example and principle.
History
Bev Gibson started in 1982 by helping to establish the dental arm of Crossover Ministry. In 1983, Bev joined Youth with a Mission/Mercy Ships to serve on the Anastasis in the South Pacific Islands. Since then, Bev has served in over 150 different countries and has given more than 40 years of service to the nations. In 1992, Vessels of Mercy International, Inc. was founded by Bev Gibson and officially recognized by the IRS in 1995 as a non-profit 501(c)3 charitable organization. Bev continues to work on behalf of the poor and the underserved worldwide and at home.
VOMI was founded in 1992 by Bev Gibson and now serves the underserved and under-resourced in some of the world’s poorest countries and least-known people groups. Since its founding, VOMI has partnered with numerous individuals and organizations “on the ground” in the countries it serves and reaches people at their point of need. VOMI focuses on investing in relationships and sustainable development to maximize outcomes and empower those who help reach their full potential.
VOMI is just as passionate about reaching those in need right in its backyard as it is about reaching those in need worldwide. While it provides agricultural development in Kenya, Honduras, and numerous other countries, its volunteers offer hope to inner-city children living in poverty in Richmond and send disaster relief teams to assist victims of hurricanes, earthquakes, and floods in the United States.
For over 31 years, VOMI has championed the causes of the poor and oppressed by putting hands and feet to the beliefs that “Hope Changes Everything” and hope can only be found in Jesus Christ.
Vessels of Mercy International is governed by a board of directors that maintains legal control of the organization’s assets, making certain that contribution designations are honored and that the organization’s work remains consistent with its stated philosophy, purpose, and mission. Vessels of Mercy International, Inc. is registered with the Department of Consumer Affairs, an accredited Central Virginia Better Business Bureau for Charitable Giving member, has earned the Gold Seal of Transparency with GuideStar, and has earned a four star rating with Charity navigator. An independent financial review is done annually.
Vessels of Mercy International does not differentiate or withhold program services based on race, color, sex, national or ethnic origin, marital status, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, or age.
Reaching the 10/40 Window
4,890,000,000
Total Population in the 10/40 Window
8,213
Total People Groups
5,626
Unreached People Groups
We are committed to reaching the 10/40 Window, those who are unreached, unengaged, unevangelized, and under-resourced people groups of the world.
WHAT IS THE 10/40 WINDOW?
Most (97%) of the world’s unreached people are located geographically in what some scholars call the 10/40 Window from West Africa across Asia between 10 degrees latitude north of the equator to 40 degrees north.
- Total Population in 10/40: 4.89 billion people
- Total People Groups in 10/40: 8,213 people groups
- Total UPG’s in 10/40: 5,626 Unreached People Groups totaling 3.05 billion people. 40% of all individuals
- 60% of unreached people groups live in countries closed to missionaries from North America.
Over 1,000 unreached people groups are NOT in the 10/40 Window, these total over 80 million individuals.
Sources: joshuaproject.net
The mission organization Joshua Project reports that there are presently 16,842 identified people groups in the world. Of these, it is believed that some 6,989 groups, or 41 percent of these groups, are unreached with the Gospel message. Matthew 24:14 tells us that the “Gospel (message) of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”
As we look with anticipation to the glorious return of our Lord, we as His people should also pray for and seek ways to send the whole Gospel to the whole world. As we participate in this last days harvesting endeavor, we await the fulfillment of Revelation 7:9, ” I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb.”
Join with us in praying for the unreached people groups of our world, as well as for efforts underway to take the life-giving message of the Gospel to its nations, tribes, people, and languages.
Our Staff
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
- Bev Gibson, Henrico, VA (Founder/CEO/President)
- Brenda B. Raney, Midlothian, VA (Vice-President)
- Cerena Griffith, Chesterfield, VA (Secretary/Treasurer, Finance Director and Co-Chairman of the Board)
- Debra Gibson Davenport, Chesterfield, VA (Recording Secretary)
- Joan Sties, Richmond, VA
- Donna Jarrell, Bracey, VA (Chairman of the Board)
- Kim Alford, Henrico, VA
- Dale Jones, Moose Lake, MN (Emeritus)
- Cathleen Jones, Moose Lake, MN (Emeritus)
- Barbara Fatt, Sandy Hook, VA (Emeritus)