Mercy Ships Announces New CEO

By Michelle Vu

A hospital charity ship ministry announced the appointment of Cal Huge as its new chief executive officer on Tuesday.

The executive board of Mercy Ships had earlier confirmed Huge’s appointment on Nov. 28.

"Cal will be a great partner with me in leading the charity given his extensive and well rounded experience," said Mercy Ships’ founder/president Don Stephens, in a statement.

Huge began working with the ministry in the mid-1980’s when he prepared the initial legal groundwork for the establishment of several Mercy Ships offices in Europe. From 1987-1990, he managed the Mercy Ships Switzerland office.

The new Mercy Ships CEO is an attorney who most recently served as Interim Finance Manager for PACTEC International in Kabul, Afghanistan. PACTEC provides air transportation and satellite communications to NGOs (non-governmental organizations) in Afghanistan.

Huge also held the positions of president of Charlotte Christian School in Charlotte, N.C., and headmaster of Cathedral Academy in North Charleston, S.C.

The new Mercy Ships CEO and his wife Libussa (Bu) have five children and nine grandchildren. Huge’s permanent home is in Summerville, S.C. He enjoys sailboat racing during his free time.

Mercy Ships was founded in 1978 as a global charity by Don and Deyon Stephens. The ministry recruits volunteer professionals from around the world to join the crew on hospital ships that offer free health care services to the poor around the world. Doctors, dentists, nurses, community developers, teachers, cooks, seamen, engineers, and other skilled persons have made it possible for Mercy Ships to perform more than 1.5 million services, with a value of $600 million that directly impacted more than 1.7 million people.

  • ‘Wang Mingdao’s Diary’ reproduction highlights complexities of contemporary Chinese Christianity

    On December 9, the China Graduate School of Theology (中国神学研究院) hosted a public lecture titled “A Courageous Witness in the Times—Launch of Wang Mingdao (王明道)’s Diary.” The lecture, themed “Faith Patterns in Beijing’s Christian Churches Through the Lens of Wang Mingdao’s Diary,” featured Dr. Ni Buxiao (倪步晓), Associate Director and Assistant Professor at the Christian Faith and Chinese Culture Research Center of Alliance Bible Seminary (建道神学院), as the keynote speaker.

  • Floating library ‘Doulos Hope’ arrives in Taiwan; spreading love and hope from a former cruise ship

    Doulos Hope, the international floating book fair ship, has returned to Taiwan and is now docked at Kaohsiung Port, open to the public from December 18, 2024, to January 12, 2025. Originally built in 1991 and renovated in 2022, the ship features over 2,000 books on various topics, including faith, science, and art. It is operated by a diverse crew of 140 volunteers from 25 countries, offering services such as education, healthcare, and community outreach. The ship's mission is to spread hope and

  • Chinese Online School of Theology publishes annual ministry report: Expanding Chinese theological education through new strategies

    In the 2023-2024 academic year, New York-based Chinese Online School of Theology (COST) has seen significant development in expanding its ministry in theological education and mission outreach. They have promoted a series of new events and projects to explore different strategies that expand theological education for Chinese ministers. The following are some highlights from the 2023-2024 annual report:

  • Dr. Fenggang Yang: How foreign forces transformed traditional Chinese legal systems

    In a recent lecture to Chinese Christians, scholar Dr. Fenggang Yang (杨凤岗) gave an in-depth analysis of the historical evolution and contemporary significance of the modern legal system in Chinese society. He explored the tensions and integrations between traditional law and modern rule of law, highlighting the distinctive characteristics of China’s traditional legal system and emphasizing the role of foreign influences in introducing modern legal practices into Chinese society.