Our Legacy Stories
Over the course of 50 years, Vesper Society took on many organizational forms: Vesper Memorial Hospital, Vesper International, and Vesper USA, to name a few. The concept of the Vesper flame held the organization together through all of these transitions.
The Vesper logo was inspired by the Old Testament story of Moses and the burning bush that burned continuously but was not consumed. The logo combines the image of a flame with Vesper Society’s initials signifying that, as we immerse ourselves in service to others, we are renewed. The Vesper flame reflects that continuous energy.
Here, we highlight legacy stories from each phase of the organization that illustrate how Vesper Society has always heeded the call for service. A vital part of our organizational culture has been to adapt our approach to each situation so that every community we support receives what it really needs for maximum impact. As you will see from these stories, Vesper Society has often been ahead of the times and part of the leading edge of societal change.
Central America Roundtables
Recognizing a need in a region torn by civil war, Vesper Society was part of a partnership that orchestrated a series of Central America Roundtables aimed at achieving peace. In 1990, Vesper Society partnered with Georgetown University and the... Read More
HIV/AIDS Treatment
South Africa has the largest and most high profile HIV epidemic in the world. This is the story of a leader in a rural town in South Africa who, in the face of this devastation, created a program that... Read More
Knox Dental Clinic, Jamaica
In the hills of rural Jamaica, Vesper Society helped start a dental clinic in the late 1970s on the Knox College campus. This is a story about vision, relationships, and service. Born in Glasgow, Rev. Lewis Davidson set sail... Read More
Vesper Hospice and Home Care
Although the concept of hospice—providing refuge for the sick—is centuries old, the first hospice in the United States wasn’t established until 1974. Shortly after that, in 1979, Vesper Society opened one of the first hospices west of the Mississippi.... Read More