Don’t give up, don’t sit down, don’t count yourself out.

by Rachelle Ashbee

Rachelle  Ashbee is the  Program Director at Mercy Ministries of Canada. We first introduced her to you when she was our Director of Counselling. Now, Rachelle expertly manages the entire program at the home. We’re thrilled to share Rachelle’s inspiring and motivating thoughts about her experience running for Mercy last Saturday.

As I set off to run, I don’t think I fully recognized the challenge I was taking on… but as I put one foot in front of the other, God started to speak to me about the “race” of life.

He started to remind me how my pace is my pace, my path, my path, and when I start to try and match those around me, that is when I fall or fail. You see, I learned on this run that God has to set my pace, and it is in His strength that I take each step. I once again appreciated the fact that we do not see too far ahead in the race of life, that God  sometimes only tells me where my next foot is to go, because if I could see way down the road (which I did on Saturday), I would get overwhelmed and try to  take control of things which I was never meant to control.

He reminded me that it is because of Him– not me, that all things are possible! He reminded me that He goes ahead, and behind me. I realized that on this journey, sometimes people run beside, in front, and behind, and at other times there is no one in sight. God reminded me that He promises to never leave me or forsake me, and that He is always WITH me!

There was a time in the run where I did not think I could go on, and He reminded me that I could. At one point He sent someone for me to follow for a while, just so I could continue to move forward and do what was needed, even though I did not feel that I could.  Not giving up meant PUSHING through the pain, not letting my body and feelings dictate my decisions.

How often do I just give up or count myself out before I am meant to?

Just when I did not feel that I could go on, the reason that I was running became clear again. Right  there in front of me me was a Mercy graduate – beaming, smiling, encouraging, counting the cost, recognizing the cost, appreciating the cost . . . HUMBLED,  I run on.

How often do I ask the girls of Mercy to keep going, to push through, to persevere, to stay the course? and yet how often am I quick to avoid, sit out, move on, or ignore difficulty in my own life.

I have a new appreciation in this moment to what it means to “stay the course”. In Hebrews 12 it talks about running the race with perseverance, the race marked out for us.

Whatever part of the race you are on, don’t give up, don’t sit down, don’t count yourself out – persevere.

How – and Why – I Raised $5,000 for Mercy

Our top fundraiser for the Run for Mercy 2012 was one of our own former residents, Patricia! We were so impressed by her efforts that we invited her here to share from her heart about how – and most importantly, why – she raised more than $5,000 for the freedom of other young women and won  a brand new Kobo Vox e-reader at the Run for Mercy.

Wow, the Run for Mercy was so amazing. I have wanted to go to one for a few years now but I always seem to miss it. This one meant so much more to me as I had actually been to the program and realized what a difference it really made.

This was my first time in my life fundraising.  I never expected to to achieve that much money.  I started off with a goal of $1,000 and thought I could attain this one.  After one month I did, then a week later I made it to my next goal of $1,500, and then a few days later I was up to $2,000.  Then I thought, “why not try $3,000?” and got that in a week.  I thought, “why not do the impossible and make a goal of $5,000 in the next 8 days?”  It happened literally at the last minute.

I told people how after I got home I realized how much the Mercy staff really loved on me, and that helped me see and accept God.  Mercy really helped a lot, and with them and God, I have transformed into a new person that everyone in my life has never seen before.   I am actually able to be happy, and I want to live life. I know I have God, and Mercy, to thank for that.

With my passion for Mercy, I really wanted to give back.  I asked people in my life to give what was on their hearts from God to give and, well, they gave big.  My family and friends were really into it, too, which helped with getting me donations.  I have to say when I prayed to God, I asked him to do a miracle and do the impossible and help me raise $4,500 and I could contribute the rest.  Praise God because when you believe in Him, He comes through in a huge way.

Here are the Run for Mercy final numbers!

Mercy Ministries of Canada feels like a big, wonderful family for us, and so it’s always a joy to gather together, to catch up on what God is doing in the lives of the Mercy graduates and residents, tell stories, hug each other in real life, and, of course, to run or walk for Mercy!

This year’s Run for Mercy was amazing! Congratulations to all of you!

We’ll have a few stories about the day to share over the next few weeks but we know you’re most interested to hear the numbers right now. We do NOT have final times for all runners yet, only our winners. As soon as we have the final times and all of the photos, we’ll post the link here and on our Facebook page so check back.

Total raised by the end of the day on Saturday: $48,700

Top fundraising team: Congratulations to the Jericho Joggers $6,535

Top Individual Fundraiser Patricia Pearce $5000 – we’ll even have a post from Patricia this week!

Congratulations to all our runners, walkers and joggers and especially to our winners

10k Top Runners

Male

1^st Ian Smith  in a time of 38.55 minutes 

2nd  David Yakishiro

3^rd Glen Murray

Female

1^st Stephanie Musgrove in a time of time 52.01 minutes

2^nd Lauren Doubroff

3^rd Kristin Brown

5k Top Runners

Male

1^st Willy Phiri

2^nd Jason Alcott

3^rd Jordan Elenko

Female

1^st Veronica Fox

2^nd Glenda Lush

3^rd Jade Candle

There aren’t enough exclamation point to express how THANKFUL we are right now! (Well, thankful and TIRED!) Thank you to every one that showed up to run, walk, wheel, and cheer on Saturday. Thank you to our tireless, cheerful, hard working volunteers! Thank you to our staff for organizing such an incredible event. Thank you to our sponsors! Thank you to our donors! Thank you to each one of you that followed along and cheered the Run from afar. What an amazing day.

Donations towards the Run for Mercy will be accepted online until this Friday May 18th at www.runformercy.org/canada2012.

I’m running for tummy rubs

Roman moved into the the Mercy Ministries home in March

My name is Roman, and in case you’ve never been introduced, I am the only male living in the Mercy home.  I’m pretty important around here; and if I see you haven’t taken this into account when you visit I will certainly oblige your humanness by reminding you through chewing on your purse or shoes.  I won’t damage them (I’m not that sort of puppy) just enough to get that jolt of adrenaline of fear I might have ruined it.  Once at graduation, Christina thought the day was about her – but I kindly reminded her by eating just a bit of her testimony before she went up to share.  She got in line quickly.

I am running for Mercy because each one of the residents in this house are the best tummy-rubbers, treat-givers, pull rocks out of my teeth, clean up my messes, put my flea-treatment on, brush my hair, adjust my harnessers in the whole entire world.   If they weren’t at Mercy, who would be here to adorn me with love and affection?

See, it’s hard to train humans.  They think because, they are bigger than I am, that their way is the better one.  Of course I pretend to give in to

them– sitting when they repeat ‘wah, wah’ and look at me like I should write out a mathematical equation.  If I do this for them, I get what I want– which is to get them to throw the most beautifully fantastic yellow bouncy ball ever!  Floppity, flop I tear down the hall to get it WAY before them, so fast it’s like they weren’t even TRYING to get it.  Suckers.  All the glory is mine!  If they get uppity and start ignoring me all I have to do is roll over on my back and shoot them a little sigh…. In no time they are ‘oooing and ahhhing’ in my direction; a little praise helps settle a stomach.

Training humans is hard work

But these humans seem pretty special to me.  Especially the ones who are always here, they are my special humans.  For some reason, they all have extra love to give me and receive my kisses and snuggles with tears and joy.  It’s like they are big sponges for it!  Sometimes I see them crying like a leaky sponge, those days I give them an extra snuggle.  I don’t know why but a few of my favourite humans are really angry or really anxious sometimes.  I think some of them can’t help it. I’ve met dogs like that before.  I see them in the park and their owners are very nice to them, so the dog becomes not very nice too.   Makes me really happy my humans aren’t like that all the time, phew I’d be scared and leave them!  Don’t worry about me though, remember, I have them trained *wink.

But the special humans that have been here a really long time – they don’t get angry or anxious so much; they are happier.  Even if I forget to do my very private business outside and do it on the white carpets instead, they don’t punish me – they just make sure I take a longer walk next time to remember.

Roman is a morki-poo
(Maltese, Yorkshire Terrier, Toy Poodle)

So they’re all preparing for a REALLY BIG walk in a few weeks.  Mostly to celebrate how much they love walking me, but I think also so  they can keep the lights on and keep helping my most special humans.  Seems like a good cause, so I’ve lent all four of my paws!  Please make a donation or join my team – Roman’s Rovers. We going to have the most fun on May 12th! While you’re at it let me know why you’re running for Mercy, over at Mercy’s facebook page

The countdown is on!

46 days to go!

The registrations are coming in, teams are building, the word is spreading, and the fundraising race is on.

It’s Run for Mercy time!

We are running for the freedom and wholeness of our beautiful girls – for the physically and sexually abused, the sex trafficked, the prostitute. We are running for the drug and alcohol addicted, the broken, the hurting. We are running for the anorexic, the bulimic, the exercise obsessed, the depressed, the frightened, the anxious, the self-harming. We are running for our daughters, our sisters, our friends, our mothers, for all the young women in Canada that still need Mercy.

And we are running because we believe that God has a plan and a purpose for each one of His daughters; it is a plan for good and not evil, a plan of hope and freedom.

This is the one day, every year, when all of our supporters gather together to raise money and awareness for the work at Mercy Ministries of Canada.

The Run for Mercy: 5K Leisure Run/Walk or 10K Competitive Run

When: Saturday, May 12, 2012

Time: Registration starts at 9AM, Race starts at 10AM

Where: Campbell Valley Regional Park, Langley, B.C.

How to sign up: www.runformercy.org (Choose “Canada” from the drop down box)

Here’s how you can get involved today: 

1. Register a team. Then recruit team members from your church or youth group or workplace or friends. In addition to supporting Mercy through your team’s fundraising goal, it is an excellent opportunity to foster community as you train and fundraise as a team. Nothing like a little 10K to bring people together!
2. Spread the word for us. Put a blurb in the church bulletin, post about it on your Facebook page, announce it on Sunday mornings in church, tell people at work. Ask for donations, recruit team members, share the Mercy story – it all matters!
3. Become a sponsor. We have sponsorship package levels ranging from $250 – $5,000 for businesses, churches or individuals. Give us a call to talk it over.
4. Volunteer. Gather a group from your church to volunteer on the day of the Run as race marshals or at the registration table. We could always use an extra set of hands!
5. Be a virtual runner! If you can’t make it to the run, please know that you can still be a part of the day by registering and fundraising from afar. Consider yourself a virtual runner – you’re part of the team, as far as we’re concerned.

We have a website set up at www.runformercy.org to register individuals or teams, track fundraising efforts, send out emails – everything you would need to make this a good experience for you.

PLUS: The first 200 registrants receive a FREE Mercy Ministries foldable, BPA-free water bottle.

Join us over at our Facebook page for frequent updates as we countdown to Race Day.

We can’t wait to see you there!

A Year of Miracles

A Special extended edition of Speak Mercy
to mark a year since the opening of the Mercy Canada home.

It is exactly one year today since the doors of Mercy Ministries opened here in Canada and the first young woman was accepted into our program to find healing and freedom from issues that had controlled her for too long.  To God be the Glory!

A Celebration

An Anniversary Feast

To mark this important milestone, Last Sunday about 150  of Mercy Ministries’ supporters,  friends, graduates and staff  got together on the grounds of the Mercy Ministries home to remember what God has done and give thanks for everything that has happened over the last year.

It couldn’t have been a more perfect day for a celebration.  The sun was out and many supporters already in good spirits from having been at church service.  A wonderful spread of light snacks and sweets put together with love by Alan Koller and a beautifully restful setting created by Clara Atagi made for the perfect atmosphere for a Mercy family reunion.

As Mercy family members arrived, the sound of Jazz Music played by Ed and Salve Dayao of Java Jazz Café kept the mood light as many of those who had been on the journey to see hope renewed in broken lives came together in unity and Thanksgiving.

Special Message

Missing in person were Pastors John and Helen Burns who first had the vision of having a Mercy home in Canada. Away on a well deserved sabbatical, they made sure all who came knew that they were standing with us through a message read out by Nicola Bartel:

Pastors John and Helen Burns

“We’re in Uganda today, but our hearts and thoughts are with all of you as your celebrate this date that marks the anniversary of the Opening of the Mercy Home and all the miracles it represents.

The days behind us have been outstanding…we’ve seen the home finished, a fantastic staff built, and faithful partners have gathered to the vision and we are beyond grateful for everything that has been done and today we stand in awe.

The greatest miracle is the transformed lives of beautiful young women who have come and graduated, who are here in the home right now and who are still coming – the future looks amazing! To God be the glory great things He has done.

Thank you to every one who has stood with them to see their hope and future rise in the purposes of God. They needed you and you said yes – thank you.

To all our beautiful Mercy Girls... We love you… We miss you and look forward to catching up really soon. Have the most incredible day as you celebrate His faithfulness and goodness.”

John and Helen Burns xoxox

Graduates and current residents receive applause from guests for their courage to seek change

Challenges and Cheers

What a year it has been!

With the home built debt free and opened to young women, have come challenges expected and unexpected.  Difficulty finding relief staff has often meant that the amazing and dedicated staff team has put in many long hours to ensure quality care is given to the young women who come through the doors.

Released balloons represent prayer for freedom of the 59 girls in the intake process

Raising the finances for the ongoing costs of running a high quality program has proven to be quite the challenge.  There have been a few moments when we have needed a miracle to meet bills, and each time God has been faithful to come through, sometimes at the very last minute! To God be the Glory!  We are so grateful for our Treasure Builders who continue to provide monthly income for continued ministry to hurting young women.

Part of the story of the last year is told by the fact that Mercy Ministries was granted a 3 year accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitative Facilities (CARF) and is now in the process of certification with the  Canadian Council of Christian Charities (CCCC). These accomplishments are a testimony to the care and excellence that has gone into every aspect of serving the young women that God has entrusted to this ministry.

Of course as we look back on the past year we remember the 59 young women still in the intake process. A reminder of the great and ongoing need for Mercy Ministries in Canada. The need remains to fill the remaining unfunded beds in our current home and open other homes across Canada. Intake Director Marina Sullivan said a prayer for those in the intake process and balloons were released as symbol of their desired freedom.

Changed lives

Graduate Rachel tells her story and experience at Mercy

The biggest cheers of course go up for the changes that God has brought to the lives of young women through Mercy:

• 8 first time commitments to Christ
• 10 lives rededicated to Him
• 6 Water Baptisms
• 11 graduations.

That is almost one graduation, representing a life freed from strongholds, for every month that Mercy Ministries has been open.

To God be the Glory!

Click here to see more pictures of the anniversary celebration

To join in supporting Mercy Ministries please click here.

Driving Home the Mercy Message

by Musu Taylor-Lewis

Hearing about Pastor John Burns’ 100 hole golf-a-thon is more than a little inspiring.

This past Monday, at 58, he once again took on the challenge of golfing 100 holes in one day at the difficult Peace Portal Golf Course.  He was joined in the challenge, by professional golfer Jodi Reimer and local businessman Ryan Schwartz. He spent 11 hours running, up and down hills covering the distance of a marathon, swinging a golf club hundreds of times, and raised over $100,000 for Mercy Ministries.

Watching the effort?
That brings a whole different perspective on the day.

At first it makes one incredulous and leads to the question of Why?
Why would anyone want to do this?

It is not like Pastor John has to prove his commitment to anyone. He and his wife Helen were the driving force behind bringing Mercy Ministries to Canada. Together they have been relentless over seven years in working to ensure that young women have a place where they can experience transformation that only comes from God.

Watching Pastor John continue the challenge, with pained legs and as his swing gets more laboured; you begin to see strength, a strength that can only come from a deep seated and genuine care for hurting young women.
It is a picture of active compassion; compassion that forces him to keep going when his body wants to give up

John Burns' daughter looks on, in support, as her father golfs 100 holes

Watching the young women from the Mercy Ministries house cheer him on, as he nears the end of the day, suddenly one realizes that they are seeing a picture of The Father’s love for each of them. They get to see, that they are deeply loved. They are treasures, whose rescue is worth suffering for.

Suddenly, watching a golf-a-thon becomes a humbling reminder of a sacrifice that was made for each one of us over two thousand years ago!

Walking to Put Others on the Path to Life

by Nicola Bartel

This past Saturday, June 4th,  Northside Church hosted a 5k “Walk for Mercy” around the neighbourhood of Port Coquitlam. The weather was warm and sunny, but the hearts of the 170+ individuals who attended shone even brighter!

The day came about because Pastor Ingrid Janzen had rallied a group of women to prepare and participate in our annually scheduled Run for Mercy 5k.  When we had to cancel that event due to registration related difficulties, she said:

“Well then, we will just walk for Mercy here!!”

As the days passed, her passion increased and she began to plan, organize and rally the troops. Participants donned signs on their backs which said “I am walking for MERCY”. The day was fun, heartfelt and enjoyed by all, including our beautiful Mercy residents. The event concluded with a delicious BBQ lunch provided by the church, with trophies presented to the fastest times and a heartfelt testimony from one of our recent graduates.

Northside “Walk for Mercy” slideshow

I was so moved by the investment of a company of believers, who by their faith in action, communicated with excellence, their love and support to our amazing young women who need Mercy!

Men and women who have lived wisely and well will shine brilliantly, like the cloudless, star-strewn night skies. And those who put others on the right path to life will glow like stars forever. (Daniel 12:3, The Message)

Thank you Thank you Thank you! Northside Church Port Coquitlam Campus, and to Pastors Terry and Ingrid Janzen. Thank you for your amazing support and commitment to Mercy Ministries. Thank you for putting others on the path to life.

Friday Link Up

Happy Friday everyone!

Here are a few links from around the Mercy community that are worth your time this weekend. If you have read anything that really impacted you this week, feel free to share it in the comments with the rest of us.

Becoming a Dreamer who Takes Action (SheLoves Magazine)

Natasha is an amazing writer, a friend of Mercy and a woman on a mission. She has a weekly column at one of our favourite e-zines, SheLoves. This week, she highlights our own founder, Nancy Alcorn, as an example of someone who took a God-dream and saw it become reality. Completely inspiring!

A new baby was born to a resident at the Nashville home. We are celebrating with Aiden’s birth mum and his new forever family at his safe arrival.

Mercy Ministries of America just launched a new call-in radio show, hosted by Nancy Alcorn called Mercy Multiplied. The show discusses various issues that affect teens and young adults across the country. Some of the issues discussed are sexual and physical abuse, including sex trafficking, eating disorders, cutting and other forms of self-harm, addictions and more. The purpose of this show is to give you, the listeners, the opportunity to discuss how your life, or a loved one’s life, has been affected by these life-controlling issues, while we discuss and share amazing stories from individuals whose lives have been transformed and their hope restored. Click the LISTEN LIVE button at the site to hear this thought-provoking, yet encouraging show or you can subscribe to listen to the podcasts.

Mercy has been a part of the fight against sex-trafficking for many years now. Mercy Ministries of America has now launched a new website, End Sex Trafficking, to help in this fight. Even though it is a USA-based work at this time, there are many ways that you can help.

Along those same lines, this post from Nancy’s blog impacted many of us. She wrote, “It’s hard to believe that the average age of entry into sex trafficking is 12 to 14 and according to the Polaris Project, over 200,000 American youth are at high risk for commercial sexual exploitation each year. I came across the below video this week about how one pre-teen was manipulated and lured into this dark world, and it just reinforced to me the urgency of how much we need to take action NOW in order to bring these girls from death to life.”

 

Changing topics, also from Nancy’s blog, here is a WOW-moment for you. A graduate has written Nancy to share her thanks with our supporters for your role in changing her life. Must-read.

We’re hiring here at Mercy. If you’re interested in joining our team or know someone who would love it here, we have two maternity leave contracts available (yay for babies!) as well as some permanent positions for Night/Weekend Staff. Click here for details.

Finally, the Dollar 4 Mercy is coming up next month. We are looking for churches that want to be a part of making a difference in the lives of Canada’s women by highlighting Mercy for one Sunday. Full details of this flexible event are here. Your church – and $1 – can save a life.

We have some very special announcements coming up soon so make sure you keep checking back. I’ll give you a hint: It starts with GRAD and ends with UATION….
Have a lovely weekend!

- Sarah

The Very Mercy Christmas Party

Thank you to everyone who supported the Very Mercy Christmas surprise party for our residents. We had so much fun plotting for this party. The afternoon of the big day, we took the girls out of the house and then, boy, was there a flurry of activity! We were decorating and cooking a huge turkey, setting tables, wrapping gifts and blaring the Christmas music.  There must have been some angel activity in that kitchen because miraculously, all of the dishes were ready right on time!

Isn’t it just such fun to be busy working at making someone else happy?

When the girls returned from their outing, they were overwhelmed! We sat down for a huge Christmas dinner and then spent some time singing Christmas carols and hymns by the light of the tree. It was all so beautiful and intimate. Some of our residents were already weeping – it felt like family.

But then the biggest surprises began! We ushered everyone into the Gathering Room and started to bring out the presents.

I struggle to even find the words to tell you what this was like.  There were immediate shrieks of joy and laughter but then it turned to tears and brokenness. They just couldn’t believe that all of these gifts were for them. And from people that they didn’t even know. People that just loved them, right where they were.

You know, the devil can tell such lies, telling them they are not worthy of love, not worthy of even something as simple as a Christmas gift. But here we were on behalf of so many, lavishing gifts on them that were really just a tangible representation of people all over Canada (and the world!) that are loving them, praying for them, supporting their commitment to freedom and their stay here at Mercy.

We were all overwhelmed.

There was great joy and laughter as they unwrapped their gifts. A huge thank you to those of you who donated or contributed towards this special day. None of us will ever forget it.

In quiet places that night, we’d catch them, sitting with the letters or cards or gifts, just marveling at what it represented and the people who would do this for them.

So many of them said that it was the best Christmas they had ever had and that they felt like they had a huge, beautiful family.
A simple “thank you” can feel inadequate to the monumental experience of that evening – the candles, the intimacy, the singing, the prayers, the joy. But thank you. From all of us that were privileged to be your hands and feet of love that night and especially from the girls. You all helped to create a beautiful Christmas for so many. And may it always be counted unto you as righteousness.
Happy Christmas!

With great love and gratitude for each of you on their behalf,
Sarah