Generosity Lives On

By Nicola Bartel

Nicola Bartel remembers a faithful supporter

Sometimes individuals cross your path that not only have an impact on your life but they inspire you to go above and beyond! Ed Spence is one of those individuals whom I had the privilege of knowing.

Ed Spence was one of Mercy Ministries’ biggest cheerleaders. He first heard of Mercy through  a presentation at his church. Ed was generous and began donating funds  from his personal ministry, collecting bottles and cans and giving to a variety of charities and individuals who were in need. Ed received a copy of “Echos of Mercy” and was so moved, and inspired, we soon became one of the  greatest recipients of his generosity.

The biggest gift to Mercy was Ed’s choice to regularly buy multiple copies of Echos and pass them on to people in his world of influence.  On several occasions, he sent flowers to the girls and staff to cheer them on, and regularly showed up to our events along with his family!

Sadly, Ed passed away suddenly this past December. He has left an amazing legacy behind and a challenge to us all to do what we can to help others. If I can think of a verse to describe Ed it would be John 15:13, “Greater love has no one, than this, than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

Ed’s extended family has generously donated $10,000 so that we can renovate a small on-site building to be used as our Intake Department.

Ed Spence, with his wife Joanne and mom Connie at the 2010 Mercy Walk

We will have a plaque on the building in  memory of Ed Spence with a scripture chosen by his wife and daughter.  Any left over funds will go towards the building of a gazebo in the back yard for the beautiful residents to use as a shelter from the sun and rain.

Our residents love to read and do their assignments outside in our peaceful back yard. A gazebo would make it  possible for them to do that more often. The men’s group at Riverside Community Church, where Ed attended, has volunteered their time and expertise to build this and to help raise funds to complete a gazebo.

I invite each and every one of you to consider making a contribution on behalf of Ed to ensure we will be able to complete this project, doing our part to give life to John 15:3 by laying down our lives for our friends!

Click here to make a donation today. Request “Gazebo fund” or “on behalf of Ed Spence” to help finish the gazebo for our residents

A Gift in God’s hand

We’ve grown so used to hearing his footsteps at the home, that we can recognize his presence before we see his smile or hear his voice. He may arrive without notice or in response to a call for help but he’s always at the home for a reason.

Ed Pauls arrives at the Mercy home several times a week, to take care of routine tasks, discuss finances or to fix problems around the home. Yet, while focused and dependable, he always stops to talk, to smile, to check-in-on-how-you’re-doing and to listen.  His next visit may come as a result of something he’s observed or heard, solving problems that haven’t even been spoken.

You see Ed’s volunteer service has become as much a part of ministry to the young women at the Mercy Ministries home as, the counseling, the discipline, and the Bible reading. Though he does not directly address each young woman’s struggles, his care is felt as they enjoy the comfort of the home; his service powerfully demonstrating love in action. The time he takes to talk, speaks to them of their value and when he smiles as he walks  to a task, he uplifts one who may have been feeling down. Thinking of Ed, it is easy to paraphrase 2 Corinthians 9 : 12 – 13 to address him directly

This service that you perform is not only taking care of the Mercy Ministries home, but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourself, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your unique expression of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with the Mercy girls and with everyone who supports Mercy Ministries.

The current residents recently sat down to put together their thoughts of gratitude:

Ed gives instructions during the renovation

“Thank you” doesn’t seem meaningful enough for a man who has made such an impact on our lives here at Mercy. We want to take a moment to honor  Ed by saying a few things from our hearts of thankfulness.

Thank you Ed for being here – and so willingly – to give of your time. For all the maintenance and upkeep you do both around the house and outside. Everything from raking leaves, hanging Christmas lights, fixing our HOPE  sign and getting us new chairs. You always go the extra mile for us. Thank you for your big daddy hugs and your interest into our lives.

Your presence is a strong and gentle encouragement. Thank you for the compassion love and dedication you pour into our lives at Mercy. Ed you really raise the standard for other men and it’s an honor to know you. Words cannot express accurately our gratitude. We love you Ed.

Ed started volunteering to help build a house where young women could find hope. He took the skills and gifts he had, to help coordinate and put together a building, so that others could minister to those who struggle. God has taken his gifts – offered to Him gently and with humility- to feed minds, spirits and hearts.

Ed (far right) and his wife with the first graduates from the Mercy Canada home

An Amazing Space!

Its not just the beautifully decorated space that strikes visitors to the Mercy Ministries home.

There is definitely much more to the atmosphere here  than the  modern and thoughtful detail that makes the home so inviting. What makes the home inviting is the Spirit behind every detail.

Nancy Alcorn Spoke about the home and the atmosphere created here in her first visit after it was completed.

The Spirit of Excellence: The home represents a desire to serve women well, to give them the best of what God and His church have to offer. Never serving carelessly or callously; not just the best in terms of furnishings and living environment, but the best in standards, staff and support.

The Spirit of Comfort: The home brings comfort to women who have been uncomfortable with themselves for a long time. The comfortable environment reminds them that they are God’s treasures and that He alone can provide relief and comfort from the pain that they have endured.

The Spirit of Care: The care that went into designing the home and that goes into maintaining the home reflects the care for the young women who come through the doors. Just as much care and more is poured into each young woman’s life. She is carefully looked after and given every opportunity to experience the transforming power of God’s love.

The Spirit of Perseverance: Perseverance is what has turned the vision given to Nancy Alcorn into reality and eventually brought that vision to Canada. That perseverance continues in the vision to see each girl live her life to its full potential. No matter how far from God’s will a young woman has drifted, or how much pain has distorted her life, the staff at Mercy Ministries encourage here to pursue her healing and will persevere with her.

We dedicated it to the glory of God and to changed lives

I remember being 18 years old, sitting on the harvest gold theatre-style chairs in the Oral Roberts University Chapel, listening to a small woman with blonde hair and a thick Tennessee accent talk about her work with the girls no one else believed in or loved. I remember my heart growing too big for my chest, straining against my ribs, aching with a sense of purpose, hanging on every drawled word from her mouth.

Now, thirteen years later, I was sitting next to that small blonde woman with impossibly white teeth at a restaurant, chatting and going over the weekend and telling stories. And trying to keep from shouting out “ARE YOU KIDDING ME, GOD?!”

Isn’t it amazing when even the dreams that you tucked away in your heart, the ones that you thought were dormant, have a way of being fulfilled in God’s perfect timing?

I am home at last, exhausted but with a full heart. My feet are swollen and I never, ever want to wear pantyhose again.

I have so many stories, so many moments, so many miracles from the past weekend that I hardly know where to start.

It all went well. Even with the torrential rain storm and mud and thousands of “Plan B” moments, it was amazingly God-soaked (and rain-soaked).

We don’t remember ever working harder in our lives or being happier doing it.

Now we’re just trying to process it all. Not just the aftermath of details for a Benefit Dinner, Silent Auction (I need to start contacting winners and organising pick ups, heaven help me) and the Grand Opening and Dedication in pouring rain in a muddy field processing and clean up, the ever-expanding long list of THINGS TO DO and MUST FOLLOW UP and PRIORITY.

But even emotionally and spiritually, there is much to absorb and process and wade through.

My primary emotion tonight though (well, beside exhaustion to the bones) is gratitude.

I am so thankful that God has directed my steps here.
I’m thankful I am able to be a small part of this vision coming to reality.
I’m thankful for the vast Mercy family that are faithful and passionate about women, a voice telling them that for their former shame they shall have double honour.
I am thankful for Pastors John and Helen Burns and their growing influence in my life.
I am thankful for Nancy Alcorn.
I am thankful for my co-workers and their patient hardworking husbands.
I am thankful for every single passionate volunteer that worked twice as hard for twice as long as what was expected in the pouring rain and mud – with JOY.
I am thankful that almost all of the home’s rooms have been sponsored.
I’m thankful we raised so much support and awareness this weekend.
I’m thankful that it was a success.
I’m thankful for my parents who showed up at every single event and then, tonight, made my family a turkey dinner and just dropped it off at the house so that we would have a home cooked meal.
I’m thankful for my husband’s selfless support and tireless love.
I’m thankful for the village that has helped care for my tinies during the intensity of the weekend.

The first Canadian Mercy Ministries home has been dedicated to the glory of God and to changed lives. Staff training starts tomorrow. We’ll have an Extreme Makeover: Mercy Edition to wash sheets and scrub windows and hang wallpaper.

Then the 20 girls arrive this summer. And…
we will bring good news to the poor,
comfort the broken-hearted and
proclaim to the captives and prisoners that they are free.
We’ll tell those that mourn that the time of the Lord’s favour in their life has come.
We will walk with them to the One who
gives a crown of beauty for the ashes of their sorrow,
gives them joy for their tears,
praise for their despair.
In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks
that the Lord has planted for His own glory.

Selah.

We are building the walls with prayer

About 30 women gathered at the new Mercy Canada house last night.

We lit candles, prayed together, opened our Bibles and then began to write prayers and scriptures of hope all over every wall in that house.

I have to confess – I cried like a baby.

It was a powerful thing. All of the women there had their own story.

I spoke with one precious mother whose own daughter has struggled with self-harm, cutting and anorexia for years. She was there, as a mother, standing in the gap for all of those mothers whose daughters fight that battle. She wrote Scripture after Scripture on the walls, praying each one in a whisper.

In the bathrooms, there are now words about beauty and wholeness, about the glory of a woman fully surrendered to Jesus.

In the bedrooms, words of peace and rest, sleep and quiet. Whispers of love, shouts of joy.

In the dining rooms and gathering places, words of power, healing, strength and freedom.

We are speaking the words of life over them already. We are building this house with the prayers of many, the tears of the waiting and words of life. These words will be written again on the studs and frame of the house itself, carved into the foundation and then written in our hearts.

It’s been a long road to get here. We do everything debt-free and so we never take another step until we can pay for it in full. We bought the land (a beautiful 4.3 acres in south Surrey) and now we are about to renovate the house. And we’ll be open next year after the renovation.

You know what the means? In less than a year, she’ll be living there. Surrounded by love, compassion, wholeness. Receiving the help she so desperately needs.

She’ll be set free. Hope will be restored. And her life will be transformed.

Oh, my heart is grateful for all of our supporters. Look at what the Lord has done!

- Sarah