Called to Speak Mercy

by Jacki Miller

“…the first job God put in my heart was to raise money for the ministry.  And ultimately that is what Advocates are doing…we are out there raising awareness and planting seeds in hearts for the young women who desperately need our help!”

Jacki Miller was hand picked to raise money for Mercy Canada

I learned about Mercy at a women’s conference in Seattle, that I attend each year.  Nancy Alcorn was there in 2001 and that was the first time I had heard about Mercy Ministries. My first reaction to it was that it was a great ministry to give to – but that was it.  My husband didn’t share my enthusiasm as he prefers supporting local ministries.  But I knew that God had put this ministry in my heart.

Later I heard God say to me that I can be involved in a different way – I could help raise money for this ministry.  So I sent a letter off to the head office in Nashville to see if they would let me come and see the home there first hand, as I could not raise money for something I had not personally seen.  I never got a reply so I dropped the idea and told God, “I tried!”.  Then I went to the annual women’s retreat in Seattle again in the fall of 2002 and Nancy Alcorn was there again!  This time the fire in my heart was too strong to ignore! I knew this was something that I was supposed to be a part of!  So I went to speak with Nancy after she was done speaking and told her that I would like to come and see the Nashville home.  She got right on it and had it set up for me to come!

Nancy Alcorn arranged for Jacki to visit the Nashville home

I was there visiting the home in January 2003.  My husband still didn’t understand why I was getting involved in a ministry that was not local, as that was our focus.  I didn’t understand either, until I was introduced to one of the young women in the home who was the first Canadian girl to stay in a US home.  She was excited to talk to me as a fellow Canadian!  She told me she was from Surrey, from Victory Christian Center (now Relate Church), and that John and Helen Burns were working on bringing Mercy to Canada!  Now it all  made sense!  This is why I was drawn to this ministry! It really is LOCAL!

I have been involved in volunteering in the office since the beginning.    From the time I first started til the date of the opening of the Canadian home it took 7 ½ yrs!  If God would have told be back then that it was going to take that long I would have never made it!  God knew what He was doing!

Along the way my work evolved into becoming the Coordinator of the Advocacy program.  This is truly where my heart is as the first job God put in my heart was to raise money for the ministry.  And ultimately that is what Advocates are doing…we are out there raising awareness and planting seeds in hearts for the young women who desperately need our help!  My spirit just comes alive when I have the opportunity to share with someone personally or a group about Mercy Ministries!  It is like the story of Jesus  in John 4 when Jesus explains to his disciples why he was talking to the woman at the well instead of looking for something to eat!

“My food, said Jesus, is to do the will of Him who sent me, and to finish His work.” 

Being a part of Mercy Ministries is just that to me – it is the food that sustains me.  Hearing the testimonies and seeing the lives changed – there is nothing greater to be a part of!  I am so honoured that God has chosen me for this work!  I am so thankful to have to opportunity to meet these amazing young women and to see the transformation first hand!

Jacki Miller (Centre) with the first group of Mercy Canada residents

If you would be interested in being a part of the Mercy Ministries Advocacy Team – please contact us!  We are looking for individuals who have a heart to see transformation – for lives to be pulled out of darkness…  hearts to raise money and spread awareness for this amazing ministry! Together we ARE saving lives!

For all of YOU who support us financially – I can’t THANK YOU enough!  THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!

Caleb’s Note

Every so often at Mercy we have moments that remind us just how much the work, prayers and support are transforming lives.  Each one of those moments is precious but some tug at the heartstrings more than others and make everything worth it.

Today we received the gift of a moment like that in the form of a “thank you” note from a 10 year old boy.

Caleb’s mom, graduated from the program earlier this year. Just before she left, she reflected on the impact her transformation would have on her 2 children.

“They can see what it is to have a normal, healthy family. Generations will be changed because of this.”

Caleb with his Mom, who graduated from Mercy earlier this year

Today her words are all the more meaningful. Generations are already being changed because of the Mercy program. What a thrill to get a glimpse of the ripple effect of one transformed life through the early Christmas gift of Caleb’s note.

Caleb’s thanks goes out to all the staff, board and  the supporters of Mercy who make it all possible. Of course we can all join together to thank God for His work in transforming a life and giving a  little boy a reason to hope.

Give a Mercy-filled Christmas

The Mercy-filled Christmas project is in full swing and we’re getting excited by the response we’ve had so far.

With a month to go before our Christmas celebration in the home, almost all the gifts from our gift registry have either been bought or pledged by supporters. Gifts are being provided by women’s groups, bible study groups, churches and individuals.  Thank you!

For many of the residents, Christmas can bring back painful memories and this project is a great way to remind our residents of the community that surrounds them and is rooting for their freedom.  To get a glimpse of just how much this will mean to the residents, read about last year’s  Very Mercy Christmas Party in the Speak Mercy archives.

There is still time for you to get involved in this worthwhile project; here are some ways you can do that:

• Check out the gift registry to see what is left for purchase. Choose a gift that you would like to provide for residents then buy or join forces with others to provide 12 of each item.
• Think of a gift that you would like to provide for the residents and let us know by emailing info@mercyministries.ca.
  

  $165 covers the cost of a day at Mercy

• Provide a day of Mercy.
  All our young women attend Mercy completely free of charge. As a gift to our residents you can cover the cost of counseling, meals, biblical teaching, and fitness instruction for a day at Mercy Ministries. Of course with our matching campaign going on right now, you would be providing for 2 days of Mercy with this gift. Simply go to our gift registry and purchase One day or Half a day of Mercy. 

No matter which option you choose, you will be helping to transform lives and restore hope.

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.

Support of the Heart

“I just felt God pulling at me.”

This is how Laureen Upshaw describes her reaction to hearing Nancy Alcorn speak about Mercy Ministries at the 2003 Life Women’s Conference.  She got involved right away and has been an active advocate for Mercy Ministries ever since.

Mercy supporter, Laureen Upshaw with her husband Cavey

This month Laureen has been selected as Mercy Ministries Advocate on the Move for presenting Mercy Ministries at her life group, manning the Mercy table at conferences and actively providing ideas for promoting Mercy even more!

Laureen’s motivation for supporting and advocating for Mercy comes straight from the heart, she says:

Today I am a wife mother and grandmother, but at one time in my life I came from a massively dysfunctional home. I did a lot of the behaviours that these young women are doing.  I finally reached the bottom at 19 and I cried out to God, I said “show me you’re real or I want to die” and He did. I got into the Word of God and I felt loved!

I read the verse “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”  I really believe that I have become completely new! So when these girls from Mercy give their testimonies I just relate so much.

There is a ton of heart involved with Mercy, a combination of gifts of people who have a heart of pouring into Mercy, that’s what makes the home run… God’s grace is using them to make help available to these girls and I’m just a small part. Its amazing to me that God allows advocates to be a part of what He’s doing.

The support of people like Laureen is at the heart of everything that Mercy Ministries does. It is how Mercy can continue to bring the healing Word of God to hurting young women completely free of charge, without any government funding. Laureen is passionate about seeing others get involved as supporters and advocates.  “When they see God’s sweet fruit of overcoming show up through the girls the reward is amazing, it  is very worthwhile getting involved.”

Laureen (far right) helps out at the 2010 Walk for Mercy

To find out more about how you can get involved  click here

Mercy Comes Free

By Musu Taylor-Lewis

All of the young women, who come to the Mercy Ministries home, are taken in completely free of charge.  This is one of three founding principles given to Nancy Alcorn when she started Mercy Ministries over 25 years ago. It is an expensive commitment for a ministry that does not take funding from any  government source, but the importance of the principle came  through recently in the story of one of our Canadian residents.

She had applied to come to Mercy after years of struggling with a severe eating disorder and had looked at the possibility of going to a private eating disorder clinic in her city:

“They required a minimum stay of 80 days [less than 3 months] at the clinic and charged $600 – $800 per day.  It would have cost my family $48,000 for me to go there and we just don’t have that kind of money”

The fact that Mercy was free brought her through the doors, but while at Mercy this young lady dealt with so much more than her eating disorder and in the process found her way back to the God she had rejected as a youth.

Her story explains the heart of why Mercy will always be free; after all, the God who gave Nancy Alcorn those principles, also  gives mercy freely everyday to everyone of us, and Mercy Ministries is another way He extends his generosity to hurting young women.

Nancy Alcorn explains  in her book “Echoes of Mercy.”

“Part of the reason for this of course, is that many of the girls who come into the homes do not have any financial means. What a tragedy it would be for a child to be killed because a young woman could afford an abortion but not a safe haven to have her baby.

Even more important to us, however, is our desire to represent the unconditional love of Jesus. There are quite a number of girls whose parents could pay to send them to Mercy Ministries. If we charged any of the girls, they would be tempted to think that we are trying to help them simply because we get paid for our services. We don’t want to give the accuser any opportunity to cause the young women to doubt our intentions”

Nancy Alcorn with former Mercy Residents

Mercy stays free because of the generosity of individuals and like-minded organizations that faithfully support the ministry.
The Canadian home is completely funded by donors in Canada.  Currently matching funds, available to Mercy Ministries Canada doubles the monthly donations of all new Treasure Builders. Click here to find out more about this opportunity or to sign up as a monthly donor.

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.

Mercy Support Comes Full Circle

By Beth Murray

Glenn and Beth Murray with Sascha and her dog, spider monkey

I had never heard of Mercy Ministries until I was invited to their gala fundraiser at the Sheraton Hotel in Surrey several years ago.

During this evening, I listened to Nancy Alcorn, the founder of Mercy Ministries speak, and her words and passion resonated with me.
I felt inexplicably drawn to this ministry.

I knew that this was a ministry that I wanted to support and be affiliated with. Over the years, I followed the progress of Mercy Ministries here in Canada as they secured a property and prepared to open their home in Surrey, BC.  Little did I know then that God was drawing me to this ministry on behalf of my niece, Sascha.

Over those same years, Sascha’s life had spiraled out of control to the point where she knew she needed a breakthrough; and not help from any regular institution, but one where the name of Jesus is proclaimed, and where every girl is treasured and accepted unconditionally.  That place was Mercy. Sascha was accepted as one of the first residents in the Canadian home, and today, she is living for the Lord, and is ready to begin her new life and to impact others for Christ.

What a day of celebration as I was able to share in the joy of watching my niece, Sascha, graduate from Mercy Ministries!  It was truly a miracle to see the transformation in her life from one of bondage to one of freedom in Christ.  What an incredible journey it has been, and as we look back now, we can see God’s hand in the entire situation.

Graduates Sascha and Rachel

Beth Murray and her husband Glenn, sponsored a room in the Mercy Ministries home and looked after spider monkey for 8 months while Sascha pursued Freedom at Mercy.  Sascha Graduated May 3rd  along with her new found friend Rachel.