All we want for Christmas is… 2000 Days.

2000 Days of Mercy

That is what we have on our Christmas wish list here at Mercy Ministries of Canada. It is a great-big-audacious-over the top goal,  but we know that
“What is impossible with man is possible with God”

Felicity needed the time to get on the road to transformation

…and we know only too well what each of those days would mean to a hurting young woman.   Every day spent at Mercy Ministries brings a troubled young woman closer to transformation -  just like they did for Felicity, our most recent graduate.

Felicity had grown up in Ontario,  with loving parents in a Christian home, but after some trauma at a young age she began to believe that she was “worthless, stupid, boring and unlovable”

“In high school I  began doing anything to stay in the popular crowd: drinking, sex, drugs, fooling around with girls, whatever it took to make other people like me and to numb the pain of hating myself at the same time.”

After years of rebellion and depression Felicity finally realized she needed help and applied to come to the Mercy Ministries home in British Columbia.  Each day Felicity spent at Mercy Ministries moved her forward along the road to transformation:

“I took a step of faith and flew five and a half hours alone to Mercy.  When I got here I realized just how difficult this was all going to be.  I really wanted help but I didn’t know if I could face my problems head on so far away from anything familiar to me, but that’s where I found God.  I finally realized I cant do anything and I don’t have to, God wanted to help me!  So I decided to stay no matter how scared I was and to trust God again little by little.

At first I didn’t trust anyone here.  I didn’t trust the staff because I had so many professing Christian people in my life lie to me and let me down, but God softened my heart.  I began to feel the love from the staff here, God showed me that they really were here because they wanted to help me and love me back to God.  Once I trusted them I became like a sponge, trying to learn all I could and apply it to my life.

One day here, a scripture I had heard many times before finally impacted me , I applied it to myself and realized… I’m fearfully and wonderfully made, oh my gosh! I am made in the image of God , I’m the head and not the tail, there is no way if I am created in his image that I am worthless or boring, I am a favored child of God!  I began discovering my new identity in Christ, forgiving and cutting off soul ties.  I revisited the dreams in my heart like moving to England – because of my heart for British people and my ancestry – pursuing cosmetology, competing with my horse and also new dreams he had placed in my heart,  like one day helping girls who had been in the same dark place I had been and speaking to them about God’s love and their worth in Christ.

After slowly rediscovering who God created me to be and letting him in to do what he needed to do, the fear just left, my depression lifted and the feelings of being dirty and guilty were gone, I was redeemed!  The love and acceptance of God changed everything.”

Every one of the days Felicity spent at Mercy Ministries made a difference! Young women like Felicity – who come to Mercy needing time to work through their difficulties – spend about 200 days  in our free of charge program. Each of those days costs $165  and every day of Mercy is chock full of  God’s word, Biblical counseling, loving support, prayer, challenge, nutrition education,  food, shelter, medical support, hope and love!

2000 days of Mercy would provide the funds to take 10 young women through our entire program of restoration and hope!

So how many days of Mercy can you give?  You could not give a more important gift to a hurting young woman this season. Just ask Felicity. This year her Christmas will be filled with hope.

“Thank you for creating a safe place for me to come and walk this journey out with God … God has truly restored me and redirected the entire course of my life through Mercy Ministries and I will never be the same!”

Click here to make a donation today.

I Run for Mercy Because…

On May 12th, people from all over the Lower Mainland will be joining together to Run for Young Women who need the opportunity to experience God’s unconditional love and life-transforming power.

Each one will come for their own reasons. Graduates who have experienced Mercy for themselves, parents of young women who have struggled, friends, church leaders, and volunteers all coming together to support the freedom of young women who struggle.

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Andrea Ross (left) with Mercy Ministries Founder Nancy Alcorn

“I am running for Mercy Ministries because this program changes girls’ lives. I personally have experienced freedom and a changed life because of Mercy Ministries and I am so grateful beyond words for this amazing program. The girls that walk in the doors of Mercy are so valuable and all of them are trapped, they need a holistic answer, and Mercy Ministries is able to give that to them. Mercy would not be able to operate without financial support and that is why I am running. I am running for their freedom.”  Andrea Ross (Mercy Graduate)

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Mercy Ministries' Volunteer Jena Klemke

I am running because, God is truly doing some incredible things with Mercy Ministries, and it so wonderful to hear the difference the ministry is making in lives of girls all over North America. I am so excited to be a part of this amazing event. I became involved with Mercy Ministries last year when a friend of mine asked me if I would like to volunteer for the Run for Mercy. I am so thankful that she did, because it is such an amazing cause. The run is a great way for people to make a difference in a fun and social environment. As a team we have been working hard to make this a fun and memorable day for everyone. Look forward to seeing you all there  
Jena Klemke (Volunteer)

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No matter where you are on May 12th you can join in the Run for Mercy and help spread the word about the amazing life-transforming work at Mercy Ministries

Register Today and the tell us, here or on our Facebook page  why  you Run for Mercy?

On your Marks… Get Set… Go!

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