Women on the Frontlines!

I have been at an amazing conference called Women on the Frontlines this week with people from all over Tennessee, the United States, and other nations of the world. It was my great joy and honor to be asked to speak at this conference, but I can honestly say that I received much more than I was able to give. What a great blessing it is to be able to sit under these great women of God and the ministries they have been faithful in for years. Some of the guest speakers included James Goll, Heidi Baker, Sharon Stone, Patricia King, and Shelvi Gilmore. I also want to give a big shout out of praise to James Goll for his faithfulness as a man of God and the head of the ministry that hosted the conference. How cool is it that men of God release the women of God to fulfill their God-given assignments?! I am very, very happy that I have connected with this great group, and I am so proud to call James Goll my friend!!

Me and James Goll, new found friend and mighty man of God!

I also want to mention a great inner-city ministry right here in Nashville that has raised up a children’s choir called the Unity Choir. They performed for us the first night, but I have to say that it was much more than a performance – it was powerful and God-breathed! I was very touched to realize that one of our very own Mercy staff, Julie Ingle, works with these kids in this ministry along with her husband, Andrew, who was there taking a lot of great photographs. I thought you might enjoy some great pictures from this weekend.

The Unity Choir performed before Heidi Baker spoke
on Wednesday night – so powerful!

Heidi Baker speaks at Women on the Frontlines

Mercy Graduate Impacts Next Generation

I just got a Facebook message with an update from one of our graduates from over two years ago who is now doing great things for God. I wanted you to be able to read it in her own words and see some of the pictures she sent regarding the update she gave in her awesome Facebook message to me.

Nancy,

I just wanted to tell you today (July 18) marks 2 years since I graduated from Mercy Nashville.

In those 2 years, I have accomplished a lot. I am living life! After returning home, I worked in a day care and graduated from high school. I have worked as a counselor at a Christian camp and ministered to many 1st-3rd graders. I've completed my first year of college and made the Dean's List. I've taught dance at two companies and choreographed & performed a dance to a song written by Mercy staff member, Faith Gilmore. I've begun as a volunteer leader for Wyldlife and I minister to middle schoolers - I will be going with them to camp next week! I've donated 13 inches of hair to Wigs for Kids. I've even been dating a great Christian guy for almost a year now (and I SWORE I would NEVER date!)

Life has not been perfect, but God has been SO good to me. He healed me while at Mercy, and I am so grateful I had the opportunity to go there.

Thank you!

Carly

I can’t really add much to this powerful testimony. I’m just so very proud of Carly and wanted to give her a big shout out!!!

Love to all,
Nancy

Carly and her mom at Carly’s high school graduation

Carly with her boyfriend, Jonathan

Carly with some of the kids she counseled at summer camp

CeCe’s conference – Amazing, Amazing, Amazing!!!

I can’t even begin to tell you what a powerful move of God we had for two solid days from early in the morning until late at night. There was not one thing that happened in this conference that God wasn’t all over. The young men and young women that were there absolutely loved it! Our girls were blessed beyond words. I salute CeCe Winans and her awesome team for a job well done. No doubt about it – this weekend was completely life-changing from start to finish beginning with Coach Tony Dungy and ending with a fabulous concert Saturday night featuring Da Truth, Mary Mary, BeBe and CeCe, The Katinas, Anthony Evans, Nia Allen, and more.

Check out some of the highlights from these pics!

Off to the Always Sisters Forever Brothers Conference…

Today is going to be a short one because I am going to hear Coach Tony Dungy at the Always Sisters Forever Brothers Conference. After that, I’ll get to listen to CeCe Winans speak and hear awesome Christian music from the likes of The Katinas, Mary Mary, CeCe Winans, and many others. These two days are going to be an absolute blast!!! I will be speaking in tomorrow morning’s session, so please pray for me.

We are believing that many lives of the young men and women joining us at the Belmont Curb Center in Nashville will be greatly impacted and transformed this weekend. Thanks for your prayers and support.

Love to all,
Nancy

Me pictured with CeCe Winans at the Mercy Ministries 25th Anniversary Gala

Look what’s happening this weekend…

I can’t wait until this weekend! Look what’s happening…

www.alwayssisters.com

I’m so pumped that I get to be a part of this awesome conference, and I’m especially excited that the guys are included this year. I can’t wait to hear Tony Dungy, Superbowl champion coach of the Indianapolis Colts. This conference is Friday and Saturday and all of our 40 Nashville residents along with a bunch of our staff will be going. I speak on Saturday – can’t wait! CeCe Winans is an amazing woman who has such a heart for the next generation of leaders. I salute her for putting this conference together, and I will give a report of how it all went next week.

California Home Update – EXCITING!

I just received updated pictures of our new California home that we are believing God to open sometime this Fall. The furnishings are arriving, and our staff and volunteers are busy assembling and placing the furnishings in their designated places. I thought you might enjoy a sneak preview of what will soon take 40 more girls off of our waiting list who will, no doubt, experience freedom and discover that God has a plan and purpose for their lives (Jeremiah 29:11).

I also wanted to mention that it says in Romans that it is the goodness of God that leads people to repentance. It blesses me so much that God, through our supporters, has been so good to bless these girls with a home that they can be proud of. When we tell them that they have value, we want them to receive that message - not just through our words, but through God’s provision for them. A special thanks to everyone who is sending finances to help us get this home open debt-free. If you are interested in seeing what needs still exist, please contact Selah Hirsch at shirsch@mercyministries.com as she is coordinating all of the efforts for the California home.

Investment Pays Huge Dividend – A Changed Life!

Months ago I did a blog about freedom from issues such as eating disorders, sexual abuse, cutting, and addictions. At that time, I offered to send free of charge the books we have written about these issues which contain principles of freedom. I offered to send any one or more of these books to anyone who might be struggling with one or more of these issues. It was at that time that a young lady named Liz requested the book “Violated” to help her overcome issues related to past sexual abuse. Last night, I received this amazing email from this young woman about the freedom she is now walking in, and I share the following with her permission. She even sent me a picture so that you could put a face with the name.

Dear Nancy,

I write this letter with joy. I wanted to thank you for your willingness to help usher freedom in my life. Late last year, you sent me Violated free of charge. I also started the Mercy application process. However, in the last 6 months, God has miraculously set me free of bondages I have struggled with my entire life. I lived under a tyrant's rule. I kept my shackles close because it was all I knew. I was comfortable being numb, broken, and bruised.

But, God clearly spoke to me and said, "The time for bruises has ended" and "What are your chains BUT metal?" As I sought the Lord and spent more time with Him, my urges for self harm or purging or seeing myself as worthless lessened. His grace overwhelmed my past. I had no idea His comfort and peace were SO real and transforming. Everyday, I walk further in freedom. REAL freedom. I'm currently spending the summer with at-risk youth living in a shelter and telling them each day that God truly can transform the garbage of the world (and those of us who feel like we are just that)! The first time I shared my testimony, 23 youth admitted that they too had been raped and never told anyone. God truly took those tears and turned them into jewels. Thank you for your willingness and obedience to God's vision and voice.

I am FREE...and that is more than I ever hoped or imagined for my life. My worth comes from On High. I look at my scars now as completely redeemed and hidden in Christ. My past is on the Cross and I've emerged from the grave. Now, I am excited to share the vision of Mercy to the hurting girls I meet...knowing freedom is real, possible, and ever available.

I love you,

Liz

What a beautiful girl, what a beautiful story, what a beautiful God! I can’t help, but think that there may be people out there reading this that may be struggling with one or more of the issues I named. If that is you, hearing from Liz made me realize that I need to offer these books free of charge once again for anyone who contacts me via email at nancy.alcorn@mercyministries.com. Let me know if you need help with one of these issues, and I will be glad to send you whatever book relates to whatever issue or issues you may be facing. There is freedom and it can be yours! I hope you will contact me if you have a need.

Have a great weekend!

Love to all,
Nancy

Life in the Fast Lane

This last week has been really busy!! I just got back from attending the Hillsong Conference in Australia where I got a chance to catch up with our new Mercy family and have dinner in their home. Below is a picture of me with them. I also took a little bit of Nashville with me and gave the boys a Tennessee Titans football jersey!

Me pictured with the Feben boys in their Tennessee Titans jerseys

Picture of me with the Stunt and Feben family

I got off the plane from Australia Saturday night and spoke at a conference in Nashville on Sunday morning.

Picture of me speaking at the LTD conference in Nashville.

Pictured signing my book "Echoes of Mercy" at the LTD conference

Then, I had an opportunity to do TV taping for TBN last night with Matt and Laurie Crouch. Check out some of the pictures below!

Pictured with Matt and Laurie Crouch

I hope you are having a great week!!

Dollar Dance for Mercy Ministries!

I just recently received a letter and a check from one of our Mercy graduates for a very interesting reason. She felt such gratitude for the life change she experienced at Mercy, and for the wonderful young man God brought into her life, that she chose to use her wedding reception as an opportunity to raise money for Mercy. As an expression of her heartfelt thanks, she chose to do a 'dollar dance' and sent the proceeds into Mercy with wedding pictures so that we could share in the joy! Today they are celebrating one month of marriage. Check out her awesome letter and wedding pics.

Dear Mercy Ministries,

Thank you for changing my life. Because of going to Mercy, I have found a wonderful man who respects me and loves me with a Godly kind of love. We recently just got married on June 13th, 2009, and at our reception, we felt we should do the 'dollar dance' to raise money for Mercy. I, and my husband, are more than grateful than ever for what Mercy has done for girls. I love telling people about Mercy! I graduated from the St. Louis home on March 27th, 2007 and met my husband 10 days later. ☺

Sincerely,
Michelle

Hope this blesses you as much as it blessed me! Have a great day!

Mercy Ministries Graduates Serve Christ by Serving Others

This week at Hillsong has been such a great week, not only the ministry part, but also connecting with so many people and catching up with old friends. Joel Osteen and the Lakewood team hit it out of the park last night! Cindy Cruse Ratcliff and Israel Houghton, and the brother and sister team of Anointed joined together with the Lakewood team for an amazing time of worship before Joel spoke. Tonight we get Louie Giglio and he is one of my all time favorites!!! I cannot wait! It will be bitter sweet because it is the closing night, but I know it will be awesome!!! I have also run into a lot of Mercy graduates from Australia here, which is always so encouraging to me to see the girls living life to the fullest and excited about their future.

Speaking of graduates, I just got an email from a graduate back in America telling me that three Mercy graduates are going on a mission’s trip. Let me share her own words with you.

Hey Nancy,

I just wanted to tell you something awesome! Three St. Louis Mercy Graduates - Lauren, Kim, and I are all going to Guatemala to minister together in a little less than a week. It is awesome to be able to take the freedom that we learned and, as a team, minister that same hope and freedom to the nations! We will send you some pictures and an update when we get back at the very end of July.

Love you. God bless.
Britney

Lauren (pictured left) and Britney (pictured right)

Kim

Pray for these girls as they go to Guatemala to serve the people there. So cool to see these girls serving Christ by serving others – that’s what it’s all about! Make sure you reach out to someone today in your world.

Love to all,
Nancy

Hello from Hillsong Conference!

I just wanted to say hello to everyone from Sydney, Australia. I’m having a great time here at the Hillsong Conference! Yesterday we had a lot of fun catching up with old friends and just catching up with one another – it was so cool! If you’re interested in knowing more about the conference and see who all is speaking, you can check it out online at www.hillsongconference.com. I have even been able to see some of my American friends since I’ve been here! I spent some quality time with Joel and Victoria Osteen yesterday and it was so neat to see them.

Me pictured with Pastors Joel and Victoria Osteen at our
International Headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee

This is their first time to Australia, and they, along with the whole Lakewood team including Cindy Ratcliff and Israel Houghton, will be doing the whole service on Thursday night. There’s a real sense of excitement! The Superdome is packed out and it’s really awesome to see so many people from so many different nations of the world come together just to worship God! NO AGENDAS, JUST PURE WORSHIP!! I am so thankful for all of the people that I get to do life with.

On Monday, I was also able to go by the Mercy house and see all of the renovations in process. It’s really starting to come together and it’s very exciting! I also got to have dinner last night after the Hillsong meeting with Philip and Holly Wagner from Oasis in Hollywood, California.

Me pictured with Holly Wagner of Oasis in Hollywood, California

They are such dear and precious friends. It was so fun to catch up! Hope all is well on your end of the world, wherever you may be at the time that you are reading this and I will chat with you again soon.

Love to all,
Nancy

Happy 4th of July!!

Hey Everyone,

I’m actually on my way out of town to catch a flight to Australia, so I will be spending my July 4th on a flight. I guess I just can’t help but think about how thankful I am for all of the men and women in our Armed Services that we celebrate and thank God for on this celebration day of our freedom and independence. Not to sound too serious, but really think about the fact that we live in America and I can actually get on a flight and fly all the way to Australia and not have to think about my safety because of all the people that have served to protect our God-given freedom.

I hope that wherever you are today, you will take the time to say a prayer of thanks to God for all those who have laid their lives down for us and the families that are really missing them. In addition, I hope you will also take time to thank God that He gave His only son so that we could have eternal freedom.

Love to all,
Nancy

The Power of Team – the Power of Unity!

I continue to be so amazed and so thankful that God has allowed me to be the Founder and the leader of Mercy Ministries. I will never forget when He first put the vision in my heart years ago. What a privilege and what an honor! HOWEVER, that is not the thing that is the most amazing to me at this point in the journey, some 26 years later. The thing that I am the most in awe of at this point is the quality of people on the Mercy team that God has given to carry out the work and mission of the ministry.

For anyone who knows me very well, I am an avid lover of sports. In fact, when I first decided to go on to get my college degree, I fully intended to end up being a basketball coach – either on the high school or college level. But God had a completely different plan in mind for me. You might say that I am now the Head Coach at Mercy Ministries, and the staff the serve alongside me is the dream team! No joke, they are truly the DREAM TEAM! I wish there was some way that I could have each and every one of you who are reading this blog entry actually meet the awesome women (and yes we do have a few men here as well – LOL!) that serve every day so that the lives of young women can be healed and transformed.

This week is a perfect example of what I am talking about. I cannot even begin to tell you all the things that have been going on this week– there has been so much happening, so many activities and so much as far as the needs of the girls –multiple things going on this week that have required massive amounts of time and attention. Everyone has pitched in and gone above and beyond without murmuring or complaining. In fact, they were eager to do so with a great anticipation and excitement of seeing what was in front of us taken care of so that all things could be fulfilled.

It reminds me so much of the scripture in Psalm 133 that says, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” We have seen the power of unity this week in amazing ways!!! In fact, the last verse of Psalm 133 says that it is in the power of unity that God commands the blessing! I can tell you for a fact that we have seen the fulfillment of this verse this week because we were facing very very urgent needs, and unexpected financial blessings started coming in as soon as we opened our doors on Monday.

I do not believe blessing comes where there is division or strife. I am so thankful for people who have clean hands and a pure heart. This team, OUR DREAM TEAM, amazes me every day. Please know that I am not just talking about the people at our headquarters in Nashville, but I am talking about our entire staff in America. At this stage, we have a total of 93 full-time staff in the U.S. Not only do these amazing women and men of God serve every single day so faithfully and give so much of their hearts, but 85% of our U.S. staff are also monthly financial partners with Mercy. This means that even though they are on staff and receive a salary, they also made the decision to be a monthly partner and invest in the work that they are so committed to every day.

After witnessing the “I will do whatever it takes to make this happen” attitude this week, I just had to use my blog time to give this great group of people a BIG SHOUT OUT!!!!!

Part of our "Mercy Dream Team"