A New Year, A New You…

I want to take the time to wish everyone a Happy New Year! Although this is the time that most people make New Year’s resolutions, I want to share with you a letter I received from one of our 2005 Monroe graduates, Candice, who has been walking in freedom for five years now. New Year’s resolutions are great, but there is only One who can truly transform your life where you will never be the same…

Dear Nancy,

Merry Christmas! Words cannot express how grateful I am to you for your obedience in starting Mercy Ministries. I came to Mercy at the end of my rope. I knew that if this didn’t work then I had no hope of a normal, joyful life. After Mercy, I did some mission work and graduated from college with a degree in special education. I taught for two years in my home town, but I felt God calling me into the ministry. Now, I am working on my master’s degree in youth ministry, while completing a yearlong youth internship at a church in Georgia. I love my job, and God is using what I learned at Mercy daily to help youth. My family and friends tell me constantly that they are grateful for Mercy, and the way that God used it to change my life. I just celebrated my five year anniversary!! I never thought I would be able to live a day in freedom, much less five years. So, thank you, Nancy! You make a difference and you are living a legacy!

Love you,
Candice

Special shout-out to Candice for celebrating five years of a transformed life! Don’t forget to listen live to this Sunday’s Mercy Multiplied radio show on Supertalk 99.7 FM WTN from 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM CST as we talk about “A New Year, A Healthy New Perspective.” If you don’t live in the middle Tennessee area, you can listen live at www.mercymultiplied.com.

Have a great weekend!

New Website Fighting Against Sex Trafficking

In case you missed it, check out our new website that is dedicated to the battle against sex trafficking in the United States – www.endsextrafficking.com!

Special Christmas Gift…

I hope everyone had a great Christmas! I was so excited this year to hear from some of our Mercy graduates who took the time to put together a scrapbook for me for Christmas. It blessed me so much to read all of their notes, and I want to share one with you from 2009 St. Louis graduate, Holly…

Dear Nancy,

Merry Christmas! Thank you for giving me a place to have my life restored! I will never forget all of the fun memories that I had at Mercy Ministries. The conferences and concerts were a blast! It was really cool to visit different churches in St. Louis. I also met one of my best friends, Jenna, at Mercy. Most importantly, I came to understand God’s love for me in a way that I had never experienced before and my life was forever changed. What God did through Mercy Ministries has set me up for a life that I never dreamed I would be able to have! Since graduating from Mercy, I have gone on two mission trips to Belize and Costa Rica. I have also had the opportunity to work at an FCA Leadership Camp, and work with middle school students at ZOE Ministries. I will be moving to downtown St. Louis in a few weeks to finish my degree in Psychology this year at Webster University. You are one of my heroes because of your faith! I love that you know me and talk to me every time I have seen you. Hearing you speak is extremely challenging and inspiring. I thank God for your life! I pray that this is the best Christmas yet for you, Nancy! I love you!

Blessings,

Holly

My favorite part about Holly’s note to me is hearing all about what she’s been doing since she left Mercy a new creation in Christ. He is the only one who can heal broken hearts and set captives free, and it’s so cool to hear how Holly is walking out her freedom in Christ. Way to go, Holly! I am so proud of you!!!

It’s Christmastime…

Just want to take a few minutes to wish everyone a Merry Christmas! I pray that you have the best Christmas you’ve ever had this year and that you take a few minutes to truly remember why we celebrate…for unto us a King is born.

Luke 2:1 – 20: And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

“Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

Mercy Sex Trafficking Website Just Launched!!!

At Mercy Ministries, we have been helping girls who have been victims of sex trafficking and are seeing God transform their lives! I often get asked the question, “What can I do to help?” Well we just launched a new website www.endsextrafficking.com that answers that exact question. Check it out and get involved in ending this horrific abuse…

From Darkness To Light…

I wanted to share with you an amazing email that I just received from one of our 2008 graduates, Jennifer. As Christmas draws near, I hope Jennifer’s email encourages you to remember that God has a plan and purpose for your life, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11)…

Dear Nancy,

I am a graduate of Mercy for 2 years now. I wanted to let you know where I am in life and how much it has changed. I came to Mercy with an eating disorder and addiction to alcohol. I was at the cutoff date for age; I turned 29 while I was there. I was older and more "stuck" in my ways, but through Mercy I realized that my ways were not His ways. I was not supposed to hurt like I did. God did not have this life of pain and disappointment set up for me. I know now that God’s ways and God’s love had a different life for me. I am now married to the most wonderful man and we have a beautiful daughter, Selah Anne who is 16 weeks old. We just bought our first home and we have a little terrier. I was not allowed to dream of this life, but God has blessed me with the reality of His love. Here is a picture of our family. Thank you for listening to the Lord and helping young women break free from the darkness that we were so used to.

Love,

Jennifer

I never get tired of hearing from Mercy graduates and seeing all that God is doing in their lives! Just want to give a special shout-out to Jennifer – we are so proud of you!!!

25 Mercy Graduates Make Surprise Presentation…

A week ago today, we had our annual Merry Mercy Christmas event here in Nashville at the Loews Vanderbilt hotel. The crowd was moved to tears as 25 of our Mercy graduates made a very moving presentation to Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston’s song “When You Believe.” Trust me on this – you need to take five minutes to watch this!!! It will totally encourage you, and I am sure you will want to share it with your friends. Thanks to all of you who helped make this possible.

CLICK TO PLAY VIDEO