Great Weekend At Crossroads Church In Lafayette, LA!!!

I had the awesome privilege of speaking at Joie De Vivre in Lafayette for the closing session on Friday evening. Prior to my speaking, awesome and anointed worship leader from Harvest Bible Church in Chicago, Meredith Andrews (pictured right), led us in a powerful time of worship and special music. It was very special to me that Meredith was there because I actually keep the worship CD from Harvest Bible Church in my car and absolutely love her version of “Revelation Song.” Meredith actually sang this on Friday night and it was very special and personal with me for several reasons – one of those special God surprises!!! I want to give a shout out to Daphne Gaspard and her leadership team (pictured below) for putting together a great conference, not to mention the amazing Gumbo that was personally prepared by famous church chef, Dennis! So cool to actually have the Cajuns prepare Cajun food – the authentic stuff!!!

Nancy’s Executive Assistant, Katelyn, Women’s Ministry Director, Daphne, and weekend host, Laurie

After the closing evening of the women’s conference on Friday, I had the privilege of speaking at the first of four weekend church services on Saturday evening, followed by three additional services on Sunday. I was so moved by the heart and passion of Pastors Jeff and Donna Ables to reach their city with the love of Christ. This is a growing church, and I was not surprised to see a 3,000 seat sanctuary in the process of going up with a November completion date. If you live in the Lafayette area, I highly recommend this church. God is moving there in powerful ways, and people are coming to know Christ and getting plugged in to make a difference in their community. I also want to mention that during the course of the weekend, there were five Mercy graduates from over the years that I had the privilege of reconnecting with. It’s so cool that these five girls who had graduated were there as a living testament to the power of God to transform life (check out the pictures – One graduate came to Mercy in 1998 at age 17 with an unplanned pregnancy, chose to keep her daughter, and has since gotten married and had 6 additional children including a 4-year-old set of twin girls). In addition, the church gave a tremendous offering to help us continue taking in these young women free of charge and take them through the transformation process. I have added pictures to this story to give you an inside look at the services as well as the special time with the Mercy grads and church pastors and leadership team. I’m so thrilled for all God is doing at Crossroads!!!

Crossroads Pastors Jeff and Donna Ables with Nancy

Nancy speaking at the Joie De Vivre women’s conference

Nancy speaking at the weekend services

1998 graduate Jessica with her 4 year old twins – happy wife and mother of 7 children. She and her family attend Crossroads.

2000 graduate Tera who is now a monthly partner with Mercy.

June 2006 graduate, Kristen, who is going on a Mercy missions trip this summer to Uganda.

Honor, August 2006 graduate, doing great and also a member of Crossroads church!

Emily, September 2009 Mercy graduate, who is now training for ministry in the Masters Commission leadership program at Crossroads.

Have You Ever Met Anyone Who Has Given Millions To Help Other People?

Larry and Pam Winters along with their LTD Organization are truly some of the most giving people I have ever met. Their heart to help hurting young women be pulled out of the pit and transformed from death to life has inspired thousands in their fundraising efforts to support Mercy. Collectively as an organization, they have literally sent millions of dollars to enable us to take young women in from all 50 States free of charge over the past 28 years. Yesterday we had the privilege of hosting Pam Winters at our Nashville campus, and earlier in the weekend Pam and her daughter, Tara, and several others spent quality time in our St. Louis home as well. I hope you will check out this story along with all the pictures celebrating this very special time together – CLICK HERE.

Cutters Are Being Set Free!!!

BREAKING NEWS…

I have so much to share about my amazing weekend at Crossroads Church with Pastors Jeff and Donna Ables and their amazing team. I will be posting a full web story and blog with pictures and more details later about my very special time there. Both the women’s conference and the four weekend services were such a great experience. I loved, loved, loved my time there, and I can’t wait to share more with you later this week! I will also be sharing with you how I was able to reconnect with five Mercy graduates from past years during my time in Lafayette. You will love hearing about all this, so stay tuned…

About a year ago, I offered free books on the subject of cutting. These books include testimonies from young women who have gone through the Mercy homes and have been set free from their desire to self-harm. We actually wrote Cut: Mercy for Self Harm as a way for people who are dealing with this issue to be able to receive freedom by reading the book and be delivered by applying God’s principles, and then Beyond Cut which is a follow up book with more testimonies. I just received a really cool testimony about one young women who experienced exactly what we had in mind and I wanted to share it with you…

Dear Nancy,

I wanted to send you a quick thank you note. Over a year ago, I left a comment on your blog asking about your books (I think I used a different name, I can’t remember). Thank you so much for sending me your Mercy For Self-Harm books, especially since going to a Mercy home wasn’t an option for me. I had unsuccessfully tried 3 different times to quit cutting, but I was never able to quit until I found freedom, hope, and a restored relationship with God through your books. Thanks to you, I’m 13 months free! I never really thought I’d be able to say that.

Love in Christ,

Allie

These books are powerful, and we would love to offer them to anyone who would like to make a request at nancy.alcorn@mercyministries.com. In addition, we also have issue-related books for issues such as sexual abuse, eating disorders and addictions. You may request any of the books that you have need of by emailing me personally. Remember that freedom is available for you, and we will keep your requests confidential.

Mercy Graduate Organizes College Campus Event – Check It Out!!!

I remember the day that Kim walked through the door totally downtrodden and brokenhearted from the devastation from her past. Used and abused from the time she was a little girl, who knew the amazing plans that God had in store for her future? Not only did Kim graduate from Mercy, but she will be graduating from college in a few weeks on May 14th. I just got this email from her describing her leadership in the organization of a Christian event on her campus which involves both faculty and students. I want you to hear what Kim is up to in her own words...

Hi Nancy,

I wanted to send you an update on what's going on in my life. Let me start off by saying that God is truly moving! The prayer of Jabez is a very powerful prayer, because I feel like my territory is truly expanding. Last month, I had the privilege of putting on my first fashion show with 15 girls from a local high school. Being given that opportunity was truly a blessing because the Lord reminded me how these kids just truly want someone to love on them and just see them. We may have started out rocky (LOL) but at the end they were just amazing!

Last month, the university choir went on a spring tour, which was great, but this month’s event that I have been working on since last year is actually coming together and will take place on April 28th and 29th. The Lord gave me a vision last year that is about unity and just bridging the gap on our campus as well as in the community. I feel like our college campuses, as well as all levels of education, are being attacked. There is something about these college campuses, where students actually live, that has the enemy just running so rampant and leaving our campuses confused, hopeless, homicidal, and suicidal. For the past few evenings, I have just found myself walking and praying over our campus, and as I am writing you, your words come to mind, which are, "God did not instruct the government to do what we were called to do as believers." I paraphrased a little, but He called us. As I walk, you would be amazed at what I see and what I hear. There are just so many masks, and it just breaks your heart, but I am thankful for the promises as well as the plans.

On April 28th I have put together a testimony dinner called "food for the soul" where students, faculty and staff will be sharing their testimonies and I am actually one of the speakers for that night. I normally don’t share my story to large crowds like this on our campus, normally I just share to certain groups, so I ask that you be in prayer. I am praying that people will see that they are not alone and that there are people here. On that Friday, we actually have some Christian poets flying in from Los Angeles, along with a live band and games and things like that to bring everyone together. There will also be a charge going forth for our leaders on campus, faculty and staff, to let them know that these positions they serve in should not be taken lightly, but are a way to help uplift and encourage the students and community – getting back to the basics and out of the mindset of just “me.” There will also be a lighting of candles towards the end where students can decide to turn from their old ways and embrace something better and more tangible; someone who won’t fail you, and that’s Jesus. I think it’s going to be really good! Our presidents and those in position are truly backing me up in ways I wouldn’t even have imagined. I just feel like heaven is opening up resources for this event! So I just wanted to share some of those things with you! Last but not least, I will be graduating from college on May 14th! I just took my senior pictures today and announcements will be out real soon.

I pray all is well with the ministry as well as yourself. I know you are pretty busy, but don’t forget to take time to rest. I am truly grateful for the things that you do, and the opportunities that you give us ladies! It may not always be on stages or podiums, but just simply answering the call when we needed you and Mercy. Because of those doors three years ago, I am now trying to open doors for others by sharing the very thing that the enemy wanted to steal from me and that was my voice and my testimony! Thank you and may God continue to bless you, open doors for you, and continue to provide, for the Lord truly loves Mercy.

God bless......love you and please tell everyone I said hello. - Kim

I think this email says it all...KIM, WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU!!!!!!

Mercy Grads Now Ministry Gifts…

I recently received the coolest email from a young woman named Katie who graduated from our St. Louis home three years ago. Katie became friends with another young woman named Maddy while they were in the Mercy program, and today she writes to tell me of a special milestone that the two of them shared together with their now husbands. I think it is much more powerful if I let Katie share it in her own words and show you the pictures from the actual time she is referencing in her email to me.

Hey Nancy,

Today my husband, Lee, and his lifelong friend, Tim Nelson (who is Maddy's husband), got ordained as ministers at our church - Meadowbrook in Ocala, Fl.

As all four of us were being prayed over today – I couldn't help but think, wow, look what the Lord has done! Two Mercy graduates are standing alongside two awesome godly men who are now ministers. Wish you could have seen it! Whenever something great happens in my life, even to the birth of our baby boy Gavin, I can't help but think that none of these beautiful things would have happened to me if it weren't for what God did in me while at Mercy. I'm forever grateful to you and Mercy! This is just the beginning of what God will do through my husband and I and Tim and Maddy.

Love,
Katie

Katie and Lee with their son, Gavin

Ordination of these two couples

Maddy and Tim

Australia Graduate Update…

Elouise came to Mercy in 2004 battling depression and experiencing the pain of a broken heart because of many unjust things that life had thrown her way. Fast forward to 2011…Elouise is now happily married and recently had a precious baby boy. With Elouise’s permission, I wanted to share her message with you…

Hi Nancy,

Having graduated from Mercy Sunshine Coast, Australia in 2004, life just seems to be getting better and better.

In 2006, I married the most gorgeous Godly man who saw me through my Mercy journey. We have just celebrated 13 years together (high school sweethearts!) and five years of marriage.

But that is not the only thing we have just celebrated......on January 18th, 2011, I gave birth to the most adorable little boy, Amos Samuel. He is an absolute blessing from God, and I believe that he is my reward for all the pain and hard work I had to endure on my journey to freedom.

Thank you again for your passion to see the broken hearted made whole. I am one broken heart that has been mended and right now I am living my God dream - I'm a happy, fulfilled wife and mum! Who would have thought it could have been possible?!

Lots of love and best wishes,

Elouise

What a beautiful family! This report from Elouise made my day, and I hope it will make yours as well! Hope you have a great week!

Special Visit From Special Friend In Australia…

It’s not often you get a visit from someone who lives a 24 hour car drive away, much less someone who lives a 24 hour plane ride away, but such was the case yesterday as my dear friend Leigh Ramsey made a guest appearance at our Mercy home in Nashville to share with our staff and residents about her amazing work with child trafficking victims in Cambodia. I so love connecting with these amazing women who have such a heart and are actually doing something about the issue instead of just speaking out against the issue.

After all, we are told to be doers of the Word and not hearers only. Sounds like a good plan to me, and Leigh is definitely a doer! So many lives are being impacted because of her obedience, and I wanted you to personally become acquainted with the great work that she is doing. Click onto this story to read more and check out some of the highlights from our time together yesterday!

Hilary, Me, Leigh, and Jill