2006 Graduate Gives Back to Mercy…

I just got this card in the mail along with a significant financial donation to the ministry. This was too good not to share…

“When I stop and look at my life and where I am today, I have to say thank you to Mercy Ministries. The first weekend of May I graduated from college. I was one of the first students to graduate from that school with a B.A. in Early Childhood. In a few days it will have been four years since I graduated from Mercy. At my college graduation my youth pastor commented on what a blessing my life is to others. He knew me before I went to Mercy and was the person I ran to when I felt like giving up. He impacted my life like so many other people God placed in my path during the six years of my struggle. I honored them at my Graduation Party. Now I want to honor you and say thank you. – Stephanie Green

Thanks for all your support. You helped make this changed life possible!!!

Nancy

Great Weekend for Mercy Canada!!!

Good things take time, but great things take more time… that seems to sum up the journey for Mercy to be established in the nation of Canada. John and Helen Burns, television co-hosts and founders of Relate Church in Surrey (Vancouver area), put their hands up over 7 years ago for Mercy to be established in Canada.

Me with Pastors John and Helen Burns of Relate Church
and Mercy Canada Board Members

The seven year waiting period involved taking their time to find the right piece of property, as well as opening the home debt free. The decision to take a longer period of time also involved the decision to take in more than 20 girls at a time rather than a much smaller number. Because John and Helen Burns made the decision to make room in their already busy lives to help even more people, others have come alongside to make it all possible. Pictured right/left with me are: Executive Director of Program Operations, Margaret Troquille; Executive Director of Mercy Canada, Nicola Bartel; me and Co-Pastor of Relate Church and Mercy Canada Board Member, Helen Burns.

Those decisions and the desire to choose best over good all culminated this past weekend in a major time of thanksgiving and celebration. I thought you might enjoy seeing some highlights from the weekend in Vancouver, including our Mercy Gala on Friday evening at The Vancouver Club.

Two young women from Canada who graduated from Mercy in the US came to tell their personal stories, and to help celebrate this great milestone.

Me with two Mercy graduates from Canada, Andrea (left) and Natasha (right), who shared their stories at Friday night’s Mercy Gala in Vancouver

People were so touched as they told of all they had to overcome, and are now in university preparing to be able to help others with the same problems they themselves have been through. It was such a great evening!

On Saturday afternoon, even though it was raining, we had a great turnout for the Grand Dedication and ribbon cutting for this new facility.

Cutting the ribbon after the prayer of dedication and
declaration over the Mercy Canada home and property.

Thanks to all the brave people who came out to be a part of this event, in spite of the weather! Nothing could dampen the mood of the people who have prayed and worked and believed for this for so long.

Me braving the rain!

Guests at Mercy Canada Grand Dedication

I then had the opportunity to speak at 3 different church services on Saturday and Sunday, and the weekend culminated with a special meeting on Monday with our Mercy Ministries Canada staff. I was joined by John and Helen Burns, and also Lindsay Willis, who is one our International Board Members. It was a great weekend! More details to come later this week when we post a web story with more pictures.

HONORING THOSE WHO FOUGHT FOR OUR FREEDOM

For those of us who have not served in the military, Memorial Day is a time for us to be able to take time off work and enjoy a long weekend. But for those who have actually served in the military and for families who have lost loved ones, this holiday has a very different meaning. We need to remember that a lot of people gave their lives for us to be able to enjoy the freedom we have in this country.

In fact, one of Mercy’s founding board members from over 27 years ago, Jessie McCormick, lost her son Wayne in the Vietnam War. Jessie has been a longtime personal friend of mine and of Mercy’s. In Wayne’s memory, Jessie helped sponsor the classroom in the Nashville Mercy home.

This plaque is a reminder of the price that many have paid for our freedom, but also a reminder to remember the families who have suffered such a great loss.

I just want to encourage you to say a prayer of thanksgiving this weekend for those who have paid such a high price for our freedom and for those who are currently serving in the military that we may keep our freedom.

Hope you have a blessed holiday weekend!!

Life in the Fast Lane!

Hey Everyone,

Just thought I would share with you guys that I got home from Ireland late Monday night quite jet-lagged. I’ve been trying to get my body clock turned around, but I’m not really sure why since I’m going on a whole different time zone again starting tomorrow. I will be heading to Canada, which means I am going from being six hours ahead of the time zone I live in to two hours behind the time zone I live in. Oh well, such is life in the fast lane! Good thing God put Philippians 4:13 in the Bible – I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Also good to know that He says that if He calls us to something that He equips us – so I am fully equipped for time zone changes. Sometimes I think being able to do what we do is all in our attitude and perspective. If you’re being challenged about that, I hope my little reminder helps you. Hope all is well with everyone out there. I will talk to you again soon!

Love,
Nancy

Awesome Weekend Speaking in Northern Ireland

Hey, I just wanted to touch base with everyone. I’m actually on my way back from speaking at a conference in Ballymena, Northern Ireland. At the moment, I am at the airport in Newark and I thought I would take a few minutes to share with you a few of the pictures and a couple of the highlights of my time there the past few days. The name of the conference was Emerge, and it was held at Green Pastures Church, one of the largest churches in Northern Ireland (www.gpastures.co.uk). Pastor Jeff and Lorraine Wright are doing such a great job leading this church, and the most amazing thing of all to me is that they founded this church only 3 years ago.



As far as the conference itself is concerned, one of the major highlights for me was connecting with my dear friend Bill Wilson who is the founder and leader of Metro Ministries in Brooklyn, NY.


I haven’t seen Bill in a long time, but I absolutely love what he does with his outreach to children. Check it out if you get a chance at www.metroministries.com.

Another really cool thing that happened while I was in Belfast is that I actually received a visit from one of our Nashville Mercy graduates from 2000. Lisa’s life was a mess when she came to Mercy almost 11 years ago, but today she is a vibrant and beautiful young woman who was once suicidal but now loves her life, her family and her ministry! Lisa is married to a wonderful man named Stephen and they are 2 of the staff leaders at the YWAM base in Belfast. They have been married for over 5 years and have 3 beautiful children. I actually got to meet their 5 month old whose name is Levi for the first time last night.

It is not only our great joy to see Lisa and Stephen doing so well in their family life and ministry, but it’s also our great joy to be one of their monthly financial sponsors in the missionary work they are doing. I thought you might enjoy this brief update. I will share more later in the week when we do an official web story.

Hope your weekend was as good as mine!

Nancy

Adopted Mercy Baby Graduates From High School!

I recently received these beautiful graduation pictures of Merri, one of our adopted Mercy babies. When Merri’s birthmother came to Mercy 18 years ago with an unplanned pregnancy, she made the courageous decision to place her daughter for adoption. Merri has grown up with a wonderful family in the Nashville area and has continued to stay close with me and with Mercy. She has even spent summers volunteering at our corporate offices! Merri is graduating from high school this year and recently received the Emmy and Eric Scholarship from Christ Church (Merri’s home church in Nashville). This scholarship is awarded to distinguished students who demonstrate a “love of service to the Lord and a love of scholarship and learning.” Merri is planning to attend Trevecca University in the Fall and plans to major in Dramatic Arts with a minor in Child Psychology. I just wanted to give Merri a big shout out saying congratulations! I am so proud of you!!

Have a great weekend!

Amazing Testimony from a Mercy Graduate

I just received this awesome update from 2007 Mercy graduate, Beth! Beth graduated with a Master’s Degree in College Student Personnel from Atlanta Tech University and is moving to Kansas to start working on a second Master’s Degree in Counseling. Beth also shared with me about one of her best friends, Brittany, coming to be a part of her graduation. Brittany is also a 2007 Mercy graduate. I think it is so cool to see Mercy graduates remain close friends even after leaving Mercy. Check out Beth’s email and graduation picture with Brittany below…

Dear Nancy,

I never would have dreamt three years ago, as I was sitting in Nashville, having only been there for a month, that three years later I would be doing what I am today. Just two days ago I walked across the stage and received my Master’s Degree in College Student Personnel. This is something I had always dreamed of but never thought would truly happen. My family was here with me to watch this momentous occasion occur. But even more special than that, my best friend and Mercy sister, Brittany was here to share this day with me. This is a friendship that would have never happened if you, Nancy, hadn’t listened to God’s calling nearly 30 years ago. This degree wouldn’t be happening if you hadn’t listened. I recently accepted a full-time position working at another university in Kansas where I will begin my second master’s degree in counseling with hopes of helping young women so they don’t have to walk down the same path I had to. God has really opened some amazing doors for me since my time at Mercy and I couldn’t be happier! Thank you for opening the doors and allowing me to find freedom in God and find a new life that is worth living.

Love,
Beth

Congratulations, Beth! I am so proud of you!