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Mercy Multiplied

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For the Catholic religious order, see Sisters of Mercy.
Mercy Ministries
Founded1983
FounderNancy Alcorn
Area served
United States
Canada
United Kingdom
New Zealand[1]
Key people
Nancy Alcorn, Founder and President
WebsiteMercy Ministries Homepage

Mercy Ministries of America ("MMOA") is a voluntary Christian charitable organization that offers a long-term residential program free of charge to young women aged 13–28 who struggle with various "life controlling" issues.[2] Most of these girls have been abused physically and sexually, and some have been sexually trafficked.[3] Their residential program provides biblically based counseling, life skills training, financial and nutritional instruction, and fitness education.[4] They also provide adoption and transitional care services.[2] Since 1985, the ministry has placed hundreds of babies into adoptive families across the United States.[5] MMOA's programs are located in Nashville, TN, Monroe, LA, St. Louis, MO, and Sacramento, California. They also have affiliate organizations in Canada, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand.[6][1]

History

MMOA was founded in 1983 by Nancy Alcorn. Prior to that, she worked eight years for the state of Tennessee. During her time with the state, she worked for the Tennessee Department of Corrections in a correctional facility for juvenile delinquent girls as an athletic director before moving on to supervise foster-care placements.[7] While supervising foster-care placements, she worked with the Emergency Child Protective Services Unit where she investigated charges of abuse and neglect. After eight years with the state of Tennessee, she was appointed Director of Women for the Nashville Teen Challenge program where she worked for two years.[8]

Alcorn moved to Monroe, Louisiana in January 1983 to establish a program to help young girls similar to those she worked with during her time in Tennessee. She believed that the secular state run programs were not producing the necessary results to help these girls long-term, and she established Mercy Ministries of America as a way of an approach to provide girls the help that she felt they needed and were not getting from state run programs. The three principles that she established for the program were "(1) accept girls free of charge, (2) always give at least ten percent of all donations to other organizations and ministries, and (3) do not take any state or federal funding or any money that interferes with the freedom to share Christ."[8]

Beliefs

MMOA is an organization that is based on nondenominational Christian principles. According to their website, they believe that the Bible was written by divine inspiration and that it is a record of God's revelation of Himself to man. They also believe that it is a book of divine instruction. They have monotheistic principles in that they believe that there is only one God who reveals himself as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Mercy believes that man was created in the image of God by God Himself, that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, and that the Church consists of all believers who are associated by their covenant in the faith and fellowship of the Gospel.[9]

Locations

MMOA has four homes in the United States. These homes are located in Monroe, LA, Nashville, TN, St. Louis, MO and Sacramento, California. The Nashville home is also the site of MMOA's corporate headquarters and where staff training takes place.[6]

Affiliates of the Mercy Ministries brand also exist internationally, although each affiliate has its own independent executive director and board according to MMOA's website.[10] Affiliates include Vancouver, Canada; Auckland, New Zealand; and Bradford, United Kingdom. These homes are operated and financed independent from MMOA; an international board from Mercy Ministries International (MMI) oversees these worldwide operations.[11]

An independent charity with two homes founded by Darlene and Mark Zschech[12] in Australia called Mercy Ministries of Australia (MMAU) closed in 2008 and 2009.[13][14] These locations had no oversight from MMOA,[12] and they had separate and independent leadership, program design and organizational structure.[15] According to MMOA's website, because of a shared vision to serve hurting girls, Nancy Alcorn, Founder and President of Mercy Ministries of America, permitted Darlene and Mark Zschech to leverage the "Mercy Ministries" brand when they founded MMAU in 2001.

Funding

MMOA is funded through donations from individuals, businesses, and organizations. They do not accept state or federal funding.[7] Alcorn has quoted three core principles of Mercy when it comes to finance: take the girls in free of charge; tithe 10% of funds to other ministries; and never accept money with strings attached, such as government funding.[16] In 2008 Alcorn discussed these principles while speaking at the Capital Christian Center in Sacramento about MMOA's plans to expand to the Sacramento area, stating "God spoke to me years ago, 'if you'll take the girls in free of charge, if you will be committed to give at least 10% of what comes into your ministry to other ministries, and offerings when I tell you, then I'll make sure that your needs will be met through your giving.'"[17]

Direct funding

New York Times Best Selling author Dave Ramsey is a supporter of MMOA and has also helped to raise funds for the organization. In 2011, he sponsored his employees running in the Country Music Marathon and offered to donate to Mercy on their behalf. He donated $500 for each employee who finished the half marathon in under three hours and $1,000 for anyone who finished in under two hours. A total of $23,000 was raised and donated to Mercy on behalf of The Ramsey Family Foundation.[18] Ramsey continues to be a supporter of the organization and is featured on their website.

California-based multi-millionaire and one of Forbes' magazine 400 Riches Americans Buzz Oates donated more than $3 million to MMOA to help build a home in the Sacramento area.[19]

Joyce Meyer and Joyce Meyer Ministries are also supporters. Joyce and Dave Meyer deeded property to Mercy for the St. Louis home.[5] According to the Joyce Meyer website, Mercy is one of the ministries to which they donate on a regular basis and Joyce and Dave Meyer are monthly partners. MMOA was featured in Joyce Meyer Ministries' Enjoying Everyday Life May 2011 edition ("Mercy Multiplied") and the magazine solicited donations for the ministry from its readers.[20]

In 2009, Surrey pastor John Burns completed a single day, 100 hole round of golf, to raise money for Mercy Ministries Canada. The marathon was completed at the Peace Portal Golf Course and expected to raise close to $200,000 for Mercy. Burns had completed the marathon on previous years as well, raising between $35,000 and $50,000.[21]

In 2012, Daystar Television Network donated $10,000. This was one month after Alcorn appeared on Celebration, Daystar's flagship program hosted by Marcus and Joni Lamb. Both Marcus and Joni respect the mission and were quoted as saying that it is "an amazing mission."[22]

Charitable partnerships

MMOA partners with numerous other nonprofit and charity organizations. One of their principles states that they will give at least ten percent of all donations that they receive to other organizations and ministries.[8][7]

In 2012, Big Idea Entertainment, the animation production company best known for the VeggieTales films and now owned by DreamWorks Animation SKG, announced a partnership with MMOA. The partnership revolves around the company's recently released (August 2012) video entitled VeggieTales: The Penniless Princess - God's Little Girl, which features a video intended to help drive donations to Mercy. The video contains testimonials from girls who have been through the MMOA program.[23][24]

MMOA also partners with many famous artists to raise funds and awareness for the mission. In 2010, Grammy nominee Contemporary Christian musician Matthew West invited the girls from Mercy to be a guest of himself and his wife Emily on The Story of Your Life tour.[25] They attended his show just outside of Franklin, Tennessee.[26] In 2011, West also appeared on the Mercy Multiplied radio show hosted by Alcorn.[23] In 2002, Point of Grace featured Nancy Alcorn at their Girls of Grace conferences targeting girls ages 13-18.[5]

In November 2000, Donna Summer recorded the song Take Heart for The Mercy Project, a compilation CD with proceeds benefiting MMOA. Other artist supporters featured on this CD include Amy Grant, Martina McBride, Point of Grace and Michelle Tumes.[27] MMOA's website also lists CeCe Winans, Melinda Doolittle, Natalie Grant, Jars of Clay, Cindy Cruse-Ratcliff and Mandisa as artist partners.[28]

Programs

MMOA describes their program as featuring biblically based counseling, life-skills training and educational opportunities, including nutrition and fitness instruction. The program is free of charge to the girls it serves and does not accept government funding.[4]

Structure

Mercy provides a multi-dimensional approach to life-controlling issues including eating disorders, drug and alcohol addictions, self-harm (cutting) and unplanned pregnancy. They provide counseling, life-skills training, including nutritional and financial management instruction. Some of the resources used in the program include authors and teachers such as Beth Moore, Priscilla Shirer, Jordan Rubin and Dave Ramsey.[24]

They also offer a counseling curriculum called Choices That Bring Change that they describe as combining biblical principles of healing and unconditional love with best-practice clinical interventions. They use trained counselors to identify causes of destructive behavior, help residents to set goals, and equip them with life skills.[24]

Media outlets

There are two media outlets used by MMOA. The first is Mercy Ministries Magazine and the other is Mercy Multiplied Radio. Mercy Magazine is an annual publication and contains articles about their mission as well as the financial status and current board members of the organization.

Mercy Multiplied Radio is a radio show hosted by Alcorn. The show is broadcast to over 4 million households on KXEN 1010 AM in St. Louis, Missouri. The show airs live on Thursdays and during drive time on Fridays. The show is a call-in show where Alcorn answers questions from callers and also speaks on various topics affecting young women.

Controversy

There were previously two independent franchises in Australia (known as Mercy Ministries Australia - MMAU) which were closed in 2008 and 2009. These franchises were said to have forced residents to sign over their Centerlink (welfare) checks even though it was represented as a free program. There were also allegations of residents receiving counseling from unqualified individuals who were only bible college students. The director of MMAU (Peter Irvine) initially denied the allegations but later apologized.[29]

References

  1. ^ a b Marlborough Express News. "Support for young women". Retrieved 20 July 2012.
  2. ^ a b Mercy Ministries. "Our Program". Retrieved 20 July 2012.
  3. ^ "Girls Sold For Sex After School". The Tennessean. 14 November 2010. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  4. ^ a b "Young Women Get Help At Mercy Ministries". The Tennessean. 24 December 2010. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  5. ^ a b c "Have Mercy". Today’s Christian Woman. Jan/Feb 2003. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  6. ^ a b Mercy Ministries. "About Us - Locations". Retrieved 20 July 2012.
  7. ^ a b c Transformed Magazine. "Bring Increase to Your Life - The Power of Giving". Retrieved 22 July 2012.
  8. ^ a b c Mercy Ministries. "Who We Are". Retrieved 22 July 2012.
  9. ^ Mercy Ministries. "Statement of Faith". Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  10. ^ Mercy Ministries. "Locations". Retrieved 2011-07-14.
  11. ^ History
  12. ^ a b "Ministry Leaders Admit Deceits, Agree To Payments, Apologize To Clients". The Tennessean. 18 December 2009. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  13. ^ UNDERTAKING TO THE AUSTRÄLIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION
  14. ^ Mercy Ministries History, from their website
  15. ^ "Mercy Ministries Has High Success Rate". The Tennessean. 1 August 2008. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  16. ^ Mercy Ministries. "Mission and Vision". Retrieved 2008-06-18.
  17. ^ Capital Christian Center. "Sermon Archives". Retrieved 2008-06-18. [dead link]
  18. ^ Country Music Marathon via Vimeo. "Dave Ramsey's Team Runs Country Music Marathon 2011 For Mercy Ministries". Retrieved 22 July 2012.
  19. ^ "Faith Shapes Developer Oates' Mark On Area". The Sacramento Bee. 9 May 2010. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  20. ^ "Make A Special Missions Donation Today". Enjoy Everyday Life. May 2011. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  21. ^ Surrey Leader. "Surrey pastor completes 100 hole golf challenge". Retrieved 20 July 2012.
  22. ^ Daystar Television Network. "Daystar Television Network Contributes to Mercy Ministries". Retrieved 22 July 2012.
  23. ^ a b Nancy Alcorn Blog. "Matthew West On Mercy Multiplied This Sunday!". Retrieved 26 July 2012.
  24. ^ a b c Mercy Ministries. "Our Program". Retrieved 28 July 2012.
  25. ^ Mercy Ministries News. "Matthew West Invites Mercy Residents To Be His Special Guests!". Retrieved 26 July 2012.
  26. ^ Matthew West Blog. "Mercy Ministries". Retrieved 26 July 2012.
  27. ^ "The Mercy Project". Amazon.com. Retrieved 14 September 2012.
  28. ^ "Artist Supporters". Mercy Ministries. Retrieved 14 September 2012.
  29. ^ Sydney Morning Herald. "Time to have mercy on the broken of mind and spirit". Retrieved 1 August 2012.

{{Category:Organizations based in Nashville, Tennessee]]

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