We thought you might like to read a remarkable story of personal transformation, a changed family, and a restored marriage from a graduate who has now dedicated her life to sharing her story with others. Rachel came to Mercy in 2008 battling a drug addiction, depression and suicidal thoughts. She and her husband had been divorced for about four months, and Rachel was heartbroken because her addictions and unhealthy relationships had caused her to lose custody of her children. While at Mercy, Rachel rededicated her life to Christ, and was able to gain freedom from the issues that were controlling her life. At the time of her graduation, Rachel did not think that she and her husband would be able to reconcile as so much damage had been done because of her own poor choices. Here is what Rachael had to say about her experiences, what she learned during her time at Mercy Ministries and how God has completely restored all that was lost.
“I was raised in a ‘godly’ home, but when I was 19 years old, my father divorced our family and soon after married my mother’s best friend. I chose to act out by turning to drugs and being promiscuous to find comfort. I soon found myself pregnant and thought the only thing to do was to marry the father. My relationship with my husband had been based on drugs and partying for so long that when we sobered up we had no idea who the other person was. It was a horrible time. I sank into depression and turned to painkillers to numb my internal pain. My unhappiness led me into an extramarital affair and I decided to divorce my husband. During this time, I put my children in countless dangerous situations and my drug addiction led me to allow a long time "friend" and convicted drug dealer to move into my tiny apartment with his two children. My life then took a turn for the worst. I had to have drugs to function, to sleep at night, and then to wake up in the morning. My children were always afraid so my ex husband told me that he had to take the kids. I knew he was right. Soon after, my drug addiction caused me to lose my job. I wanted to die. I felt like I was loosing my mind. I just wanted to give up. After hearing about Mercy from a family member, I knew that this was my last hope.
God saved my life through Mercy’s tough love! I needed someone to reach down and pick me up that didn’t have an emotional attachment to my situation. I needed someone to speak TRUTH into my life and pound it into my heart until I believed nothing else. I needed to believe that there was a hope for me and my situation. God met me at Mercy, right where I was, in the middle of the overwhelming mess that I had created for myself. He carried me when I couldn’t carry myself, and when I was strong enough to walk, He walked with me. He shed His light into the dark corners of my heart, and I began to have fun and laugh!! I began to put my identity in Him and this changed everything.
Since leaving Mercy, I have been privileged to speak to other hurting, lost women about my experience and how God saved my life. God has filled my mouth with a word and it cannot be silenced. I love it!!! My ex husband and I had been going through counseling at our church and were beginning to give up but God showed up! God completely transformed his heart towards me and he began to see me through His eyes. God gave him a new desire and a new love for me. The night before mother’s day, my ex husband showed up with our two precious children, got down on bended knee and told me that he knew God had changed my life and that our past was forgiven. He said that he and the kids were wondering if I would marry them again!! On June 19th, 2009 the family Satan tried so desperately to destroy was brought into a covenant with Jesus Christ. I am a mother again and a wife again and I have a story to tell about an amazing Savior who cherishes every detail of my life. No longer a drug addict, I now know who I really am. I am a princess of the Most High King!!”
Rachel’s grandparents, Sara and Dan, said, “She is like a different person, a new creature in the Lord. It is truly a miracle!!! We will be eternally grateful to Mercy Ministries for what it has done for our family.”
Rachel’s aunt Barbara said, “Where do I even begin to thank you for all you and God have done for Rachel. She is a different person! What a path God has for all of us! Sometimes we can’t see it forming but boy does He always have a plan!”
Rachel’s mom Becky said, “Rachel continues to give her testimony in front of a lot of people. She is so honest and transparent and I think that is what is reaching people. God is so good.”
My life before Mercy was completely controlled by feelings of rejection. I was consumed with worthlessness that began in my family life and led to feelings of inadequacy among my peers. I began using drugs at the age of 15, and eventually found myself in the world of exotic dancing. After dealing with deep depression and drug addiction, I was so close to giving up on life. When I reached the end of myself, I asked God to come into my life and take control. I decided to apply to Mercy in order to learn who I am in Christ and discover my true purpose.
My life before Mercy was completely chaotic. I was overwhelmed by my drug addiction and how quickly my life was spiraling out of control. Feelings of abandonment, rejection, and fear led to depression, which fed my addiction to compulsive over-eating. I needed to break free from the cycle of addiction, but I didn’t know how. After confiding in my aunt about my struggles, she told me about Mercy, and I knew in my heart that this was God’s plan for me.
I was physically and sexually abused as a child and teenager. After experiencing this abuse, I became very depressed and suicidal. In order for me to cope with the demands I put on myself to be perfect, I began cutting and restricting food when I was 15 years old. Once my past began to affect my husband and my kids, I shut down and tried to end my life in order to spare them further pain. Multiple hospitalizations left me with a huge medical debt, and I knew that I needed long-term help. I learned about Mercy through a Leadership Team Development Conference and decided to seek help.
My life before Mercy was a mess. Alcoholism and drug abuse controlled my life because I always wanted to live my life in a very extreme way and push the limits. My perception of reality was always one extreme or the other, and I did not believe God was loving or kind. I finally came to the realization that I was unable to solve my problems on my own. My dad told me about a place called Mercy Ministries that was free of charge and could help me get the help I needed, so I made the decision to apply.
My life before Mercy seemed hopeless. After suffering physical and sexual abuse, I walked through life in shame and just wanted to end it all. Cutting seemed like the only thing in my life that I had any control over. My life was a wreck and I didn’t believe I had any reason to live. My mom learned about Mercy Ministries while watching Joyce Meyer’s TV show, and at that point, I knew I had to get help. I had already decided that if this didn’t work, I was going to commit suicide.
Before Mercy, I was abused physically and sexually by a family member, beginning in my early childhood and continuing until I was 12 years old. I began restricting food because I thought that if I was thinner, then maybe my abuser wouldn’t be attracted to me. In and out of treatment centers and psych wards, I became depressed and attempted suicide on several occasions. Eventually, I became addicted to self-harm and prescription medication. The shame I carried in my mind and my body was more than I could bear. I realized that if I didn’t get help with my eating disorder I would die, so I chose to apply to Mercy Ministries in order to survive.
For as long as I can remember, my daily life has been controlled by my emotions. During my childhood, I was physically and sexually abused by family and friends, and later this abuse developed into bad habits with my so-called guy friends who often took advantage of me. I would do anything to please them including experimenting with drugs and alcohol and restricting food in order to stay thin. My life was out of control. I knew God was real, but I couldn’t figure out how to have a relationship with Him. After learning about Mercy from my grandparents, I followed through with the application process so I could spend some time out learning how to have true intimacy with God.
Before coming to Mercy, I struggled with an eating disorder and self-harm. These issues were controlling my life, and at the peak of my hopelessness, I realized that I really wanted something better for myself. I knew that there had to be more to life than what I was experiencing, so I applied to Mercy in order to find some hope for my life.
My life before Mercy was empty and dark. Rejection and sexual abuse left me feeling very alone and I lacked real feeling. I only felt alive when I was cutting, binging or purging. After learning about Mercy from my mother, I wanted to get complete freedom from these issues and I’m so thankful I was accepted into the program.
For many of our residents, Christmas time at Mercy Ministries is the first time they truly experience unconditional love and giving without strings attached. It is so much fun to see their faces when they open their gifts! Nancy Alcorn, Founder and President of Mercy Ministries, makes sure to be in attendance for the special Christmas parties every year in all of our U.S. homes. At each gathering tears are inevitably shed as the unconditional love of God is demonstrated through the generous donations we receive. For many residents, the sacrificial giving by hundreds of people who do not even know them, often heals some of the very painful memories of past Christmases.
Mercy Ministries is celebrating the birth of a happy and healthy baby girl to Nashville resident, Abbey. Baby Caroline Grace was born at 9:16 pm on December 6th, and she weighed 9 pounds and 16 ounces and was 21 inches long. After much prayer, Abbey made the brave choice to place her baby girl for adoption with a loving Christian family. She said, “I know that God has a purpose for every life and that the purpose for my baby’s life was to save mine and to give a family a child they could not have.”
On Saturday, the Pujols Family Foundation hosted its annual O Night Divine Christmas Celebration to raise funds and awareness for their organization that benefits children with Down syndrome, disabilities, and life threatening illnesses. Albert Pujols, star first baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals, and his wife Deidre are amazing friends and supporters of Mercy Ministries and love to ask our residents to help at many of the foundation’s special events.
Yesterday, Nancy Alcorn, Founder and President of Mercy Ministries, considered it a great privilege to be invited by her dear friend, Dave Ramsey, to speak to his nearly 300 staff during their weekly devotional time. Dave and Sharon Ramsey have been long-time supporters of Mercy Ministries and Dave has helped countless people with their finances as a popular radio personality and author of several New York Times Best Sellers including The Total Money Makeover.
Dianne Wilson and her husband Jonathan are Senior Associate Pastors of Newport Church in Newport Beach, California. Dianne is also a much sought-after speaker in churches and conferences around the world and a bestselling author. Last Friday, California residents and staff were so excited to have Dianne take time out of her busy schedule to pay a special visit to the new Sacramento home.
Before coming to Mercy, I grew up in a loving Christian family, but after my triplet brothers were born, I faced severe feelings of rejection. I was teased throughout most of my elementary school years and by the time I was in high school, the depression I was carrying led to binge drinking and sexual promiscuity. Eventually I found myself in an emotionally and sexually abusive relationship and I felt trapped. My parents pleaded with me to get out, but I felt helpless. Finally, my mom’s friend told me about Mercy and I realized that I needed help.
Before Mercy, I was angry and bitter. My heart was hardened to the things of God. Even though I wanted desperately to trust Him with my life, I didn’t know how. Sexual abuse by a family member left me feeling completely rejected, and I turned to a dependency on alcohol and relationships with guys in order to fill the void in my life. I knew there had to be something better than living in constant fear and hating how much I was hurting my family. In order to release my tight grasp on the past, I needed help. My mom and I learned about Mercy on the internet, and I knew I had to apply.
Yesterday, a Run for Mercy team participated in the California International Marathon (
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