Mercy Ministries

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For the Catholic religious order, see Sisters of Mercy.

Mercy Ministries is an international Christian charitable organization that offers a long-term Christian residential treatment program for young women aged 13-28 who struggle with various issues. These include mental illnesses such as eating disorders, mood disorders, and substance abuse disorders. In addition to mental illness, many participants have survived trauma, which may predispose them suicidal ideation, self-harm, and sexual compulsivity. Mercy Ministries operates both an ex-gay program that offers conversion therapy, as well as a pro-life program that serves young women with unplanned pregnancies. After entering the program, pregnant residents attend a decision-making class to help them choose to parent their child or place their child for adoption through an agency operated by Mercy Ministries.

Mercy Ministries of America was founded in Monroe, LA in 1983 by its President, Nancy Alcorn, and has grown to include US facilities in Nashville, TN and St. Louis, MO. The Nashville home is also the site of Mercy Ministries' International Corporate Headquarters and where its staff training takes place. The organization is currently in the planning stages for additional US locations in Charlotte, NC, Destin, FL, Houston, TX, Lincoln, CA, and Sturgis, MI. Beginning in 2001, Mercy Ministries expanded internationally and now operates two homes in Australia, one in New Zealand, and a fourth in the United Kingdom with plans for homes in Canada, Peru, South Africa, and a third facility in Australia. [1][2][3]

It is not affiliated with the Catholic order, the Sisters of Mercy, who sometimes use the term "Mercy Ministries" in relation to their own work.[4]

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[edit] Funding

Mercy Ministries receives its funds from the Christian community, businesses, foundations and other individuals. Mercy Ministries' 2004 audit showed 77% of donated funds went directly to program costs[citation needed].

Gloria Jean's Coffees is a major corporate sponsor of Mercy Ministries Australia. "Gloria Jean’s Coffees chose to support Mercy Ministries because there is a need in Australia for a dedicated charity that helps women with these difficult issues," said Peter Irvine, Co-Founder of Gloria Jean's Coffees and director of Mercy Ministries Australia.[5]. Another explanation for the sponsorship is that one of the founders of Gloria Jean's in Australia, Nabi Saleh, sits on the Hillsong Church Board.[6]

Mercy Ministries' programs are advertised in pamphlets available at Gloria Jean's outlets in Australia[7], though the organisation's connection to the Hillsong Church[8] is not mentioned.

[edit] Controversy

On 17 March 2008, an article appeared in The Sydney Morning Herald containing allegations of mistreatment by several former clients of Mercy Ministries Australia. They claim the organisation has made false claims about its services, and that instead of receiving counseling from qualified professionals, they were placed in the care of Bible studies students who treated them with techniques including exorcisms and prayer readings.[9] Later articles also alleged that clients had been expelled without warning, follow-up or support. [10][11]

Peter Irvine, a director of Mercy Ministries Australia and co-founder of Gloria Jean's Coffees, has stated, in response to the allegations, that Mercy Ministries has received "overwhelming positive feedback from graduates, their families and the community" and that residents were made aware of the details of the programs before they joined.[12] Several of Mercy Ministries' Australian corporate sponsors publicly severed their connection with Mercy Ministries in the wake of the allegations.[13][14]

On 16th April 2008, the Australian Democrats announced that the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) would be investigating Mercy Ministries Australia over possible breaches of Australian trade practices law, including allegations that it mislead clients into believing that the program would provide professional medical and psychiatric care for their patients, and that it was free of charge. [15]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Mercy Ministries. History. Retrieved on 2008-03-20.
  2. ^ Mercy Ministries. Our Founder. Retrieved on 2008-03-20.
  3. ^ Mercy Ministries. Locations. Retrieved on 2008-05-13.
  4. ^ "The business of giving Mercy" - Sydney Morning Herald, March 18 2008
  5. ^ Mercy Ministries - Corporate | Corporate Partnerships |
  6. ^ "The rich do their blocks" - Sydney Morning Herald, 4 September 2004
  7. ^ "The rich do their blocks" - Sydney Morning Herald, 4 September 2004
  8. ^ Hillsong. Mercy Ministries. Retrieved on 2008-05-13.
  9. ^ "They prayed to cast Satan from my body" - Sydney Morning Herald, March 17 2008
  10. ^ "They sought help, but got exorcism and the Bible" - Sydney Morning Herald, March 17 2008
  11. ^ "No mercy for transgressions" - Sydney Morning Herald, March 19 2008
  12. ^ "Cult-rescue group 'concerned about' Mercy Ministries" - The Age, March 18 2008
  13. ^ "Corporations move quickly to cut ties" - Sydney Morning Herald, March 18 2008
  14. ^ "The Business Of Giving Mercy" - Sydney Morning Herald, March 18 2008
  15. ^ "Mercy Ministries Misinformation Referred To ACCC" - Αustralian Democrats Press Releases, April 16 2008

[edit] External links