Mercy Ministries is an incredible ministry which ministers to young women with life controlling issues like eating disorders, self-harm, addictions, teen pregnancy, sexual abuse, depression, suicidal thoughts, etc. Mercy is run completely on donations and does not take any government funding. It gives out 10% of everything they recieve to other ministries as well. On top of this, each girl is admitted into the 6 month residental program for free; the idea is that the girls know the purpose of treatment is not to make money off of thier problem. Praise God for a place like this. Obviously, running a ministry which not only counsels young women but provides everything they need to sleep, live,eat, relax, read, listen to, and learn does not come at a small price. Not to mention, that Mercy always provides the best of the best because they want the girls to know that they are worth it...that they are loved. During my time at Mercy, God transformed my life from the inside out...the Lord used Mercy to teach me how to live. When I walked in those doors, I had given up on life. But as I fell in love with Jesus, He breathed life, hope, and purpose into my life and today everything I am is because of Him. Mercy has a waiting list of over 700 girls. They need finiancial support so that those girls can be given the same chance to choose life that I was given through my time at Mercy.
Each year, Mercy does a huge fundraiser in St. Louis to raise money and to connect with new families and individuals who feel called to support the work of this ministry in any way, long term or a one time gift.
Two years ago, I was given tickets to this event from a woman at my church. I attended along with my sister, big sis Ash, mom and a friend. At this point, I was broken, hurting, hopeless, dead on the inside and dying on the outside as well. I remember sitting there listening to a girl stand up and proclaim the faithfulness of God in her life and how through Mercy God has given her freedom from the darkness that had consumed her life. In that moment I made a deal with God...that if He didnt bring me to Mercy, if He didnt make a way then I would end it all. I had been through so many treatment programs and centers. We had run out of money. I spent weeks in a hospital bed. Nothing helped. I always went back. I had no hope. I held onto to the thought that one day, maybe just maybe, I could stand up there and say that God had saved my life too. Just like that girl. At the moment, I dont think I really believed it though. A few months later, I walked into the doors of Mercy Ministries. God changed my life.
With Barlow Girl...
The next year I returned to volenteer at this big fundraiser once again. But this time, tears of joy fell upon my cheeks, knowing that as I sat and listened to another graduate share...praise God that I had that same hope. There were still areas of my life that were not totally surrendered the Christ though, and I knew that He was not finished with me yet, despite the incredible transformation that has begun.
Last year at this event....Me and Ash
Several days ago, I got to stand up at this event and share the faithful hand of my heavenly Father in my life. Tears begin to fall just reflecting upon the way He has transformed my life...His faithfulness, His gentleness, His patience, His protection. Oh goodness I could go on forever. What a gift it was to attend this event and spend time with so many incredible women who have come to support Mercy over the past several years. 
I have never seen communitty modeled the way I did Thursday night. How beautfiul....praise God for humble, faithful, godly moms and dads, wives and husbands, sisters and brothers. The past two years have been an incredible, challenging, exciting, scary journey that I would not change for anythign in the world. There were days when I couldnt see past the lies, nights when the darkness enveloped me, mornings when the joy never came. But through it all, He is worhty of my praise. He is faithful to begin the good work He began. And He will. By no means am I perfect, completey free, or totally whole apart from Christ, but He gives me hope which sustains me through those tough days now. When His promises are all I can cling to at times, then I will hold on with everything I have. He is the FAITHFUL ONE!!! I wanted to share some pictures from the last three years of this event and the breif testimony that I got to share on Thursday. 
