Dear Nancy,
I never would have dreamt three years ago as I was sitting in Mercy, 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. Continue reading “Beth – Mercy Multiplied Graduate”

Hey, my name is Ashleigh and I graduated from Mercy in 2006. I wanted to take a moment to thank Nancy for pressing into the heart of the Lord and for sharing what she found in the eyes of her Creator.
,
When you start to see signs and symptoms in someone, it can take a while to find the willingness to confront them. Confronting someone about an issue that you’ve noticed is not easy. First and foremost, it is important to recognize that if your main goal is to help somebody break the behaviors of whatever they’re dealing with, you probably won’t get very far. Instead, the goal that God wants them to get to is finding healing and freedom in their heart.
Before coming to Mercy, I was a cutter. I never grieved the loss of my dad, and I felt depressed and hopeless. Self-harm was my way of coping with my pain. The counselor I was seeing told me about Mercy. I wanted to walk with Christ, so I decided to apply.
My father was an alcoholic and my mother was addicted to prescription drugs and very suicidal. My life growing up was chaotic and painful. There were constant screams, tears, and pain. Hiding in dark closets was a part of life with my father. When I was 12, my dad left and my mom’s drug abuse got worse. I became the mother to her and my younger sister.
Before I came to Mercy Multiplied, I was very against Christianity. I believed that there was God, but I did not believe that He was good. When I came to Mercy, I got to know God and Jesus, the most beautiful man who died on the cross not just for me, but for all sinners. I walked away from Mercy knowing that God is good.
Growing up, I had unrealistic expectations for myself and as a result I developed an eating disorder and began to self-harm. I also shopped excessively, became obsessed with men, and was very reckless in my behavior. I felt hopeless and went to a secular treatment center for help.
Before entering the Mercy program, I struggled with depression, self-harm, and anger issues resulting from sexual abuse. I struggled with relationships and was very emotionally detached and awkward. My life was a disaster and I kept myself busy with work to avoid dealing with my issues.
I was born and raised in a Christian family and felt very safe and loved. At age four, I was sexually molested. I felt ashamed, guilty, and I lost my sense of security. By my teenage years, I became aware of my body changing, and I didn’t like it. Boys would tease and make fun of me, making me feel more insecure and disgusted with myself.