Success Stories
Suzanne - 2007 Graduate
Growing up, I was abused several times. I felt trapped in silence and that life was hopeless. I was fully convinced that Jesus didn’t love me and that I could never be accepted into God’s family, because I was too “bad.” At age 14, I attempted suicide. Heartbroken and devastated, I went to sleep expecting to never wake up. By God’s Mercy I did wake up, but my failed attempt to end my life left me with shame. I couldn’t end my life, and I didn’t know how to live.
After graduating from high school, I went to college to pursue a degree in deaf education. I got involved with a ministry on campus, and it was there that I heard for the first time that God loved me and that He was not ashamed or embarrassed by me. God captured my heart, and I fell in love.
During my senior year of college, I began volunteering at a homeless center, and after about 6 months, I was led to move to the inner-city to be a living example of Christ’s love. I graduated from college and began teaching, but after 3 years of living and working in the inner-city, my world came crashing down. One day, as I was coming home from my teaching job, I was gang raped. I tried to go on as normal, but the pain of the past came back, and it was too much to bear. I knew that I couldn’t continue ministering to the children where I lived when I was so broken myself. My best friend suggested that I apply to Mercy Ministries.
Mercy provided a safe haven for my healing. I never would have been able to afford to go to Mercy on my own, so I am so thankful to those that support Mercy Ministries and give girls like me a safe place to go and find healing from the painful past and live a VICTORIOUS and ABUNDANT life in Christ. At Mercy, I learned that I had a choice and that I didn’t have to live the life of a victim. I could choose Christ and live as an overcomer.
After graduating from Mercy in 2007, I knew in my heart that I was being called back to the inner-city. It has been such a testimony and a blessing to be able to live out my healing among the youth in my old neighborhood and share my story. There are still hard days, but Mercy has given me the tools that I need to fight the lies and the fears that try to steal my joy and freedom in Christ.
I am forever thankful to MERCY for being a channel of God’s love, taking me in during my darkest hour and pointing me to Jesus, the only one that can bring total restoration. Thank you for giving me the chance to be healed and whole, and encouraging me to share that healing with others.