FAQs

For information specific to our program, click here.

• How is Mercy Ministries governed?

  In 2007, Mercy Ministries International adopted a governance model that brought a new level of program consistency, oversight, and accountability, and positioned the organization to expand its reach and increase its effectiveness throughout the world. Mercy Ministries is currently active in four countries — New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States. An executive director and board of directors now oversee operations in each country, and the board of Mercy Ministries International oversees each country’s board of directors.

• Is Mercy Ministries run by Nancy Alcorn?

  Nancy Alcorn is the founder of Mercy Ministries and currently serves as president of Mercy Ministries International, which is run by a board of directors that is charged with maintaining the overall vision and direction of the international ministry, as well as overseeing the integrity of the ministry's operation within each individual country.

• Who can work at Mercy Ministries? What qualifications do Mercy staff members have?

  Each Mercy Ministries of America (MMOA) home is a complex organization with many employees working in positions ranging from director of counseling to nutrition manager and director of medical services. The largest MMOA homes employ as many as five full-time counselors, as well as an extensive maintenance and support staff. Necessary qualifications vary by position and by country, but all of MMOA professional staff have bachelor’s degrees, with many positions requiring additional degrees and certifications. Counselors at MMOA are qualified through their education, skills, experience and maturity in their relationship with God to serve each resident. All counselors at Mercy Ministries are required to hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited university in social work, psychology, counseling or a related field, and more than 80% have master’s degrees. The Nashville, Sacramento, and St. Louis homes have licensed RN’s on staff. Although MMOA is not a medical facility, some of the young women who enter the program have medical issues that need to be managed. The Nashville home has a licensed secondary education teacher on staff. All minors who enter the program are residents of the Nashville home, which is fully accredited by the state of Tennessee to provide education.

• Are Mercy Ministries programs the same in each country? And what sort of counseling curriculum does Mercy Ministries use?

  Mercy Ministries International formalized its Christian-based counseling curriculum in June 2008. This curriculum is now used in all Mercy Ministries homes throughout the world. It is called “Choices That Bring Change” and helps young women work through a counseling process that explores issues of faith, forgiveness, family, overcoming abuse and past hurts, and general life principles.
  
  In addition to individual counseling, residents also participate in group counseling on a weekly basis. This counseling curriculum is the result of Mercy Ministries’ nearly three decades of ministering to girls in crisis and combines biblical principles of healing and unconditional love with best-practice clinical interventions.
  

• Is Mercy Ministries affiliated with a particular denomination?

  Mercy Ministries is not directly affiliated with any particular church, denomination or organization but is rather an inter-denominational Christian organization with staff members from a variety of Christian backgrounds and traditions. While girls are at Mercy Ministries, they have daily praise and worship as well as daily, life-changing classes based on principles of freedom found in God’s Word. The girls also attend a local church in the community where each home is located. View our statement of faith here.

• What does Mercy Ministries believe about spiritual warfare?

  As a Christian organization, Mercy Ministries believes that spiritual warfare is real and that prayer plays an important role in healing and spiritual growth. Mercy Ministries does not perform or endorse exorcisms as part of its treatment curriculum. Our emphasis is on the power of God’s grace and unconditional love to help hurting young women overcome addictions and past hurts. View our statement of faith here.

• Is Mercy Ministries licensed to operate its homes?

  Mercy Ministries is fully licensed in every state and country in which it operates and in America is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. Mercy Ministries is also supported and endorsed by some of the largest and most respected Christian ministries in the world. Mercy’s curriculum combines Christian principles with best-practice clinical interventions, including input from nutritionists, licensed counselors and social workers. Tours of Mercy Ministries’ facilities are available upon request. Mercy Ministries of America’s yearly financial reports are available here.

• How does Mercy Ministries decide where to open a new home?

  Mercy Ministries has a long-standing policy of not incurring debt in the establishment of its homes. It has established a clear model for creation of new homes that begins at the local community level in order to ensure that each home will have the appropriate level of ongoing financial, spiritual, and community support necessary to achieve Mercy’s mission. The minimum criteria for consideration of the establishment of a new home has been formalized by Mercy Ministries International and is available here.

• Is the program at Mercy Ministries voluntary?

  Mercy Ministries recognizes that true change can only be brought about through a personal commitment to change. This commitment is a pre-requisite for an applicant to enter the program. Mercy Ministries only accepts applicants who clearly understand our Christian emphasis and specifically seek out our help and assistance. Furthermore, Mercy Ministries’ residents are always free to leave the program at any time.

• What kind of medical care do the girls receive?

  It has always been the policy at Mercy Ministries to provide adequate medical care for residents. This includes care from Mercy Ministries’ staff and from outside professionals who are called upon to help on a regular basis. Helping young women regain control of their lives is a central mission and proper health care is a key element of the Mercy Ministries Program.

• What happens if a resident has concerns with her treatment at Mercy Ministries?

  Mercy Ministries International has helped over 3,000 residents in its nearly 30 years of operation, and in a recent survey of former Mercy Ministries of America residents, 93 percent of respondents said Mercy Ministries “transformed their lives and restored their hope.” However, in any treatment program, some will inevitably have questions or concerns, which is why Mercy Ministries has a process in place for current and former residents to air grievances without fear of retribution.

• What about Australia?

  Mercy Ministries of Australia (MMAU), when in existence, was an autonomous entity distinct from Mercy Ministries of America (MMOA) and solely responsible for its operations and actions. Specifically, MMAU had separate and independent funding, oversight, leadership, program design and organizational structure.
  
  Because of a shared vision to serve hurting girls, Nancy Alcorn, Founder and President of Mercy Ministries of America, permitted Darlene and Mark Zschech to leverage the “Mercy Ministries” brand when the Zschechs founded MMAU in 2001. However, MMAU was an independent charity with no oversight from Mercy Ministries of America. MMAU ceased operations in 2009.
  
  A few years ago, there were several controversial allegations leveled in Australia against MMAU and its leadership that caused confusion with MMOA, which operates solely in the United States. This is unfortunate and unfair to the staff, leadership, and current and past participants in the program of MMOA in the United States. Mercy Ministries of America has never been involved in any investigation or executed any settlement or agreement regarding misconduct of any kind in Australia. Furthermore, Mercy Ministries of America has never claimed or assumed responsibility for any actions related to the homes operated by MMAU, and explicitly denies allegations of wrongdoing by MMOA.