Mercy Ministries

Since 1983, Mercy Ministries of America has provided hope and healing to generations of desperate young women who are seeking freedom from life-controlling issues such as:

• Physical and Secual Abuse Including Sex Trafficking
• Eating Disorder
• Self-Harm
• Drug and Alcohol Addictions
• Depression
• Unplanned Pregnancy

Their free-of-charge biblically-based program serves a diverse population of young women from various socio-economic backgrounds, ages 13-28. Many of the girls, who come to Mercy for help, are facing a combination of debilitating circumstances and have been in various treatment facilities with unsuccessful long-term results.

The ministry is committed to providing the young women they serve with the most excellent prgram services that allow them to recognize their self-worth and prepare them to reach their full potential. Their non-conventional approach to healing allows young women to permanently stop destructive cycles and prepare them to take hope out into their communities.

For more information about Mercy Ministires, visit their FAQ section here.

Girls of Grace: Conference helps teenage girls cope with today's issues

Body image? Self esteem? Eating disorders, sex and the downside of social networking?

Yuck, if you're a teenage girl, right?

Well, not if you're a teenage girl attending Girls of Grace, an exciting one-day event being held Feb. 19 at World Outreach Church in Murfreesboro, for girls 12 to 17.

"Girls and their mothers come from far and wide to attend these conferences," said Susan Niles, on behalf of the event.

Hosted by award-winning, multi-platinum selling trip Point of Grace, Girls of Grace will tackle issues teenage girls face through a fun platform that includes well-known featured speakers, lots of music and more.

"We've been singing together for many, many years, and about 8 or 9 years ago our dream came to fruition," said Shelley Breen, of Point of Grace, explaining the group's desire to start a conference for teen girls.

Breen said following their concerts, more and more girls would come to the trio for advice about tough issues.

"For us that's so hard," Breen said. "We are up on stage singing Christian music and (girls think) we have all the answers ... So many girls need a lending ear, and need answers."

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By: Sadie Fowler, Shelbyville Times-Gazette

Public meeting to focus on teen drug and alcohol abuse

When officials at Ellensburg High School said last month that there had been five incidents in two weeks involving students and drugs, including two students found to be under the influence of heroin, teacher Samantha Nelson wasn’t surprised.

Nelson, who teaches health to freshmen and sophomores and consumer and family issues to juniors and seniors, is a member of a Drug Task Force committee.

She knows it’s not uncommon for teens to experiment with drugs and alcohol. She knows that what starts as experimentation has the potential to also be tragically life changing.

“It wasn’t that I was surprised. I was saddened,” Nelson says. “These are good kids making bad choices and it can ruin their lives. I think it starts innocently enough, beginning with alcohol, continuing with marijuana and moving on to harder drugs like cocaine and heroin.

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By MARY SWIFT staff writer Daily Record