Our History

Founded in 1983 by Nancy Alcorn, Mercy Ministries has grown into an internationally respected charity delivering the unique Mercy Ministries support programme in homes all over the world.

Mercy Ministries was born out of Nancy’s frustration of working within the State’s social services where she witnessed the inability to bring true change in hurting people’s lives by simply treating the symptoms, never the root cause of their problems. As a Christian, Nancy was convicted that God was the only one that could bring healing and restoration to lives, resulting in a person being able to fulfil the destiny God desired.

The first Mercy Ministries home in Monroe, Louisiana was birthed; it offered free accommodation, enabling the team to take the girls out of their situations and into a Godly, safe, secure and beautiful home.

The second Mercy Ministries home opened in Nashville, Tennessee and is a purpose built, debt free facility that houses 40 girls. It is also the corporate head office for Mercy Ministries International.

The third American home opened in September 2005 in St Louis with 30 girls living in the beautifully restored mansion.

In 2000, Mercy Ministries became an international organisation, with the first home opening outside of the USA in Sydney, Australia. Since then, additional homes have also opened in Auckland, New Zealand and West Yorkshire, UK.

Mercy Ministries in the UK

Mercy Ministries UK was launched in 1999 after Pastor Paul Scanlon from the Abundant Life Church in Bradford met President and Founder Nancy Alcorn and heard about the work of Mercy Ministries. Convinced the UK needed homes too and passionate about reaching the broken, he acted as a guardian to protect and nurture the growth of Mercy Ministries in the UK.

Five years later, in 2004, Mercy Ministries UK was released by the Abundant Life Church to become an independent charity, registered with Companies House and the Charity Commission, governed by a UK Board.

A team was appointed to develop a business plan and thanks to the support of a private trust fund and many hours of preparations, research and fundraising the first UK home was opened in September 2006.

Now headed up by Executive Director Arianna Walker, the 12 bed home in Oxenhope, West Yorkshire represents the beginning of Mercy Ministries’ journey in the UK. With plans to extend the property to 22 beds in operation and more homes planned across the UK, the team remains focused on continuing to make a difference to broken lives in the UK and Europe.

What Next?

Since opening the first home in 1983, the ministry has seen thousands of young women rescued from hopelessness and despair. Mercy Ministries aims to continue its expansion of homes across the world to help meet the growing need of hurt, broken and lost young women.