Mercy Ministries Has Closed It’s Doors!
Posted on 27. Oct, 2009 by Cameron in Gloria Jeans, Hillsong, Mercy Ministries
Huge news! Sarah Mac, who I interviewed on episode #352, emailed me tonight to let me know that Mercy Ministries has shut down all Australian operations!
She writes:
Hi Cameron,
I was looking back the other day and realised that it has been already a year since we did the interview.
I got some very good news today, Mercy Minitries Australia has shut down completely. Their statement is on their website.
I have been talking to some of the other girls since it has come out and we are all very relieved.
As I understand it ALL organisations have pulled out their support in the last few months, including Hillsong Church and Gloria Jeans.
This is such a great victory for all of us that were hurt and abused by Mercy, hopefully other countries will follow. (we can only live in hope).
many thanks
Sarah Mac
I’m very proud of the small role this show played in closing Mercy down. If you missed those episodes, you can find them here.
It just goes to show you folks – we CAN make a difference.
G’Day World #352 – Sarah Mac’s Mercy Ministries Experience
Posted on 21. Oct, 2008 by Cameron in Christianity, Gloria Jeans, Hillsong, Mercy Ministries, Podcast, religion
Today’s show is the latest in my series examining the Christian charity Mercy Ministries and it’s relationship with the Gloria Jean’s Coffee chain and the evangelical Christian church Hillsong.
My guest today is an Australian woman who is using the pseudonym “Sarah Mac” to protect her identity. She spent 8 months as a voluntary patient at Mercy’s now-closed center on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast and her story is horrifying. She tells me she was subjected to punishments if she forgot to take her medication, denied regular access to friends, family and qualified therapists, and kept in solitary confinement when she finally decided to leave Mercy. She left feeling worse about herself than when she entered and tried to commit suicide a few weeks later. She has since met with Mercy’s founder Nancy Alcorn and received an unconvincing apology. Despite her experiences, Sarah remains a Christian.
Despite her obvious discomfort is talking about her experience, Sarah was brave enough to share it with me in the hope that it will help other girls think twice about the decision to enter Mercy.
This is her story.
The G’Day World theme music:
Conquest
“Secrets of Life” (mp3)
from “End of Days”
(Dark Star Records)
G’Day World #335 – Mercy Ministries Survivor “Vickie”
Posted on 25. Jul, 2008 by Cameron in Christianity, Gloria Jeans, Hillsong, Mercy Ministries, Podcast
Today’s show is a continuation of the examination I’ve been doing around the relationship and practices of Gloria Jean’s Coffee, Hillsong Church and Mercy Ministries. Today’s guest is a former resident of Mercy Ministries in the United States. She spent 7 months inside Mercy about 8 years ago and is still today too frightened of them to use her real name, so she is using the alias “Vickie Lucas”. Vickie tells me about how she entered Mercy trying to find help for her bulimia nervosa condition but instead of psychological and clinical treatment, she was subjected to exorcisms, neglect and emotional abuse. She talks about how she was chastised in public by Mercy founder Nancy Alcorn, who claims to be a lifelong celibate, for getting her haircut – apparently according to Mercy that’s a clear sign she is possessed by demons making her into a lesbian.
The quotes contained in this show by Nancy Alcorn and Peter Irvine are taken from this video by The Cynic Sage.
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The G’Day World theme music:
Conquest “Secrets of Life” (mp3)
from “End of Days”
(Dark Star Records)
More On This Album
G’Day World #331 – Ex-Gloria Jean’s Franchisees Speak Out
Posted on 30. Jun, 2008 by Cameron in General, Gloria Jeans, Podcast
My guests tonight are a couple from Melbourne who we’ll call “Bazza” and “Shazza”. For the last five years they were franchisees with Gloria Jean’s Coffee. They’ve come on to discuss their experience.
As regular readers will know, I’ve been taking an interest in Gloria Jean’s over the last few years (read earlier posts here), especially in the relationship between Gloria Jean’s Coffee, Hillsong Church and Mercy Ministries.
As you might be aware, there have been allegations over the last six months that Mercy Ministries has been treating it’s clients (mostly “troubled” young women) with techniques including exorcisms and prayer readings.
Even Gloria Jean’s Global Marketing Manager has commented on the blog in an attempt to provide their side of the story.
So I was pleased when Bazza and Shazza agreed to come on to share an insider’s story.
The G’Day World theme music:
Conquest
“Secrets of Life” (mp3)
from “End of Days”
(Dark Star Records)
If you’re wondering what the opening quotes are from on today’s show, it’s the opening lines from Rimbaud’s “A Season In Hell”.