To help a person in crisis and point them to Christ
Mission of Mercy is a Christian ministry connected with Living Hope Bible Church. We serve people who find themselves in difficult life circumstances and need help, support, and a new direction.
For us, mercy begins with the person: seeing them, hearing their story, understanding the real need, and being willing to walk alongside them. But our help has a deeper purpose — to introduce a person to Jesus Christ and His Gospel.
Why the Mission exists
A crisis can take away the things a person leaned on: housing, work, relationships, stability, and hope. Sometimes this comes from their own decisions, and sometimes from circumstances they could not control.
We do not want to define a person by their failures alone. We see someone made by God, who needs truth, mercy, and hope.
“Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.”
Mercy and the Gospel
We do not divide this ministry into two unrelated parts — social help first, and then, if it works out, a conversation about Christ. Practical care and the witness of the Gospel belong to one and the same ministry.
The Gospel first
The Gospel is the foundation and the goal of our help. Every form of help must be consistent with that goal and point a person to Christ.
Seeking the lost
We do not want to wait until a person in crisis finds their own way into a church building. We seek out those in need, make contact, build relationships, and offer help.
“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
Our connection with the church
Mission of Mercy is not an alternative to the local church. It works in connection with Living Hope Bible Church, and the Mission's ministers are part of that church community.
At the same time, we are not in a hurry to send a new participant straight to services or home groups. At first a person usually needs safety, adjustment, trust, relationships, and an understanding of what is happening to them.
The Mission's ministers determine when and in what form taking part in church life will be appropriate and helpful. Getting to know the church happens gradually, according to a person's condition, readiness, and stage.
Faith is offered, not imposed
A person may come to the Mission without being a believer. We do not require anyone to profess the Christian faith beforehand, and we do not pressure anyone into conversion.
The Mission is, however, openly a Christian ministry. A participant must be willing to read the Bible, talk about faith, pray, and learn about the Gospel as part of the life of the Mission.
What we are not
- The Mission is not a medical facility or a detox center.
- The Mission is not a psychiatric clinic.
- The Mission does not replace professional medical, psychological, legal, or other specialized help.
- The Mission is not a place of confinement.
- The Mission is not a separate church.
If someone needs help the Mission cannot safely provide, we may decline housing and, where possible, suggest looking for a more suitable form of help.
What we stand on
Ten principles that shape how the Mission thinks and acts.
The Gospel first
The Gospel is the foundation and the goal of our help. Practical care, relationships, and mentoring must point a person to Jesus Christ.
Voluntary participation
A person accepts help by their own decision. We do not admit or hold anyone against their will.
An individual path
The program has no single length for everyone. Duration and next steps are determined individually.
A person's past does not define them
We consider people with all kinds of pasts. But mercy does not mean the absence of boundaries: safety, legal circumstances, and the Mission's capacity are weighed in every decision.
Faith is not imposed
Faith in God is not a condition for reaching out. At the same time, a participant must understand that the Mission is a Christian ministry, and that the Bible, prayer, and the Gospel are part of its life.
Help within our competence
We provide housing, practical support, relationships, and Christian mentoring, but we do not replace medical, psychiatric, detox, or other specialized treatment.
Order and responsibility
The Mission has rules, a daily routine, and reasonable limits. They exist for safety, order, and the forming of a responsible way of life.
Getting to know the church gradually
The Mission is connected with a local church, but it does not rush a new participant into every church activity. The timing and form are determined by the Mission's ministers as a person is ready.
Care for families
One person's crisis affects the whole family. We seek to support relatives and help them keep love, wise boundaries, and hope.
From receiving help to serving others
We rejoice when someone becomes able, in time, to support others. The possibility of serving is considered according to maturity, character, dependability, and readiness.
Our goal
We want to see more than temporary relief from a crisis: movement toward a responsible life, healthy relationships, work, service, and above all reconciliation with God through Jesus Christ.
The Mission's ministers
The Mission's ministers are part of the community of Living Hope Bible Church.