Nancy Alcorn, founder and head of Mercy Ministries, a “Bible-based” rehabilitation home for girls facing ailments ranging from eating disorders to sexual abuse, is a closeted lesbian according to former member Jennifer Wynne. Nashville Scene provides an eye-opening article outing Alcorn and exposing terrifying realities behind Mercy Ministries, as described by the experiences of several former members.
Wynne, a lesbian herself, was entrusted with providing alibis for Alcorn’s secret liaisons with another “ex-lesbian” named Lisa who paid frequent visits to Mercy, where “looking lesbian was a major crime.” Wynne, in Alcorn’s inner circle, became part of the deception.
While Wynne was in Dallas, Alcorn told her about Lisa, a nutritionist at the Nashville home. Lisa had been gay for 17 years, said Alcorn, but now she was straight. Which made it all the more puzzling to Wynne when Alcorn would shut her door at night with Lisa in the bed behind her. Wynne wasn’t sure exactly what was happening. She just knew that every once in a while Alcorn could be counted on to rush into her room in the middle of the night, frantically begging Wynne to pray with her that Lisa wouldn’t leave.
Thus began a pattern. Lisa would threaten to go and Alcorn would buy her something. First it was a Range Rover. Then a newer Range Rover. And finally a house in Belle Meade. When Alcorn’s pastor caught wind of the relationship, he offered a remedy reminiscent of Alcorn’s own prescription for preventing lesbianism: a separation contract.
Suddenly Wynne’s job title changed. At 20 years old, she was already Mercy’s youngest intake director, the second-highest gig in the house. Now she was also Alcorn’s alibi. Wynne was dragged along to local coffee shops to witness Alcorn and Lisa’s “accidental” run-ins. They’d leave together afterward.
A blog was started by another former Mercy member, Jodi Ferris, to be a witness to the injustices experienced there. It’s entitled “Mercy Ministries of America: Truth Will Out.”
Hat Tip: Commenter John Weaver
You can also check out my blog or Sean the Blogonaut’s blog at https://nautblog.blogspot.com/ . Both have fairly extensive information about Mercy, especially Sean’s.
I pray Ms. Alcorn will find the strength to live with greater integrity. Outing would be inappropriate if there were not this public, dangerous hypocrisy needing exposure. In this case, we can hope the outing could be a catalyst for Ms. Alcorn’s own healing and growth process.
Ignorance is bliss. Especially ignorance to one’s sense of self. But I hope that such struggles end, so that one can continue to be just who they really are, instead of being pressured by other people’s definitions upon them. My prayers are for Ms. Alcorn.
On youtube there are more sermons where Alcorn preaches about Mercy Ministries using exorcisms to treat patients and how exorcisms are superior to psychiatric treatment.
Talking about exorcisms and doing them on Mercy Ministry patients.
Am I just bored, sitting here in the bowels of a hotel with nothing to do? It seems to me that Alcorn is guilty of great hypocrisy, not merely a lack of integrity. Sounds like a perfect candidate for Jones and Yarmouth experience….
lordy, looka me, I’m a cured of my sin– in an mabiguous, complicated sort of a way.
Or am I just bored?
For the record, it is Jones and Yarhouse. I don’t want future readers to end up on a goose chase for “Yarmouth” which I’m assuming is just an honest mistake. Since that’s the second time I’ve noticed you using it, I thought I should make the point.
Ben in oakland – can it be hypocrisy when a person is so deeply entrenched in self-delusion as an ex-gay? That is, after all, the basis of ex-gay therapies – to get a victim to delude themselves so much that (to paraphrase LIA-R’s John Smid) they can convince themselves that a yellow wall is blue (Bruce Garrett has done two wonderful cartoons about this). Given the extent of self-delusion required to believe gold is blue, is it really inconceivable that Alcorn’s perception of reality is so screwed up that she’s not actually being hypocritical, but is instead living in a fantasy world?
Well, Tavdy, this is true. But I also beliee that from my life experience that even when one has completely convinced oneself that yelow is blue, one still sees the yellow wall.
My sister is a graduate from the program. She went to five facilities to treat her eating disorders before Mercy Ministries and nothing else worked. It broke my family apart… financially and emotionally. As soon as the insurance cut her off she would have to come home. It seemed like an ongoing cycle with no end.
She has been great since graduating from the program. Now she loves herself and she love the Lord. She is in college and wants to become a speech therapist. We finally have our family back.
I thank Nancy Alcorn for everything she has done for these girls. If any of you have had a family member suffer from one of these issues you understand how hard it is. Please, for these graduates and their families sake stop with all of the nonsense.
Nancy is an amazing lady! She gave her life to this ministry. She isn’t married but that is probably because she is so busy saving girls lives. When you give everything you have to helping others it is hard to have time for yourself. How dare you question her sexuality! She is doing good things for so many young women. It really breaks my heart that you are all spending so much time trying to bring her down. Maybe you should use the time to do something good in the community. IF you are so big on gay rights…throw a dang parade or something!
That’s just fine Michael, but certainly you will understand if we put your glowing praise in perspective with the members, families and authorities on two contentments who pain a very different picture. And you should also keep in mind that XGW isn’t claiming Alcorn is a lesbian, someone who says — with what seems like a great deal of credible detail — that she arranged her romantic liaisons with other women.
The problem with that is not the fact of it, but that she reportedly treats others who are gay as dirty, bad or even demon possessed. The problem is hypocrisy, which is why her sexual orientation is even an issue here. And it has nothing to do with her not being married as far as I can tell, why did you bring that up?
In spite of this, Alcorn and Mercy appear to have much deeper issues. Are you friends with Alcorn? Personally acquainted? Considering the number of serious problems brought to light, are you not at all concerned that you might not have the real story? I would be.
Well, despite “popular” belief, this isn’t usually how gays try to do more to further equal rights. Running blogs like this that seek the truth is one way. So.. I guess we don’t really need to change anything.
Now please tell me how a woman who has struggled with so many issues is a creditable resource? Should someone that seems to have it out for Ms. Alcorn be used as a reference for Ms. Alcorn’s character?
I think she wants to convince herself that Nancy is a lesbian is to make herself feel better about her own sexuality.
Her story makes no sense at all. Alcorn is against homosexuals yet she is one? Give me a break! As a Christian I am sure that Nancy probably believes in a heterosexual monogamous relationship but I don’t think she would treat someone poorly because of their sexual orientation. I brought up the fact that she is not married because if she were, this would not be in question. But now everyone thinks you have to be married or else someone accuses you of being gay.
No, I don’t know Nancy personally. I have met her twice. Once at graduation and once at the 25th Anniversary. She seemed like a great lady. But I have seen my sister before Mercy and I see her now. I am going to be able to see her graduate from college, get married, maybe have kids. I can tell you it would not be possible without her time at Mercy. That alone is enough proof for me. IF you want to make this a creditable story, talk to more graduates. These two ladies are a little too looney to take as legit resources.
I had a friend at Mercy when I was there, she was dismissed from the program because she was gay but had not admitted it on her application form.
She wanted help for her condition she was suffering, and she was accepted to Mercy Ministries on that basis, but when the she admitted to staff that she is same sex attracted, they kicked her out and said she should have been honest about it. I’m guessing that’s because they would have treated her differently if they’d known and put her through the Sy Rodgers videos and things.
Michael I’m glad your sister is doing better, but even if Mercy Ministries did help your sister, it is not evidence to dismiss what the ex Mercy Ministries staff member and the ex residents are saying. It isn’t even related.
I also think you’re a very rude person for taking a cheap shot and calling the people who spoke out about the issues looney. Nobody ever called you or your sister looney. I think you need to stick to the facts. I understand you feel you want to protect Alcorn from scrutiny because your sister didn’t have a bad experience at Mercy, but attacking the character of girls who were brave enough to speak up is just wrong and it sort of makes me want to dismiss everything else you have to say because it shows such a lack of maturity.
This reply does not address whether Alcorn is gay or not (I could care less) and strictly addresses Michael’s very naive statment of
“Alcorn is against homosexuals yet she is one?”
Obviously Michael, you are not well-acquainted with the anti-gay phenomenon where people who are gay and hate themselves project their extreme discomfort and rage at other homosexuals through such means as becoming uber-religious and seeking goals that impede the happiness experienced by homosexuals who are actually comfortable with their sexuality. Case in point, Reverend Ted Haggard who spoke out vehemently against gay people, equating them and their orientation with the devil. Turns out, Ted’s a drug-taking closet case. Not surprising because his vitriol was pretty nasty against gay people. He’s definitely not the only one. But his “fall from grace” was very public. So, naturally, he seems perfect to illustrate the point.
Otherwise, I’m glad your sister got taken care of at this facility and suffers no life-long damage at the hands of it. However, I think it is also quite naive and a little bit bold for you to take someone else’s tale of abuse and discredit it because they (of course!) can’t be telling the truth because they had problems at one point. One could easily turn that exact same method around and say that your sister, despite her recovery, is covering up something. I’m definitely NOT saying that, just making a point.
And finally, being married does not equate with being heterosexual. It equates with seeming heterosexual. Many, many people have suppressed their natural inclination towards the same sex to fit into an expected stereotype. Many of those same people have seriously regretted it, destroying their hard-won families when the truth finally came out. So, yes, it would still be a question as to whether Alcorn was straight or gay for those that care because, frankly, people lie all the time.
Michael, being a believer in Christ I am very concerned with your statements here. Why are you glorying another human being (Ms. Alcorn) for the “wonders” done for your sister?
Where is Christ in the picture? Have you forgotten that we are all sinners, and as sinners we are supposed to be a reflection of the inspiration God gives us in our lives. In our walk, for every blessings we or our loved ones receive, we must give due praise to Our Father!
Odd, Peter Irvine said the same thing about the Australian Mercy girls who spoke out when the abuse scandal broke there. Having “struggled” with “issues” doesn’t make someone an unreliable source of information, Mike.
I am very happy that your sister is doing well.
http://www.mercysurvivors.com has evidence that Irvine wasn’t being truthful. At all.
Michael going by your logic, your sister wouldn’t be a reliable source of information.
Take a little time to research Mercy Ministries untruthful response to the mistreatment of residents before you go making accusations and trying to blame the victims of the abuse. Ask yourself if an organisation that goes out of its way to lie and hide things, can really be doing God’s work.
These videos illustrate it well https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqqzFt4Fjxo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHWMZUHcZo8
And you can say “Yes but that’s in Australia.” But Mercy Ministries is one organisation and the President of Mercy Ministries International (Alcorn) has not even stepped up to condemn the abuses or the lies of the Australian Executive Director.
Just a heads up, Mercy Ministries has been flagging youtube videos critical of the organization with false DMCA claims, which, btw, is illegal.
Hey, just so you know, I put up an entry on my blog explaining what’s happening with Mercy’s false copyright flagging.
I think that all of these allegations are rediculous. You who are against the work God is doing through Mercy need to check your own hearts and stop throwing stones at those who are doing what God has called them to do. None of us is without fault…knowing Nancy in the capacity I do, I know that she would be the first one to admit that she is not without faults in her life. Also knowing her in the capacity I do….I know this crap about her being involved in a lesbian relationship is bogus. There are always going to be battles waged against those who are doing what God has called them to do. If you disagree with the principles, then don’t support it. If you are a former resident who is disgruntled….remember that you applied and went through an extensive intake process to be accepted into the program….BY YOUR OWN CHOICE. I know for a fact that they explain that Mercy is a non denominational program. If that is a problem for you, then don’t apply. If you can’t deal with it when you get there, they don’t hold you against your will. They make arrangements for you to leave. I think my biggest problem with all of this slander is that there are a lot of people talking garbage about someone they really don’t know. I am a former resident and still have A LOT of involvement with the ministry. I know PERSONALLY the amount of excellence and integrity that goes into each and every detail of this ministry. People….humans…run this ministry….not perfect ones….there is good, bad, and ugly in everyone…thank God for His grace that is new with every morning. It is only in Him that we live and move and breath. We will all be much better off if we begin to focus our energy on Him…who is the perfect one…and stop harrassing the imperfect ones whom God works through…which includes Nancy, myself…and you if are one who is willing to allow God to work through you for His good.
As a former resident I just want to say, in response to the comment above, that MM is not non denominational, even though they claim they are. That might be where one of the problems comes from. MM has an affinity with the Pentecostal movement and has close links with Hillsong and similar places.
If MM was non denominational, the staff would not have commented negatively when some girls didn’t raise their hands or speak in tongues. They wouldn’t have given teaching on how if you can’t or don’t do those things, you are holding back from God and are not a real Christian. At MM the teaching came from the Pentecostal movement, with teaching coming from Hillsong, Joyce Meyer, Sy Rogers, Chris Cain and others.
Regarding your claim that girls can leave MM at any time, that was not my experience at all. When I tried to leave the first time, I was told I couldn’t just leave because I wanted to. I was told I had to give notice (1 or 2 days from memory) and after that they took my suitcase and locked it away so that I couldn’t just leave.
When women finally had the courage to leave, they were put in a room and berated by MM staff, told they were going against God’s will, told MM was their only hope to receive healing, told that psychiatrists can’t help and that only MM has God’s annointing to heal. Girls were put in the room and not allowed out of there for hours. Some girls were forced to stay over night, being kept away from the other girls, with their cell phones taken away from them so they couldn’t call for help.
The intake process for MM when I went there was totally inappropriate. I was told it was a non denominational Christian program. I was told the staff were qualified. I was lured away from the treatment I was having, which was by qualified practitioners, and I was lured into MM. I went there believing they were qualified, and they were non denominational, mainstream Christian. They were unqualified, and they were not Christian like my understanding of Christians. They had weird beliefs and when I asked about them or didn’t understand something, they closed up and wouldn’t explain anything to me. I was told to just trust what they were doing and to stop questioning. I felt unsafe there very often.
I don’t know Nancy personally so I won’t comment on her personally.
I know God has His hand on the entire situation and I know he doesn’t approve of a lot of the things MM has been doing. He warns against it in the Bible. Whether the entire MM ministry is flawed, or whether it’s a lot of the MM staff, I don’t know. I do know God hates injustice, people hurting others in His name and unbiblical hokus pokus teaching. If MM can be over hauled so that it no longer does these things then I wish it success, but it would have to be a very big over haul.
I had a friend with anorexia who was part of mercy ministries. She didn’t get better, eventually died from it and related complications. When at mercy she was asked to share a bed with Nancy, a thing which many of the girls under care were asked to do.