Mercy Multiplied Guest Teacher Spotlight: Jacque DeShetler

September 1, 2016

Jacque DeShetler

Jacque DeShetler

As a part of its multi-dimensional approach designed to address the whole person – spirit, soul and body – Mercy Multiplied often invites guest speakers to teach the residents at its four U.S. homes. This month, Jacque DeShetler led worship and taught at the St. Louis Mercy home, where she has been teaching for the past several years.

Jacque has been in the music industry and in ministry for many years. She has travelled worldwide as a musician and speaker, bringing worship mentorship and instruction to churches, the conference setting, and arts and education organizations.

Read our recent Q & A with Jacque below:

Q: Could you share with us a bit about your ministry?

A: I’ve been a worship pastor, teacher, mentor and coach since 1993. It is my mission to bring worship, teaching and inspiration wherever help and comfort might be needed, in my own peculiar way. I’ve written and recorded lots of music, travelled around the world, and had the time of my life serving the Lord with my husband and two kids!

Q: How did you first come to know about Mercy Multiplied?

A: Nancy Alcorn was a guest speaker at a Joyce Meyer women’s conference in St. Louis, Missouri, back in the early 2000’s. I just happened to be singing at the conference that year, and when I heard her speak, all I could think of was, “Where was Mercy when I was growing up?” It was overwhelming to me that she could have such a tremendous heart for girls who had basically come to a life and death crossroad. After meeting Nancy, I spent a couple of days at the residence in Nashville. It was an incredible time, and the impact I saw on these women was phenomenal. The care and counsel of each resident, the healing atmosphere of the home, and the relationships being forged were a powerful equation. That, and of course the spiritual formation and disciplines being introduced, were constructing a solid foundation for these girls to build their lives upon.

Q: How often do you teach at the St. Louis home?

Jacque with St. Louis Mercy residents

Jacque with St. Louis residents

A: I have been in and out at Mercy, as the seasons of my ministry would permit, for quite a while, but in February 2016, I started teaching and leading worship on a monthly basis. It is my favorite day of the month when I know I get to meet with the ladies and spend a good season of time in worship and teaching and then breaking bread together. 

Q: On what topics do you teach?

A: I love to weave the Word of God throughout worship. I look at what I do as being a storyteller. My favorite topics with the girls are our identity in Christ, the Love of the Father, our identity as His child, and our purpose as His special creation. The underlying theme of my stories is always from Ephesians 2:10: “We are engineered by His design; He molded and manufactured us in Christ. We are His workmanship, His poetry. We are fully fit to do good, equipped to give attractive evidence of His likeness in us in everything we do.” (Mirror Translation)

Q: What is the most rewarding part of working with the Mercy residents?

A: When I witness their attentiveness to the Word and the personal stories I love to share with them, and then see their hands lifted and hearts opened to the loving presence of Father God in worship, all I can say is, “What could be better than that?” Every day is a new step toward freedom, and though their struggles are deep and hard to be borne, I see them digging deep and moving forward. It is an incredible privilege to be a small part of their journey. I love, love, love hanging out with them for lunch afterward when we get to spend some time talking with each other. That’s when I get to know some of the girls on a more personal level and can pray for them and encourage them on my next visit.

Q: What has God taught you through teaching at Mercy?

A: I have to say that I see 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 more clearly than ever before: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” (NASB)

After Jacque’s recent worship session and teaching on God’s love, several of the Mercy residents expressed they were encouraged that God is with them and has good things for them, even in their struggles.

“The past few days have been very difficult for me, and I felt at peace while we were worshipping,” said Mercy resident, Valerie. “I was also very encouraged when Jacque said that just because we may be struggling doesn’t mean we’ve done anything wrong or God’s ‘punking’ us.”

Mercy resident Lindsey shared, “Jacque talked briefly about when Jesus reappeared to the disciples while they were fishing and had a meal prepared for them. She said there would also be a reward for our hard work, waiting for us on the other side. This was encouraging to hear. I will not give up!”

“God wants to give me the desires of my heart… He also wants to walk through the wilderness with me even though I continue to push Him away and try to do things my way,” said Mercy resident Alexandria. “My plan is to surrender to God.”

Mercy is thankful for Jacque’s heart to serve and teach the young women at Mercy Multiplied. Visit About Our Residential Program for more information about Mercy’s biblically based teaching and counseling.