Merry Mercy 2024 Celebrates Lives Transformed

Guests at this year’s Merry Mercy Christmas Benefit enjoyed an evening filled with thrilling music and moving stories of God’s provision and lives transformed. Almost 400 people attended the event, where more than $150,000 was given to support the mission of Mercy Multiplied. 

“As I watched the room fill with guests who came to celebrate all that God is doing through Mercy, I felt overwhelmed with gratitude,” said Hayley Freels, Community Relations Manager for Mercy’s Nashville campus and one of the event coordinators. “One of the highlights for me was seeing Tasha Layton perform ‘Look What You’ve Done’ and witnessing how deeply her words resonated with the audience.” 

Contemporary Christian Music singer-songwriter and now author, Tasha Layton, also performed radio favorites “Into the Sea” and “Worship Through It” at Merry Mercy, and Layton told the group she had been anticipating this event for more than a year. She said that the stories told in her new book, Look What You’ve Done, line up perfectly with what Mercy teaches about freedom in Christ. “You could lay them out side by side,” she said. Many in the room raised their hands in worship as Layton sang.  

Other highlights from the evening included remarks from Mercy’s Founder and President, Nancy Alcorn, who shared stories of God’s miraculous provision for the ministry in its early days. Alcorn also mentioned several women present in the room whose lives had been transformed as they participated in Mercy’s Residential Program. 

One history-making element of this year’s Merry Mercy program came as a married couple described their personal journeys toward greater freedom in Christ. Tallie Mabray spoke eloquently about her experience as a client at Mercy’s Center for Wellness and Counseling (CWC) in West Monroe, Louisiana. The transformation she experienced made an impact on her husband, Wilson, who shared about his own freedom journey through the CWC. It was the first time an audience at Merry Mercy had heard a man speak live about the transformation he experienced through one of Mercy’s programs.  

“The energy in the room was undeniable,” said Rachel Bedenbaugh, Mercy’s Senior Director of Engagement & Development Strategy. “Our guests were not just attendees but active participants in celebrating lives being transformed through Mercy!” 

The honorary co-chairs for the event were Pastors Mike and Stephanie Burnette from LifePoint Church in Clarksville, Tennessee. They celebrated the more than 20,000 people directly served by Mercy in 2024, and talked about ways Mercy’s programs and resources had impacted the staff and members at their church. The Burnettes also encouraged those in attendance to support the mission of Mercy Multiplied with financial gifts, and to contact Mercy for information about how to engage with the many resources Mercy has to offer.  

Guests at Merry Mercy were slow to leave the Cool Springs Marriott Hotel after the event, and dozens of people continued conversations with Mercy staff as workers began clearing the room. Mercy’s National Director of Philanthropy, Lauren Hobar, summed up the event with these words:  

“Merry Mercy is always a special evening, but this year felt particularly meaningful as we reflected on how far Mercy’s mission has reached. Hearing Tasha Layton share her heart through music and watching our guests connect with the stories of transformation was a highlight. The response was incredible, and I’m so grateful for everyone who came and gave so generously to support this ministry.”