Kendall – 2017 Graduate

I grew up in a strong, Christian family. At the age of five, I prayed with my dad and asked Jesus to come into my heart. Even though I went to church every Sunday and believed in God, I never really had a real relationship with Him. It left me feeling empty and wanting more. In eighth grade, I found my worth in a boyfriend. I perceived my parents’ love and reactions as controlling and over-protective, so I withdrew from my family, church, and values. As I became older, I continued making choices that led me further and further away from God. I lost my high school boyfriend, and that day I believed the lie that I wasn’t good enough. I began the vicious cycle of an eating disorder. When I began my freshman year at college, I tried to gain approval from everyone which fed my eating disorder. By the end of my sophomore year, I was at my second eating disorder treatment center. I discovered that alcohol gave me what the eating disorder did not – an escape from the pain I felt inside.  Every day I sunk deeper and deeper into addictions. Due to being a liability on my college campus, I moved back home. I gave up everything for alcohol, drugs, and the counterfeit love of men. I rebelled against my parents’ advice and moved in with an older man who was abusive, angry, and addicted to drugs. We broke into businesses, stole from stores, and ran from the police. I felt trapped with no way out. I turned to the police, and he was arrested. My grandmother graciously opened up a room in her house for me and showed me Christ’s unconditional love. Trying so hard to get my life in order, I returned to finish school. I drowned fear of failure, shame, and anxiety with my drinking habit. Due to my habit, I suffered from concussions and health issues. I was hospitalized, went through six treatment centers, and three arrests. Somehow, I managed to graduate from college and moved back  home again.

In September of 2016, I wrecked my car drinking and driving, which forced me to take a serious look at my life. For the first time in my life, I knew I needed help. Then I learned about Mercy Multiplied. In desperation, I began the application process, wondering how in the world people “push pause” on their lives for sixth months! In His perfect time and perfect way, He interrupted my plans and redirected me toward a new, better plan for my life. I walked into Mercy as a broken girl hiding behind a smile. I was filled with fear that I would walk out the same way I walked in… unchanged.

While at Mercy, I was faced with consequences from my past. I discovered that I had some health issues. As the infection persisted through six different courses of treatment, I began to fear that my past would always be a part of me. During this time, I received only love, support, and encouragement from the Mercy staff. They radiated the love of Christ; they knew my past and loved me the same. It was in the waiting that I learned to surrender my plans to His perfect timing. Then the miracle happened. I had the unique opportunity of being prayed over by Mercy Multiplied Founder and President, Nancy Alcorn, and musician, Dana Glover. I experienced God’s miraculous healing power take place in my life. The doctors were confused, but I knew that God is the ultimate Physician. And when He heals, He heals completely – body, soul, and spirit.

While at Mercy, God was the ultimate Counselor. I committed my life to Christ, which began my journey to freedom. Jesus completely changed my life as I walked through each Bible study. I learned to recognize the voice of God. He first spoke “pure” over me, knowing what was to come. In the “Renewing the Mind” study, God remolded my mind, so that I think differently. My past loses power as I speak truth and victory over my life. True transformation really began as I replaced lies with truth. In the “Choosing to Forgive” study, my relationship with my family was restored. The “Healing Life’s Hurts” study was my favorite, because I got to dig into the underlying root issues. Healing took place when I invited God into each hurt asking for His perspective on my life. I learned to express emotions and allowed Jesus to heal my heart.

After Mercy, I plan to pursue a Master’s in Christian Counseling with the goal of helping other girls find the freedom I found in Christ. I plan to walk out the doors completely different than I did when I walked in. At Mercy, the things that held me in chains have been broken. Because the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is living in me, I have the power to choose life!

Thank you, Mercy donors, for making freedom possible. Because of you, I was able to come to Mercy free of charge and gain lasting freedom over addictions. I now have a new identity in Christ and a bright future ahead of me! Thank you so much for helping me choose life!