Last summer I came across the book Rhinestone Jesus, and it transformed my perspective.

Kristen (the author) tells her story passionately: as a young woman she was asked to visit and write about what she saw on a trip to the slums of Africa, and from then on she was changed. After the trip, the stirring in her soul kept growing, a God-sized dream and call building, and she and her family embarked on an adventure to establish a home/ministry in Kenya for young pregnant girls.

Mercy House was created.

“Why are God-sized dreams so compelling? Because we powerfully experience God’s presence in our lives through them. It’s not about destination. It’s not what we will get if we complete the dream. It’s about a relationship… the pursuit of any God-sized dream is ultimately the pursuit of the One who placed it within you. It’s like a homing beacon for your heart.” Holly Gerth

In the summer of 2010, The Mercy Maternity House was formed to support the work Maureen (one of Compassion’s leadership graduates, a former sponsored child) does. Maureen is the full-time as the Executive Director of Rehema House (word for mercy in Swahili) in Kenya. While she works in Africa, the Welch family raises money and awareness while supporting Maureen and her staff. Kristen’s family lives in America and mobilize people to give with the help of supportive friends, family and blog readers. Maureen is in Kenya with the language, education, leadership skills and the heart to be the hands of feet of Jesus. via

Watch this video about how Mercy House began. It exists to empower and advocate for pregnant teens, single mothers and women in poverty all over the world through awareness, employment and support in the name of Jesus.

I personally am passionate about this kind of ministry, and would encourage anyone to look into ministries like this. The shirt I’m wearing in the photo I bought in the Mercy House shop. The resources I can give are financial, and prayer. I can support those that are more mobile than I am.

God is good, merciful, faithful. It brings me joy to see ministries like this extending hands and help to overseas needs.

“and provide for those who grieve in Zion– to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.” Isaiah 61:3

Do you have a ministry you support in some way or another? I’d love to hear about it.