A Girl Called Hope, New Zealand: Just As Secretive As Mercy Ministries & Using Exactly The Same Methods

I have recently been in written communication with A Girl Called Hope (AGCH) in New Zealand in a bid to shed some light on exactly what their involvement with Mercy Ministries International is. I have also been trying to establish whether they use the same abusive practices as Mercy Ministries given the fact their “counselling” program is based on “Choices That Bring Change” the programme designed by Mercy Ministries.

So far AGCH have revealed that their program is “founded on the vision and principles of Nancy Alcorn and Mercy Ministries International” and that they changed the name from Mercy Ministries New Zealand to A Girl Called Hope because they “have been unable to Trade Mark the Mercy Ministries name in New Zealand and have overcome this through re-branding”.

Mercy Ministries New Zealand Respond To My Questions

Recently I posted about how Mercy Ministries New Zealand had changed their name to A Girl Called Hope. This news appears to me to be an attempt by Mercy Ministries to distance itself from the worldwide scandal simply by changing it’s name.

This prompted me to contact A Girl Called Hope with a list of questions about their programme. I asked A Girl Called Hope the following questions:

• Why has the name been changed?
• Is the programme still Choices That Bring Change and is it exactly as it was in Australia?
• Have any changes been made to the programme in the wake of the Australian scandal?
• Do you perform exorcisms like they did in Australia?
• What is Mercy Ministries involvement in A Girl Called Hope and does Nancy Alcorn hold ultimate responsibility as head of Mercy Ministries International?
• Why is there no mention of the Australian chapter of Mercy Ministries in the history of A Girl Called Hope? Why does your website imply that there was never a Mercy Ministries Australia?

“The Problems With Therapy” – Article about Mercy Ministries from The Times

The article below first appeared in The Times. It is currently the only major UK media coverage of the Mercy Ministries scandal. The article can be found here but you need a subscription to view the content so I have reproduced it here.

“Think of a happy place and ask yourself this: does it take more skill to heal the body or heal the mind? Few would entrust their physical health to anyone who was professionally unqualified, unaccountable and under no professional obligation to try to make you better. Which is why, if you seek help from a podiatrist, chiropodist, or several other health professions, you are protected by statutory regulation. If a physiotherapist gets too familiar, for example, you can complain to a government watchdog, which will decide whether to strike him or her off a national register. Those falsely claiming to be such professionals can be prosecuted or fined.

A Girl Called Hope: A Leopard Can’t Change It’s Spots

Mercy Ministries has changed it’s name in New Zealand to A Girl Called Hope but it’s still the same old Mercy.

I can’t see any reason they would do this other than to try and hide from the negative publicity now associated with the name Mercy Ministries in Australia.

As the official A Girl Called Hope website states this ministry still has “strong ties” to Mercy Ministries and Nancy Alcorn. Clearly this is just Mercy Ministries with a different name. Perhaps Mercy thought that simply rebranding their product would be enough to silence it’s critics? The official website goes on to say:

“A Girl Called Hope is based on the work of Mercy Ministries which was founded by Nancy Alcorn in America in 1983. Having worked with troubled youth for eight years; Nancy gained insight into the reasons why social problems exist, particularly in young women.

The first home was opened in Monroe, Louisiana, this then extended to Nashville, St. Louis and Sacremento, California in the United States. Mercy Ministries has expanded internationally with homes in England, Canada and here in New Zealand.”

There is no mention at all of the Australian homes they’ve opened and then closed; no mention of the compensation payout; the lies they told the media; the thousands of women who’s lives were damaged; or the fact they only changed the name after the Australian home closed.

I’m sure any woman turning to A Girl Called Hope for help would like to know these important facts.

Mercy Ministries fits most of The BITE Model for Mind Control

Steven Alan Hassan runs the Freedom Of Mind Centre in the US which aims to help people break free from the effects of cults and mind manipulation. He has developed the BITE model which sets out the method’s usually used to control minds. His website reads:

“Destructive mind control can be understood in terms of four basic components, which form the acronym BITE:

I. Behavior Control

II. Information Control

III. Thought Control

IV. Emotional Control

It is important to understand that destructive mind control can be determined when the overall effect of these four components promotes dependency and obedience to some leader or cause. It is not necessary for every single item on the list to be present. Mind controlled cult members can live in their own apartments, have nine-to-five jobs, be married with children, and still be unable to think for themselves and act independently.”

*© 2000 by Steven Hassan; published by Freedom of Mind Press, Somerville MA

The model goes through each of the 4 parts of the acronym above in detail and can be found here.

Many of the criteria found in the model can be found in the stories that have come to light.

A Letter From Dee – Courtesy Of Seantheblogonaut.com

This letter first appeared here on seantheblogonaut.com.

“Just wanted to say a huge thank you to Naomi, Rhiannon and Megan for speaking up about your experience at Mercy Ministries.

When I read the article on March 17th I identified completely with it and it triggered off my own traumatic memory of my short time at Mercy. Your strength and courage has allowed me to realise that I was not the only girl who wasn’t right for the program and has led me to question whether the program is right for any girl suffering these illnesses?

The amount of courage it must’ve taken to share your experience is phenomenal given the amount of mind-consuming fear pumped into us about demons and going to hell. Your courage has prompted me to speak up and express my concerns to someone of authority which will hopefully now spare two girls I know from entering the program. The sad part is, where do these two girls, and the hundreds of others, go?

I think what Naomi wrote on the X-Mercy blog sums up perfectly the intentions of us X-Mercy girls and where we are coming from and what we are hoping to achieve by speaking out. I think Naomi made an important point in saying that she does not believe Mercy intended harm – I also agree with this.

The way in which Naomi articulated her story and her intentions is amazing – free of bitterness and resentment, it was composed, reasonable and authentic and it is a credit to the time and thought she has obviously given this and all she has gone through to get to this point – she really says it all and covers all bases.

There is much more to be said but for now just a big thank you and that I hope you are all going ok in the aftermath of the truth coming out.”

More from Naomi courtesy of seantheblogonaut.com

Here are more words by Naomi Johnson about her Mercy Ministries experience. They originally appeared on seantheblogonaut.com

“The following is a response of sorts to the story aired on Today Tonight, see the youtube video at the end of the response

More musings from me…..

It really hurts to read and hear the outright, bold faced lies that Peter Irvine is willing to purport as truth. It’s shocking to see how venomously Mercy Ministries have struck out, while we may have “exposed” them and caused a “significant disruption”, the truth is we have not come out with claws or hate and slander.

Naomi’s Mercy Ministries Story from Seantheblogonaut.com

This story was originally a comment on a post titled “Hillsong In Trouble Over Mercy Ministries” which appeared on Matt Stone’s blog and can be found here. It was then published by Sean on seantheblogonaut.com.

“Hi I am that girl… I am Naomi Johnson, and I thank those who have been open to hearing this truth. I have this to say to the person who said “I laughed at the opening ……….” in regard to the SMH reporting. I can understand the urge to giggle at such thing, esp. when you don’t know the people. I’m not mad at your sentiments, indeed sometimes all one can do is laugh… but you know, this is my life, this is not about bashing Christians, it’s not about bashing hillsong, it’s not about Easter being right around the corner…. this is about my life, the lives of countless others, and the lives of more girls yet to enter in through those gates.

“Mirrors” – A Post By A Former Mercy Ministries Resident

This post is from Sarah’s Collage – A blog written by a former Mercy Ministries resident

“Mirrors”

I was surprised by my emotional response upon seeing the second batch of my file. I had anticipated that it would be a little more impacting on me than the first lot, but even still i was surprised.

Reading the staff members’ written accounts of the various events, particularly the more traumatic ones, left me with a sense of haunting nostalgia of my grip on reality being hijacked. Even though i have come to terms with this experience on many levels with the support of God and safe people, i really felt like i did four years ago when i had just finished my 12 month stint in the Sydney home. That is, mentally stranded between two polar opposite realities and captive to lies.

“Sarah’s Adventure In The Magical Land Of Rehab” – A Personal Account Of Seeking Proper Treatment After The Damage Of Mercy

This post is from Sarah’s Collage – A blog written by a former Mercy Ministries resident

“Sarah’s adventure in the magical land of rehab”

I am feeling stable, excited and a tad trepedatious after spending four weeks in what is apparently Australia’s leading treatment centre – a self-proclamation which appeared to be supported by those I met who had “been around” in the rehab sense.

Naturally, I had some fears about what this place would potentially have in common with the last facility I was in, being Mercy Ministries. Obviously, there would be limited contact with the outside world, and staff supervision when allowed off the hospital grounds. Even though I can understand why such rules would exist, I was fearful in anticipation of the nostalgia it could potentially create for me. I have seen the very same rules used to control and isolate vulnerable people.