Bulletin insert copy
Two lengths, ready to paste directly into a bulletin or church app announcement.
Short version (about 40 words)
Mercy Manor is a Christ-centered home opening right here in Hood County for women overcoming homelessness, abuse, and addiction. The building is secured — now we're furnishing it and preparing to open. Learn how to give, volunteer, or refer someone at mercymanorhome4women.org.
Long version (about 90 words)
Mercy Manor is a one-year, Christ-centered residential program for women overcoming homelessness, abuse, and addiction — right here in Hood County. Founded by Sharon King after years of serving women in crisis, Mercy Manor's facility is now secured, and the ministry is preparing to open its doors. Between here and opening day, the ministry needs furniture, household goods, volunteers, and financial support to turn a secured building into a working home. Learn how your family or small group can help — through prayer, a gift, or a needed item — at mercymanorhome4women.org.
Sermon & announcement talking points
Five short prompts a pastor or ministry leader can use as-is, or build a longer message around.
- The need is local, not distant. One in three Texans will experience domestic violence in their lifetime, and Texas has one of the country's highest rates of reported human trafficking. This isn't a problem happening somewhere else — it's happening in Hood County.
- The building is secured — that's the hard part done. After years of prayer and searching, Mercy Manor has a home. What's left is furnishing it, staffing it, and opening the doors — practical, fundable needs, not an abstract hope.
- This is Ephesians 2:4-5 in practice. "But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions." Mercy Manor exists to extend that same mercy to women who feel far from it.
- Every gift is one plain number, divided. It costs $500 a month to carry one woman entirely — room, food, counseling, everything. $125 is her week. $50 is three of her days. This isn't abstract giving — see it laid out at mercymanorhome4women.org/give.
- You don't need money to help today. Prayer, a needs-list item, or an hour of volunteer time all matter before a single dollar changes hands.
- Twelve churches can carry the whole home. Mercy Manor has twelve places, and $500 a month — about $1.15 a week per person in a congregation of one hundred — carries one of them entirely. That program is called The Twelve: mercymanorhome4women.org/partners/the-twelve.
A simple four-step plan
Pray, and mention it once
Read the short bulletin insert above, or mention Mercy Manor in a prayer request. This alone takes five minutes to plan.
Collect one thing from the needs list
Pick a single item — sheets, towels, hygiene supplies, or diapers — and set out a basket for one Sunday. See the full current needs list.
Host a giving Sunday or send a volunteer team
Larger congregations can designate an offering toward Mercy Manor's opening costs, or organize a small group to help with facility work. Contact Mercy Manor to plan the specifics together.
Carry a place — join The Twelve
The home has twelve places, and $500 a month carries one of them entirely — one woman's room, meals, counseling, and care. Twelve churches, each carrying one place, cover the whole home, and each is named for the place it carries. See The Twelve.
Requesting a visit or video message
Where scheduling allows, a founder or board member can visit your church in person, or provide a short recorded video message for services or small groups. Contact Mercy Manor directly to arrange timing.
Common questions
How can my church introduce Mercy Manor to our congregation?
Start with the bulletin insert copy and sermon talking points on this page — both are ready to use as written. Many churches begin with a single bulletin mention, then follow with a designated giving Sunday or a needs-list collection once the congregation is familiar with the ministry.
Does Mercy Manor send someone to speak at our church?
Yes, where scheduling allows. Contact Mercy Manor directly to arrange a founder or board member visit, a short video message, or a written statement your pastor can read.
What's the easiest first step for a small congregation?
A single bulletin insert and a basket collection for one item on the current needs list — sheets, towels, or hygiene supplies — is a realistic first step that takes minutes to plan.