our story

Where we've come from

Mercy Place was planted in 2001 by a team from Antioch Community Church in Waco, Texas. Led by pastors Ben and Ruth Loring, the team's vision was to plant a church with DNA that could be culturally reproducible anywhere in the world. Desiring to train people to reach the unreached of any society, Mercy Place was founded with an emphasis on the marginalized communities of Dallas.

The Lorings now live near their son in Michigan and continue to carry Mercy Place in their hearts, as well as a desire to see the mercy of God touch the lives of those around them in Michigan.

Where we are

Today, the firstfruits of Mercy Place's original vision are being played out in a variety of ways. Locally, we have expanded our base of leadership in order to facilitate growth in all areas. Our current location provides us a number of outreach opportunities, as the needs around us are very great. We've also just started our first training school in fall 2009.

Globally, we are excited and honored to have sent out our first long-term workers to Central Asia. Our church supports AMI church planters around the world, and we're grateful for the opportunity to be a church that both sends and goes to serve the nations of the world.

Where we're headed

As we look to the future, we see both great need and great promise. One of our greatest needs is for laborers. Jesus said, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to thrust out more laborers into the harvest field." Therefore, we invite you to join us as we partner with God to rebuild the city and restore the desolation of many generations (Isa 58.10).

Along with the great need, we also see great promise. A few new directions we have sensed from times of prayer are: an increased emphasis upon the presence of God, an increased focus upon children, an increase in ethnic diversity, a continued focus upon the poor, becoming multi-generational and, finally, the loving exercise of spiritual gifts.