Dear Friends and Family,

Today my heart is overflowing with joy as I write to you! As many of you know, for the past 6 years I have worked as a children's director, youth director, and sometimes even a mix of both at the same time! Well, in May I completed my Masters in Children and Youth Ministry through Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary and the Center for Youth Ministry Training. Finally, I’ve mastered something (if only it were that easy)!

You may also know that 7 years ago I got started in ministry at a little church called Mercy Community Church, located in the basement and parking lot of an even larger church in the heart of the bustling city that is Atlanta, Georgia. Mercy Church is a safe place for all people to find comfort and refuge. We open our doors multiple days a week to provide fellowship, worship, prayer, creativity, and share in a meal together for all who want to join us. After much time away from Mercy, last summer I had the privilege of bringing my youth groups to this beloved community. One of the final activities we did was write letters to share about what that week had meant to all of us, and I want to share three of my favorite quotes from those letters with you:

“Every day the room seemed to grow. To change. The love filled the room, so it grew to hold more and more.”

“The sharing of a meal, the gift of song, and the wonderful souls that fill Mercy is what church should look like.”

“For the first time in my life I know what it is to be human.”

To me, these quotes say it all. Mercy represents what it is to live into God’s Kin-dom community. Mercy is a place that shows me how beautiful God’s love can be and it reminds me daily how beloved we all are. That trip was a full circle ministry moment for me and it awoke something in me that I knew was there all along: a call to find my way back to Mercy. And I’ve done just that; this fall I will be heading back to Mercy Church as their Youth Coordinator, and I am so excited for this opportunity. As the Youth Coordinator I will be contributing to the daily life of Mercy, such as helping with the clothing closet, or preparing meals, but also will be working on bringing young people deeper into the communal life of what Mercy does every day.

Because of the financial realities most of our community faces, we do not pass around an offering plate. Much of what we do (such as providing two warm meals a day or covering the cost of rent for our humble ministry) comes from in-kind donations from people like you, folks who know us. Each of you receiving this letter has touched my life and invested in me through your love, grace, and wisdom. To continue to support my call to this community, I ask for your financial support to help cover the cost of my salary. If you are able, would you consider contributing so that I may continue my call within this beloved community? You can contribute through my GiveButter campaign here through a one time, monthly, or yearly gift. I am grateful for your consideration in supporting my call and the mission of our church.

As I close, I want to leave you with one more youth quote from last summer,

“Mercy has brought flowers to my life”

With love and gratitude,

Jeremy Demarest

---

Mercy Community Church is a grassroots, ecumenical, open and affirming congregation that meets on the lawn of St. John's Lutheran Church in Atlanta, GA. We believe that God desires life, health, dignity, and sanctuary for us all. Whether you are in housing or not, whether you live in our neighborhood or come from far away, whether you love the church or have ever felt left out, we want to welcome you to come see us anytime as we work to build one another up in beloved community. We are open multiple days of the week for prayer, worship, study, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and the sharing of food, clothing, and hospitality.

Support Jeremy at Mercy!

By Mercy Church Atlanta

Support Jeremy at Mercy!