Scandal Down Under

Mercy Ministries has closed its doors in Australia following a recent scandal. Seven former Mercy Australia leaders admitted to deceiving young women who came to them for help at two homes there, agreeing to pay some $100,000 to them for saying the program was free and then requiring government support checks. Mercy Australia also told the women they would be provided counseling which failed to materialize. The songwriter penned Shout to the Lord, Darlene Zschech, started Mercy Australia. The group operates similar homes, where care is free, in Sacramento, California and Monroe, Louisiana, Nashville, Tennessee, and St. Louis, Missouri. The U.S. organization is based in Nashville which was not involved in the recent agreement.