M.E.R.C.Y. House

As part of the "Good News" segment of All Politics Is Local, this episode focuses on the good news of M.E.R.C.Y. House, an outreach ministry of St. Stephens Baptist Church.  We interview Mrs. Tasya Jones, Ministry Leader of M.E.R.C.Y.  House.  Take a listen and spread the "Good News" of the great work they are doing and programs they are sponsoring for those in need and the larger community.

Transcript

Tamara Davis Brown: 0:04

And welcome back to another edition of All Politics is Local with me, your host, Tamara Davis Brown. It's the Maryland edition and it's our good news segment. As I mentioned in my very first podcast, I like to spotlight some really exciting things that are going on in our community. The good news, we hear so much negative news about what's going on in the community, whether it's crime, um, just things that sometimes is quite depressing. And I always said that when I started this podcast, I wanted to have some features of community members and the good things that they're doing on behalf of the community. And today is no exception. I have Mrs. Tasha Jones. She is the ministry leader of Mercy House, which is a ministry of St. Stephen's Baptist Church in Temple Hills, Maryland. I'm so delighted to have her. I first met her and her husband actually when they were very active in the PTSA at Crossland High School, and I work really um well with them on a number of initiatives for Camp Springs and Temple Hills, and she's doing great work as the ministry leader of Mercy House. And so we're gonna jump right in and just say, Welcome, Mrs. Jones. Uh the funny part is, is um, this song is not apropos to you, but when I think of it, I think of that old song, I'm dating myself.

Tasha Jones: 1:29

Me. Yeah, me and Mrs. Jones, yeah.

Tamara Davis Brown: 1:32

That the the lyric, if you listen to the lyrics, that's not it. That's not appropriate.

Tasha Jones: 1:36

That's not it, no.

Tamara Davis Brown: 1:37

But you are the legitimate Mrs. Jones. She's I'm the legitimate Mrs. Jones. My cap brother. Three months.

Tasha Jones: 1:43

I recently married, so three months in. Yeah. Three months. Yeah.

Tamara Davis Brown: 1:52

Um congratulations again on your recent nuptials. Um, yep, we're gonna get right on in. Um just first of all, just tell us about yourself, how you um became a member of St. Stephen's, how you got involved um in the ministry, and um moving your way over to um to the ministry leader of Mercy House, and then we'll talk a little bit more about Mercy House. But just, you know, just tell us a little bit about yourself, where you were born, where you're from, the whole nine yards.

Tasha Jones: 2:20

Yes, well, uh, first of all, my maiden name is Errington. So a lot of people know me in the Prince George's um county as Tasha Errington, Arrington Connect. So that's how they usually recognize me. I'm most recently married to Kennard Jones, so my name is Jones now. So when I go out, I say, I'm still Tasha Errington, but you may get the email from Tasha Jones. They're like, oh yeah, we know who you are. So um I came to St. Stephen's Baptist Church in 2010. So I've been a member since 2010. Bishop Lanier C. Twyman Sr. is our bishop. Um, and we're located at 5757 Temple Hill Road. That's in uh Temple Hills, Maryland. So my passion is youth. Um, like you said earlier, we met when I was at Crossland High School. I'm still connected to Crossland, still connected to Thurgood, Sootland, Alvalon, Allenwood. I'm still connected to many of the schools. Um so once I found um St. Stevens, I knew my passion was still youth, um, very active in the community with the homelessness outside of the church and in the church. So once I found out about Mercy House, I knew what ministry I wanted to join because I was already outreaching in Washington, D.C., Prince George's County personally, um, and also in Virginia. So I knew my passion when I found out about Mercy. Those are just acronyms, M-E-R-C-Y, and it means Mountaintop Emergency Resource Center for You, which started in 2007 from Bishop Linear C. Twyman. He established this. So they found out my passion, and they asked me to run it, and I just stepped right in and I just brought in my resources, my partners, and I'm out, out in the back.

Tamara Davis Brown: 4:26

That's great. Um, so yeah, so you told us uh again that uh what Mercy the what the acronym actually stands for, and it's the great vision of uh Pastor Twyman. I um I love your bishop, I love your pastor. I visit the church as often as I as I can, and that's a um a great uh visionary. But tell us the the mission of Mercy House. Tell us um what exactly you do in the community and for the community. Um so you know, just tell us a little bit about that mission.

Tasha Jones: 4:58

Okay. Um Mercy House, Mountaintop Emergency Resource Center for You. What we do, all of our resources are free. We provide clothing for men, women, and children. You don't have to be a resident of Prince George's County. You can come in. Um, if you live in DC or Virginia, you are allowed to come in. Uh partake of 30 items. We have clothing, we have furniture, we have appliances, and a lot of our donations are, let's say, 89 to 90 percent new. We get a lot of clothing that have the tags that are there. Um we are a 501c3, so you do get a donation receipt if you request one. Um, we do a lot of partnerships with a lot of the organizations in Prince George's County. Um, once I became the ministry leader here, I'm a big domestic violence advocate. So Department of Family Justice Center reached out to me on behalf of someone who knew me in the community and gave my name over an initiative I was going to start during COVID called the Safe Haven Grab and Go, which actually I provide um a bag to a domestic violence, um, whether via female or a male, enough items to stay in a hotel for about two weeks. They'll call the Safe Haven, Safe Haven Grab and Go bags. That came about right at the height of COVID. Um so every three months I provide bags to them. Um I actually have one here to um to show. And then uh another organization, uh Progressive Life Center, heard of my initiative. And so I provide bags to them too every three months to their victims that they assist. So um I brought that into Mercy House. I do a lot of mental health workshops. Uh, we partner with other organizations and we do workshops for mental health. We do um partnership with the Office of Veterans Affairs. I'm actually on the advisory council on behalf of Prince George's County Executive Angela Olsenbrook. I was invited to be on that through Dr. James Dula. So I am um one of their board members. Um I'm actually a board member of the uh Office Against Women and Domestic Violence with the Department of Justice through the Progressive Life Center. So um we do a lot of resources that's here in Prince George's County. So once you come into Mercy House, we have the resources. Um if we don't have it, we will connect you to resources, um, job skills, Emplore Prince George's is one of my uh community partners. We have our agreement with them. Um, they just attended our community day over the weekend with their new uh employment mobile they just purchased. So um they showcased it at the community day over the weekend. It was great. Wow, that's excellent.

Tamara Davis Brown: 8:02

So yeah, tell us about that grab and go. What's actually in the bag?

Tasha Jones: 8:06

Um yes, it is called. I'm gonna grab one really quick.

Tamara Davis Brown: 8:11

Okay.

Tasha Jones: 8:12

It's it's called Safe Haven Grab and Go. It's purple because purple is domestic violence, right? And it's it has on it um helping domestic abuse survivors meeting their essential needs. So that's the message that's on the outside of it, and it's called Safe Haven. Because once you open the bag up itself, it has a very nice um scripture just for motivation in there. Uh, it has a gift card in there, uh, an amount of $25 to $50 or maybe more. I've had partners who heard about this and they donated funds. So we were able to purchase um gift cards to go inside. It has all of the emergency contacts once you are in a safe haven place that the organization that you were with placed you. There is a card there where you can still reach out to a counsel, to a mental health person, or you can just um the toiletries that are there, um, whether it be just the essential toiletries that you would need on a day-to-day basis, all the items in the bags are white. So if you need to wash, you don't have to worry about the colors. Um, so there's towels, there's socks, there's t-shirts, things like that that's inside of this bag. And um if you need to go and wash them while you're there, throw Clorox in the washing machine. You don't have to worry about everything else.

Tamara Davis Brown: 9:38

So excellent, excellent. That's a great idea. That's a great idea to have to have that. Um, about how many um people would you say on a monthly basis or a weekly basis do you serve? What are the actual hours of operation for Mercy House? Um, how many people um come through on a consistent basis or average? I should say average base on a weekly or monthly basis.

Tasha Jones: 10:05

Yes. Um Mercy House is open first and third Saturdays every month from 9 until 12. We're located at 4402 Sadell Place, which is right off of Temple Hills Road. We don't advertise the house because it is in a housing development, so we don't advertise it. But the word is out, we are we are here. And also we're open first and third, but if you email mercyhouseministry at yahoo.com, it comes directly to my cell phone and we answer all emergencies within within that hour. So we may be open first and third Saturdays, but all emergencies are answered. We never closed during COVID. Uh we had several emergencies. In a month, we may serve maybe about 25 to 30 people a month. It's growing and growing, uh, which is great. We have a very large Spanish population that's coming through now because I do advertise on our Tuesdays food giveaway that we have every Tuesday from 11 to 3, and there's a very large Spanish population come through. I have a Spanish interpreter, which is great. Um so when they're there, uh we do have an interpreter that speaks the Spanish. Um, we've been blessed to have partners that heard about Mercy House, and they come by and visit on a Tuesday. That's when I usually schedule the interview or a tour of Mercy House so everyone can get the full effect of what we do. Right. Um not just giving out clothing, but giving out the resources. Um people come in and say, hey, I need help with utilities, I need help with rent. And we have the resources, or we've contacted another organization where they know of Mercy House and we send them their way. So um that's why we call ourselves the Mercy House. The Prince Yours is kind of a community resource hub. That's what's on our flyer.

Tamara Davis Brown: 12:03

Okay, excellent. So we kind of talked about this about how Mercy House got started as a vision of uh Bishop Twyman as part of the ministry, outreach ministry of St. Stephen's um Baptist Church. Um, so uh my you you said it started in 2007 and you didn't join the church till 2010. Do you you have a little bit more history about um what Mercy House looked like in its infancy stages, where you know obviously now you actually have a physical building, physical um house and space. What was the the uh impetus like if you know a little bit of that history?

Tasha Jones: 12:42

I know a little bit of it. Um uh I know Bishop's vision is eventually he wants to be able to have someone stay in the house itself, but at this time um it's not um no one stays there. We actually provide all the services out of there. Um so um that's his vision eventually. But once he asked me to take it over, he knew that my vision was to bring in the resources to help the community more because that was his vision. And I didn't even know um because I came in 2010, so I knew my vision, I knew my heart, I knew um that I could connect and make it even better for St. Stephen's Baptist Church. So we've been able to join in several organizations. Uh, we've been able to receive lots of grants through some of the things that we're doing through domestic violence and the mental health. Um partnerships with Alzheimer's Association we have now for the past uh three years, which is great. Uh Office of Veterans Affairs. Um I knew Bishop's vision, and I'm gonna continue to do my best to even foresee uh many more things that Mercy House can do. Um we are listed under 311, I found out um excellent. Three years ago, um I actually got a call. We actually have a phone number there at Mercy House, too, from 311 saying that uh an apartment building had um caught fire on St. Bonhomme's Road and that Mercy House is now listed as an emergency contact. So that's a plus for us. The word is getting out about Mercy House. So we have assisted several families in the Temple Hills Port Washington area who actually um was in a apartment fire or a house fire, so which is which is um which is great.

Tamara Davis Brown: 14:34

Right, great, great, great. Um so yeah, I um uh I think we've answered the type of services that that that you provide, and I'm glad to see that um um your vision when you were saying um you you heard a bishop's vision, but you also had a vision in the scripture that came to mind is that your gifts will make room for you. And certainly um the the things that God has laid on your heart has been able to come through fruition to the church that He led you to at St. Stephen's Baptist Church, and that's such a wonderful testimony. And so um my last question, and you kind of started talking about this, but um let's continue on that vein. What are some of the upcoming programs, some of the ignit initiatives that we can expect to see and hear from either St. of the Mercy House but also St. Stephen's Baptist Church? You mentioned um your food giveaway every Tuesday. Um for those who are listening, St. Stephen's Baptist Church, even prior to the pandemic, has always had a free food giveaway on Tuesday um uh mornings again. And so the the the word, like you said, the word has gotten out, and so people come on a consistent basis. I have volunteered a couple of times and noticed that uh the lines will be all the way down um um Temple Hills Road past the the Temple Hills Community Center. I mean, people are really coming out, and you can definitely see that there's a need that the church is fulfilling, and that's an awesome, awesome job. I hate that I missed community day as I mentioned in our when we were talking before we started recording that um I um was out of town and so I missed that community day. But what are some of the upcoming programs that um you guys are gonna be featuring at Mercy House or at St. Stephen's Baptist Church that the community could look forward to?

Tasha Jones: 16:30

Yes, yes. Um the last Saturday was a great community day. That was our annual community day, um June 17th, and I'm actually the project coordinator of community day, so it was it was great. So don't worry, we'll definitely be on our list for the next one. Um, some of our initiatives that are uh coming up, um first and third Saturdays, we always have um free new shoes that that sits outside of Mercy House. We were donated bundles and bundles of brand new children's shoes from Shoppers World. So we showcase those to all the patrons that come in. So that's every first and third Saturday. Um it's posted um once you come into Mercy House, um, that we have brand new shoes for children. Um, so that's every first and third Saturday. So anytime you come in there. Um, we also do a workshop that's coming up for Alzheimer's. We call in at the Cafe for Alzheimer's Association. That's coming up in September. So we're gonna start advertising that um soon because they're one of our major partners that we um have at uh Mercy House. We do the walks with them. Um any of our partners that we have, we list them on some of our literature. We can't list all of them, but whatever that we are doing outreaching with that particular partner, they're listed on our literature, um, such as uh Family Justice Center, uh, Family Social Services, the Veterans Affairs, Emplored Prince George's. If we are outreaching with them that particular week, um we advertise their information on our tables. We often go out and partner with other churches that's in the uh local districts seven and eight and nine. We partner with them. Uh we're about to do a community day with um Central Baths of Camp Springs, which is coming up. Um doing a community day with them. Uh we're also doing a Purple Sunday at St. Stephen's. This is our third year where we dedicate a Sunday. Bishop has allowed us to dedicate a Sunday called Purple Sunday to advocate for domestic violence victims and survivors. So that's very exciting. And we invite um law enforcement officers to come out, mental health, domestic violence partners. So that's always a big plus. And we welcome you to join us this year.

Tamara Davis Brown: 19:00

Absolutely, absolutely. And I have been getting your emails about some of the upcoming events. So I do uh plan to come out and support as I always have whenever I'm available. You know, come out and and and help. And I've also come out and volunteer even for the food giveaways.

Tasha Jones: 19:17

And so and the AKAs, you guys have been out, yes, yes.

Tamara Davis Brown: 19:22

Yes. So yeah, you'll see me pop up, you'll see the uh sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha pop up every once in a while to um support those events. You listed so many of them, so actually I'm gonna ask another final closing question, which is how can people, where can people go? Um, what's a website, what's a contact to see all of the upcoming events and programs that you are offering at Mercy House and at St. Stephen's Baptist Church.

Tasha Jones: 19:50

Thank you. They can go to ssbcmd.org and go in the menu bar and um search for Mercy House or email us at Mercyhouseministry at yahoo.com. Um reach out. Once you email mercyhouse ministry at yahoo.com, it automatically um comes to my cell phone. All emergencies are answered very quickly. Um more quickly than than a cell phone, more quickly than calling the Mercy House itself because no one is there every day. So once you email, I I get it immediately. And there's a ministry of about 15 um men and women that assist me with this because I cannot do this by myself. It is a team effort. I call it team mercy. Um my co-leader wasn't able to be with me today, but um she's aware of this interview. Um, but we are very blessed to do what we do, and the more partners that we meet, the more connections that we receive, um, the more blessings that we are able to give out.

Tamara Davis Brown: 20:58

Excellent, excellent. So one more time, a little slower, give the website again as well as the email address.

Tasha Jones: 21:05

Yes, it is sbcmd.org. Email mercy, M-E-R-C-Y house, h-o-se ministry, M-I-N-I-S-T-R-Y at yahoo.com.

Tamara Davis Brown: 21:24

Thank you so much. So uh you have been listening to again, Mrs. Tasha Jones. She is the ministry leader of Mercy House, which is a ministry of St. Stephen's Baptist Church in Temple Hills, Maryland. We are so glad that she took the time today to tell us the good news about all of the great work that Mercy House is doing, along with St. Stephen's Baptist Church, Bishop Twyman, uh, his lovely life, lovely wife, First Lady Twyman, um, as well, are doing in the community. Um, be sure you take that uh website information down and find out some of the upcoming programs and initiatives that they have. If you do have a need or you know someone who has a need that may be a victim of domestic violence, male or female, or any of the services, free uh clothing, giveaway, shoes, um, anything, anyone who has a need, please be sure to reach out to Mrs. Jones, ministry leader again of Mercy House. We are so excited and delighted that you took the time to be with us today on All Politics Local with me, your host, Tamara Davis Brown. And I know I will see you out and about in the community. So thank you so much for your time, and we will we will definitely um be following up with you and um getting back with you on some of the great initiatives that you have. Thank you so much.

Tasha Jones: 22:55

And thank you so much for having me. Thank you.

Tamara Davis Brown: 22:58

This now concludes the um the good news segment of All Politics as Local. Thank you for listening. Please come back and um be sure to subscribe, be sure to click to like and share this good news and all of the episodes of All Politics as Local, the Maryland edition with me, your host, Tamara Davis Brown. Thank you.