Panel members left to right: Marion Smith, Jeff Windham, Zion Taddesse, and Crystal Sanchez; moderator Kathie Barkow.
Walking into the “Mercy on the Move" venue, the first impression was delightful. The tables were dressed in sapphire blue and turquoise to complement the Mercy logo which hugs the world in Christian love. A tiny model of our shower trailer graced each table.
Rev. Dave Hardin from St. Paul’s, Woodland, served as “MC” and opened the event with prayer. More than 130 guests, volunteers and supporters of Mercy listened attentively to the educational program. The first two speakers, advocates Jon Kravitz and Tracie Rice-Bailey, shared their first-hand experiences of living on the streets and what it took for them to overcome.
MHM board member Rev. Matt Peters from Cordova Lutheran Church asked the blessing on the meal, a buffet of lovingly prepared dishes including lasagna, several Ethiopian rice dishes and breads, salads, and dessert, which was sponsored by Thrivent Financial. Rev. Berhanu laid out his vision for Mercy in 2025 and highlighted accomplishments of the past year.
Berhanu was followed by a panel of “experts,” three formerly unhoused individuals who are now employed and giving back to the community, as well as Zion Taddesse, a local restauranteur who employs people referred to her by Mercy. The discussion was moderated by our friend Kathie Barkow of Aspire Consulting LLC, a coach and mentor to leaders in social impact fields such as homelessness and affordable housing (including Berhanu).
Numerous guests commented to Mercy event staff how much they learned from the participants, Crystal Sánchez, Marion Smith and Jeff Windham, saying a key takeaway was that a kind word and prayer make a real difference. People who are largely ignored suddenly feel human and that they matter when given something as simple as recognition by eye contact and a smile.
Attendees got up regularly to check their bids on the large variety of silent auction items. Popular items included a “dog lover’s” basket, an original acrylic painting of a rabbit wearing glasses, a recumbent stationery bike, memberships and tickets to various Sacramento museums, and a selection of handmade lap quilts and other fabric décor.
As the program concluded, rather than winding down, the event heated up for the excitement of the live auction. Our amazing auctioneer Rev. Jay Reed from Light of the Valley Lutheran Church got the crowd going and extracted generous contributions from happy high bidders on prizes like a golf foursome at Serrano Country Club, a season pass to ski at Boreal Ridge, a tri-tip dinner for eight with wine pairings, a weekend getaway at a Lake Tahoe cabin and a six-month membership at Del Norte Club.
Guests who decided to sponsor a shower or day of showers got a bonus: their choice of golf cap, t shirt or tote bag emblazoned with the MHM logo and tag line. Thank you to Linda Ames and Anchor Group for this significant donation of “Mercy Merchandise.”
The evening was closed on a hopeful note with prayer from special guest Rev. Paul Ferguson from the California-Nevada-Hawaii (CNH) District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS), Assistant to the President, Strategic Mission Leadership. Thank you to Rev. Paul and his wife Jen and to Kathie Barkow and her husband Joseph who all came from the East Bay area.
The event was fun and informative – and a labor of love. If you would like to be part of the planning committee for the 2025 event, send an email to janey.ranlett@yahoo.com. Many hands make light work, and your involvement will really help. Speaking of many hands – heartfelt thanks to the event volunteers: teens and a parent from Victory Christian School, five of Janey’s friends, a kitchen -full of Miheret’s friends, a big contingent of kids from Berhanu’s extended family, and Janey’s grandson and his girlfriend. We could not have done this without you! See the “Volunteer Spotlight” for more. One more friend to acknowledge: Thrivent Financial. See more in the article “Thrivent Action Teams.” Mercy Holistic Ministry deeply appreciates the generous support shown to the ministry at the event. God sees the hands and feet of MHM supporters who are providing the resources to show God's love to those who need help the most.
Guests in the room listen to panel discussion