Last Sunday, Chad announced the beginnings of Refuge for RockHarbor/South County and that Mercedes McBride-Walker will lead the ministry. Here’s a little about who Mercedes is and what has led her to bring Refuge to South County.

When will Refuge start for South County? What time and day will it meet and where?
We’re hoping we can start within 4 to 6 months.  Right now the plan is that we will meet Tuesday nights from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Finding the venue is one of the top priorities.  If anyone is interested in helping bring Refuge to South County, come to our informational meeting Tuesday, March 9^th.  Email me at mmcbridewalker@gmail.com to RSVP and get directions.

Talk about what Refuge is at RockHarbor, and what will it look like in South County? Who would be part of it? And Why? And, finally, what is your vision for Refuge as you lead it?
Refuge meets at 3080 Airway every Monday night from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. From 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. is a time for worship, teaching and celebrating as a community.  From 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. is structured for breakout groups to address specific types of brokenness by gender.  After 9 p.m. there is a time of fellowship to continue to break out of isolation.

My intention would be to keep the structure very similar to main campus.  To someone in any deep process of healing, recovery and restoration, structure can be very important.  We know some of the issues will be specific to the South County community, so we look forward to embracing a unique expression of Refuge: South County within the structure already established.

Who becomes a part of this and my vision for Refuge: South County combine into one thought: Normalize the brokenness that keeps people isolated.  I want people to come who experience any type of isolation, habitual shame, spiritual depletion, or ongoing compulsion to do something that is detrimental to their health and, more importantly, detrimental to their walk with Jesus Christ.  And I want those people to be able to come, knowing they will not be judged and instead that they will be loved.

Refuge is not a “fringe ministry” but a core, integral component of any body of Christ that longs to walk closely with our God.

Why are you taking on this ministry?
I see it less as “taking on” and more as “bringing it on.”  Aaron Feduk (pastor for Refuge) and I were talking recently about when we launch, and we both can’t wait to “rock the house”!  We’re so proud of Refuge – proud in the sense of what the Lord does in people’s lives through this ministry.  The structure has been set, and then we get out of the way so the Holy Spirit can do what only He can do. And it’s nothing short of miraculous.

How did you get involved with RockHarbor/South County?
I got involved with South County through the South County Project.  Last summer was an incredible experience, from the partnership with Lake Hills to serving on the weekends.  God was doing amazing things in the community, and I was grateful to be a part of it.  It was a no-brainer to get involved in the new South County campus.  In fact, I remember asking Chad, “Where do we sign up if we’re interested in being a part of the new campus?”  His response was, “You’re in.”  Thanks, Chad.

Tell us something about yourself that no one or few know about you?
Nice try!

What are you reading now in the Bible, and what is God teaching you now?
Right now, the Lord is teaching me about receiving and giving grace.  As recently as last night at Refuge, Carlos shared that “forgiveness” in Greek means “grace.”  So to accept Christ’s forgiveness is to receive His grace.  Grace is something I’ve struggled with for years; I don’t know how to give myself grace. And He is now giving me a path – through the power of His forgiveness, both for  myself and others – to learn to accept His grace, which is sufficient for me (ref. 2 Corinthians 12:9).

What other ministries have you worked with or lead?
I most recently had the privilege of leading the South County Prayer Team (Hi team!).  Before that, I was a part of the South County Project Prayer Team.  A while back, I also had the incredible opportunity to teach a course through RHU on taking leaps of faith outside our comfort zones through learning to lean on Jesus.

Briefly, how and when did you come to know the Lord?
I first accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior when I was 10.  I remember it being emotional, and receiving a little card that said I accepted Him that day; I was so proud of that little card.  Sadly, about three years later, for a number of reasons I decided to do life on my own and didn’t return to God or church for 20 years.

Thank You Jesus, He never let go of me.  God used my mother the Thanksgiving of 2004 to drag me, kicking and screaming, to a church her neighbor’s son went to (mind you, she was down visiting from Whidbey Island, Washington).  I walked into a gigantic auditorium, thankful I could be anonymous and that the room was so dark.  And then, in the dark, as people sang, lifted up their hands, prayed, and worshipped, it was all I could do to hold back the tears.  The hole in my heart was filling as I was sitting there.  I was being reconciled, right there, right then.  I remember a man named Pete Shambrook was teaching that day.

It’s not as though it was all daisies from there.  There were more tough hills to climb, and it got worse before it got better.  And yet His will was done.  His will is being done.  His will will be done. I’m excited to say that 4 ½ years after that first day at Rock Harbor, I was baptized by Pete at Easter Services 2009.  I proclaimed in front of thousands of people that Jesus Christ was my Lord and Savior, and that I get to be a part of the world’s greatest Love story.

What is your passion, or what is it that you do that is exhilarating for you and doesn’t feel like work?
Believe it or not – work.  I love working.  Specifically, I love intellectually stimulating conversations about organizational development and the manifestations of fear in the workplace.  Burnout is a $3 Billion/year industry, and at its root is the enemy’s greatest tool: fear.  It’s fascinating to look at it both from a secular/business perspective as well as a deeply spiritual perspective.  When I read about this and write about this, time just flies by.  If you ever want to talk, let me know!

What makes you laugh?  Cry?

Laugh: My husband’s sense of humor.

Cry: Seeing people or animals suffer.  Horrifying.  Helpless.

Where did you grow up and what were your interests in school/college?
I grew up in sunny Seattle, Washington.  No wait, hold on.  Cold, gray, wet and rainy Seattle, Washington.  Yes, that’s it!  And then in 1998, I grabbed a U-Haul, hooked my little purple Honda Civic up to the back, and moved myself down to sunny Southern California.  Much better.

I’m not going to lie: my interest in college was boys.

Bio stuff:

Name: Mercedes McBride-Walker
Family: Husband – Chad, pugs – Sam & Oliver
Residence: Irvine, CA
Age: 39
Education: BA in Business Administration, University of Washington; Certified Compensation Professional; Certified Life Coach
Occupation: Manager, Global Compensation for Panasonic Avionics
Last book read: Cesar’s Way, Cesar Millan (aka Dog Whisperer)
Favorite movie and why: Finding Neverland, because I have a fantasy of writing wonderful things, and every time I see this movie I am inspired.
Hobbies: Work, fantasizing about writing, hanging out with my husband and Pugs
Hero and why: Anne Lamott, author – raw, authentic, relevant, and moving
Favorite quote: Pretty much any line from Christmas Vacation.

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