July 12, 2023 • 23 mins
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.
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Episode Transcript
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Tamara Davis Brown (00:04):
And welcome back to another edition of All
Politics is Local with me, yourhost, Tamara Davis Brown.
It's the Maryland edition andit's our good news segment.
As I mentioned in my very firstpodcast, I like to spotlight
some really exciting things thatare going on in our community.
The good news, we hear so muchnegative news about what's going
(00:27):
on in the community, whetherit's crime, um, just things that
sometimes is quite depressing.
And I always said that when Istarted this podcast, I wanted
to have some features ofcommunity members and the good
things that they're doing onbehalf of the community.
And today is no exception.
I have Mrs.
(00:47):
Tasha Jones.
She is the ministry leader ofMercy House, which is a ministry
of St.
Stephen's Baptist Church inTemple Hills, Maryland.
I'm so delighted to have her.
I first met her and her husbandactually when they were very
active in the PTSA at CrosslandHigh School, and I work really
um well with them on a number ofinitiatives for Camp Springs
(01:11):
and Temple Hills, and she'sdoing great work as the ministry
leader of Mercy House.
And so we're gonna jump rightin 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 thinkof that old song, I'm dating
myself.
Tasha Jones (01:29):
Me.
Yeah, me and Mrs.
Jones, yeah.
Tamara Davis Brown (01:32):
That the the lyric, if you listen to the
lyrics, that's not it.
That's not appropriate.
Tasha Jones (01:36):
That's not it, no.
Tamara Davis Brown (01:37):
But you are the legitimate Mrs.
Jones.
She's I'm the legitimate Mrs.
Jones.
My cap brother.
Three months.
Tasha Jones (01:43):
I recently married, so three months in.
Yeah.
Three months.
Yeah.
Tamara Davis Brown (01:52):
Um congratulations again on your
recent nuptials.
Um, yep, we're gonna get righton in.
Um just first of all, just tellus about yourself, how you um
became a member of St.
Stephen's, how you got involvedum in the ministry, and um
moving your way over to um tothe ministry leader of Mercy
(02:12):
House, and then we'll talk alittle bit more about Mercy
House.
But just, you know, just tellus a little bit about yourself,
where you were born, whereyou're from, the whole nine
yards.
Tasha Jones (02:20):
Yes, well, uh, first of all, my maiden name is
Errington.
So a lot of people know me inthe Prince George's um county as
Tasha Errington, ArringtonConnect.
So that's how they usuallyrecognize me.
I'm most recently married toKennard Jones, so my name is
Jones now.
So when I go out, I say, I'mstill Tasha Errington, but you
(02:41):
may get the email from TashaJones.
They're like, oh yeah, we knowwho you are.
So um I came to St.
Stephen's Baptist Church in2010.
So I've been a member since2010.
Bishop Lanier C.
Twyman Sr.
is our bishop.
Um, and we're located at 5757Temple Hill Road.
(03:02):
That's in uh Temple Hills,Maryland.
So my passion is youth.
Um, like you said earlier, wemet when I was at Crossland High
School.
I'm still connected toCrossland, still connected to
Thurgood, Sootland, Alvalon,Allenwood.
I'm still connected to many ofthe schools.
(03:24):
Um so once I found um St.
Stevens, I knew my passion wasstill youth, um, very active in
the community with thehomelessness outside of the
church and in the church.
So once I found out about MercyHouse, I knew what ministry I
wanted to join because I wasalready outreaching in
(03:46):
Washington, D.C., PrinceGeorge's County personally, um,
and also in Virginia.
So I knew my passion when Ifound out about Mercy.
Those are just acronyms,M-E-R-C-Y, and it means
Mountaintop Emergency ResourceCenter for You, which started in
(04:07):
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 Ijust brought in my resources, my
partners, and I'm out, out inthe back.
Tamara Davis Brown (04:26):
That's great.
Um, so yeah, so you told us uhagain that uh what Mercy the
what the acronym actually standsfor, and it's the great vision
of uh Pastor Twyman.
I um I love your bishop, I loveyour pastor.
I visit the church as often asI as I can, and that's a um a
great uh visionary.
(04:47):
But tell us the the mission ofMercy House.
Tell us um what exactly you doin the community and for the
community.
Um so you know, just tell us alittle bit about that mission.
Tasha Jones (04:58):
Okay.
Um Mercy House, MountaintopEmergency Resource Center for
You.
What we do, all of ourresources are free.
We provide clothing for men,women, and children.
You don't have to be a residentof Prince George's County.
You can come in.
Um, if you live in DC orVirginia, you are allowed to
(05:19):
come in.
Uh partake of 30 items.
We have clothing, we havefurniture, we have appliances,
and a lot of our donations are,let's say, 89 to 90 percent new.
We get a lot of clothing thathave the tags that are there.
Um we are a 501c3, so you doget a donation receipt if you
(05:40):
request one.
Um, we do a lot of partnershipswith a lot of the organizations
in Prince George's County.
Um, once I became the ministryleader here, I'm a big domestic
violence advocate.
So Department of Family JusticeCenter reached out to me on
behalf of someone who knew me inthe community and gave my name
(06:02):
over an initiative I was goingto start during COVID called the
Safe Haven Grab and Go, whichactually I provide um a bag to a
domestic violence, um, whethervia female or a male, enough
items to stay in a hotel forabout two weeks.
They'll call the Safe Haven,Safe Haven Grab and Go bags.
(06:24):
That came about right at theheight of COVID.
Um so every three months Iprovide bags to them.
Um I actually have one here toum to show.
And then uh anotherorganization, uh Progressive
Life Center, heard of myinitiative.
And so I provide bags to themtoo every three months to their
victims that they assist.
(06:45):
So um I brought that into MercyHouse.
I do a lot of mental healthworkshops.
Uh, we partner with otherorganizations and we do
workshops for mental health.
We do um partnership with theOffice of Veterans Affairs.
I'm actually on the advisorycouncil on behalf of Prince
(07:07):
George's County Executive AngelaOlsenbrook.
I was invited to be on thatthrough Dr.
James Dula.
So I am um one of their boardmembers.
Um I'm actually a board memberof the uh Office Against Women
and Domestic Violence with theDepartment of Justice through
the Progressive Life Center.
So um we do a lot of resourcesthat's here in Prince George's
(07:31):
County.
So once you come into MercyHouse, we have the resources.
Um if we don't have it, we willconnect you to resources, um,
job skills, Emplore PrinceGeorge's is one of my uh
community partners.
We have our agreement withthem.
Um, they just attended ourcommunity day over the weekend
(07:52):
with their new uh employmentmobile they just purchased.
So um they showcased it at thecommunity day over the weekend.
It was great.
Wow, that's excellent.
Tamara Davis Brown (08:02):
So yeah, tell us about that grab and go.
What's actually in the bag?
Tasha Jones (08:06):
Um yes, it is called.
I'm gonna grab one reallyquick.
Tamara Davis Brown (08:11):
Okay.
Tasha Jones (08:12):
It's it's called Safe Haven Grab and Go.
It's purple because purple isdomestic violence, right?
And it's it has on it umhelping domestic abuse survivors
meeting their essential needs.
So that's the message that's onthe outside of it, and it's
called Safe Haven.
Because once you open the bagup itself, it has a very nice um
(08:34):
scripture just for motivationin there.
Uh, it has a gift card inthere, uh, an amount of $25 to
$50 or maybe more.
I've had partners who heardabout this and they donated
funds.
So we were able to purchase umgift cards to go inside.
It has all of the emergencycontacts once you are in a safe
(08:56):
haven place that theorganization that you were with
placed you.
There is a card there where youcan still reach out to a
counsel, to a mental healthperson, or you can just um the
toiletries that are there, um,whether it be just the essential
toiletries that you would needon a day-to-day basis, all the
(09:17):
items in the bags are white.
So if you need to wash, youdon't have to worry about the
colors.
Um, so there's towels, there'ssocks, there's t-shirts, things
like that that's inside of thisbag.
And um if you need to go andwash them while you're there,
throw Clorox in the washingmachine.
You don't have to worry abouteverything else.
Tamara Davis Brown (09:38):
So excellent, excellent.
That's a great idea.
That's a great idea to have tohave that.
Um, about how many um peoplewould you say on a monthly basis
or a weekly basis do you serve?
What are the actual hours ofoperation for Mercy House?
Um, how many people um comethrough on a consistent basis or
(09:59):
average?
I should say average base on aweekly or monthly basis.
Tasha Jones (10:05):
Yes.
Um Mercy House is open firstand third Saturdays every month
from 9 until 12.
We're located at 4402 SadellPlace, which is right off of
Temple Hills Road.
We don't advertise the housebecause it is in a housing
development, so we don'tadvertise it.
But the word is out, we are weare here.
(10:25):
And also we're open first andthird, but if you email
mercyhouseministry at yahoo.com,it comes directly to my cell
phone and we answer allemergencies within within that
hour.
So we may be open first andthird Saturdays, but all
emergencies are answered.
We never closed during COVID.
(10:46):
Uh we had several emergencies.
In a month, we may serve maybeabout 25 to 30 people a month.
It's growing and growing, uh,which is great.
We have a very large Spanishpopulation that's coming through
now because I do advertise onour Tuesdays food giveaway that
we have every Tuesday from 11 to3, and there's a very large
(11:09):
Spanish population come through.
I have a Spanish interpreter,which is great.
Um so when they're there, uh wedo have an interpreter that
speaks the Spanish.
Um, we've been blessed to havepartners that heard about Mercy
House, and they come by andvisit on a Tuesday.
That's when I usually schedulethe interview or a tour of Mercy
(11:32):
House so everyone can get thefull effect of what we do.
Right.
Um not just giving outclothing, 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, orwe've contacted another
organization where they know ofMercy House and we send them
(11:53):
their way.
So um that's why we callourselves the Mercy House.
The Prince Yours is kind of acommunity resource hub.
That's what's on our flyer.
Tamara Davis Brown (12:03):
Okay, excellent.
So we kind of talked about thisabout how Mercy House got
started as a vision of uh BishopTwyman as part of the ministry,
outreach ministry of St.
Stephen's um Baptist Church.
Um, so uh my you you said itstarted in 2007 and you didn't
join the church till 2010.
(12:24):
Do you you have a little bitmore history about um what Mercy
House looked like in itsinfancy stages, where you know
obviously now you actually havea physical building, physical um
house and space.
What was the the uh impetuslike 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 iseventually he wants to be able
to have someone stay in thehouse itself, but at this time
um it's not um no one staysthere.
We actually provide all theservices out of there.
Um so um that's his visioneventually.
(13:02):
But once he asked me to take itover, he knew that my vision
was to bring in the resources tohelp the community more because
that was his vision.
And I didn't even know umbecause 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.
(13:23):
So we've been able to join inseveral organizations.
Uh, we've been able to receivelots of grants through some of
the things that we're doingthrough domestic violence and
the mental health.
Um partnerships withAlzheimer's Association we have
now for the past uh three years,which is great.
Uh Office of Veterans Affairs.
(13:43):
Um I knew Bishop's vision, andI'm gonna continue to do my best
to even foresee uh many morethings that Mercy House can do.
Um we are listed under 311, Ifound out um excellent.
Three years ago, um I actuallygot a call.
We actually have a phone numberthere at Mercy House, too, from
(14:06):
311 saying that uh an apartmentbuilding had um caught fire on
St.
Bonhomme's Road and that MercyHouse is now listed as an
emergency contact.
So that's a plus for us.
The word is getting out aboutMercy House.
So we have assisted severalfamilies in the Temple Hills
Port Washington area whoactually um was in a apartment
(14:28):
fire or a house fire, so whichis which is um which is great.
Tamara Davis Brown (14:34):
Right, great, great, great.
Um so yeah, I um uh I thinkwe've answered the type of
services that that that youprovide, and I'm glad to see
that um um your vision when youwere saying um you you heard a
bishop's vision, but you alsohad a vision in the scripture
(14:54):
that came to mind is that yourgifts will make room for you.
And certainly um the the thingsthat God has laid on your heart
has been able to come throughfruition to the church that He
led you to at St.
Stephen's Baptist Church, andthat's such a wonderful
testimony.
And so um my last question, andyou kind of started talking
about this, but um let'scontinue on that vein.
(15:16):
What are some of the upcomingprograms, some of the ignit
initiatives that we can expectto see and hear from either St.
of the Mercy House but also St.
Stephen's Baptist Church?
You mentioned um your foodgiveaway every Tuesday.
Um for those who are listening,St.
Stephen's Baptist Church, evenprior to the pandemic, has
always had a free food giveawayon Tuesday um uh mornings again.
(15:41):
And so the the the word, likeyou said, the word has gotten
out, and so people come on aconsistent basis.
I have volunteered a couple oftimes and noticed that uh the
lines will be all the way downum um Temple Hills Road past the
the Temple Hills CommunityCenter.
I mean, people are reallycoming out, and you can
(16:03):
definitely see that there's aneed that the church is
fulfilling, and that's anawesome, awesome job.
I hate that I missed communityday as I mentioned in our when
we were talking before westarted recording that um I um
was out of town and so I missedthat community day.
But what are some of theupcoming programs that um you
guys are gonna be featuring atMercy House or at St.
(16:25):
Stephen's Baptist Church thatthe community could look forward
to?
Tasha Jones (16:30):
Yes, yes.
Um the last Saturday was agreat community day.
That was our annual communityday, um June 17th, and I'm
actually the project coordinatorof community day, so it was it
was great.
So don't worry, we'lldefinitely be on our list for
the next one.
Um, some of our initiativesthat are uh coming up, um first
(16:50):
and third Saturdays, we alwayshave um free new shoes that that
sits outside of Mercy House.
We were donated bundles andbundles of brand new children's
shoes from Shoppers World.
So we showcase those to all thepatrons that come in.
So that's every first and thirdSaturday.
(17:11):
Um it's posted um once you comeinto Mercy House, um, that we
have brand new shoes forchildren.
Um, so that's every first andthird Saturday.
So anytime you come in there.
Um, we also do a workshopthat's coming up for
Alzheimer's.
We call in at the Cafe forAlzheimer's Association.
That's coming up in September.
(17:32):
So we're gonna startadvertising that um soon because
they're one of our majorpartners that we um have at uh
Mercy House.
We do the walks with them.
Um any of our partners that wehave, we list them on some of
our literature.
We can't list all of them, butwhatever that we are doing
outreaching with that particularpartner, they're listed on our
(17:56):
literature, um, such as uhFamily Justice Center, uh,
Family Social Services, theVeterans Affairs, Emplored
Prince George's.
If we are outreaching with themthat particular week, um we
advertise their information onour tables.
We often go out and partnerwith other churches that's in
the uh local districts seven andeight and nine.
(18:19):
We partner with them.
Uh we're about to do acommunity day with um Central
Baths of Camp Springs, which iscoming up.
Um doing a community day withthem.
Uh we're also doing a PurpleSunday at St.
Stephen's.
This is our third year where wededicate a Sunday.
(18:39):
Bishop has allowed us todedicate a Sunday called Purple
Sunday to advocate for domesticviolence victims and survivors.
So that's very exciting.
And we invite um lawenforcement officers to come
out, mental health, domesticviolence partners.
So that's always a big plus.
And we welcome you to join usthis year.
Tamara Davis Brown (19:00):
Absolutely, absolutely.
And I have been getting youremails about some of the
upcoming events.
So I do uh plan to come out andsupport as I always have
whenever I'm available.
You know, come out and and andhelp.
And I've also come out andvolunteer 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 oncein a while to um support those
events.
You listed so many of them, soactually I'm gonna ask another
final closing question, which ishow can people, where can
people go?
Um, what's a website, what's acontact to see all of the
(19:43):
upcoming events and programsthat 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 andgo in the menu bar and um search
for Mercy House or email us atMercyhouseministry at yahoo.com.
Um reach out.
Once you email mercyhouseministry at yahoo.com, it
automatically um comes to mycell phone.
(20:12):
All emergencies are answeredvery quickly.
Um more quickly than than acell phone, more quickly than
calling the Mercy House itselfbecause no one is there every
day.
So once you email, I I get itimmediately.
And there's a ministry of about15 um men and women that assist
(20:33):
me with this because I cannotdo this by myself.
It is a team effort.
I call it team mercy.
Um my co-leader wasn't able tobe with me today, but um she's
aware of this interview.
Um, but we are very blessed todo what we do, and the more
partners that we meet, the moreconnections that we receive, um,
(20:55):
the more blessings that we areable to give out.
Tamara Davis Brown (20:58):
Excellent, excellent.
So one more time, a littleslower, 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 listeningto again, Mrs.
Tasha Jones.
She is the ministry leader ofMercy House, which is a ministry
of St.
Stephen's Baptist Church inTemple Hills, Maryland.
We are so glad that she tookthe time today to tell us the
good news about all of the greatwork that Mercy House is doing,
(21:46):
along with St.
Stephen's Baptist Church,Bishop Twyman, uh, his lovely
life, lovely wife, First LadyTwyman, um, as well, are doing
in the community.
Um, be sure you take that uhwebsite information down and
find out some of the upcomingprograms and initiatives that
they have.
If you do have a need or youknow someone who has a need that
(22:09):
may be a victim of domesticviolence, male or female, or any
of the services, free uhclothing, giveaway, shoes, um,
anything, anyone who has a need,please be sure to reach out to
Mrs.
Jones, ministry leader again ofMercy House.
We are so excited and delightedthat you took the time to be
(22:30):
with us today on All PoliticsLocal with me, your host, Tamara
Davis Brown.
And I know I will see you outand about in the community.
So thank you so much for yourtime, and we will we will
definitely um be following upwith you and um getting back
with you on some of the greatinitiatives that you have.
(22:53):
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 asLocal.
Thank you for listening.
Please come back and um be sureto subscribe, be sure to click
to like and share this good newsand all of the episodes of All
Politics as Local, the Marylandedition with me, your host,
(23:19):
Tamara Davis Brown.
Thank you.
And welcome back to another edition of All
Politics is Local with me, yourhost, Tamara Davis Brown.
It's the Maryland edition andit's our good news segment.
As I mentioned in my very firstpodcast, I like to spotlight
some really exciting things thatare going on in our community.
The good news, we hear so muchnegative news about what's going
(00:27):
on in the community, whetherit's crime, um, just things that
sometimes is quite depressing.
And I always said that when Istarted this podcast, I wanted
to have some features ofcommunity members and the good
things that they're doing onbehalf of the community.
And today is no exception.
I have Mrs.
(00:47):
Tasha Jones.
She is the ministry leader ofMercy House, which is a ministry
of St.
Stephen's Baptist Church inTemple Hills, Maryland.
I'm so delighted to have her.
I first met her and her husbandactually when they were very
active in the PTSA at CrosslandHigh School, and I work really
um well with them on a number ofinitiatives for Camp Springs
(01:11):
and Temple Hills, and she'sdoing great work as the ministry
leader of Mercy House.
And so we're gonna jump rightin 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 thinkof that old song, I'm dating
myself.
Tasha Jones (01:29):
Me.
Yeah, me and Mrs.
Jones, yeah.
Tamara Davis Brown (01:32):
That the the lyric, if you listen to the
lyrics, that's not it.
That's not appropriate.
Tasha Jones (01:36):
That's not it, no.
Tamara Davis Brown (01:37):
But you are the legitimate Mrs.
Jones.
She's I'm the legitimate Mrs.
Jones.
My cap brother.
Three months.
Tasha Jones (01:43):
I recently married, so three months in.
Yeah.
Three months.
Yeah.
Tamara Davis Brown (01:52):
Um congratulations again on your
recent nuptials.
Um, yep, we're gonna get righton in.
Um just first of all, just tellus about yourself, how you um
became a member of St.
Stephen's, how you got involvedum in the ministry, and um
moving your way over to um tothe ministry leader of Mercy
(02:12):
House, and then we'll talk alittle bit more about Mercy
House.
But just, you know, just tellus a little bit about yourself,
where you were born, whereyou're from, the whole nine
yards.
Tasha Jones (02:20):
Yes, well, uh, first of all, my maiden name is
Errington.
So a lot of people know me inthe Prince George's um county as
Tasha Errington, ArringtonConnect.
So that's how they usuallyrecognize me.
I'm most recently married toKennard Jones, so my name is
Jones now.
So when I go out, I say, I'mstill Tasha Errington, but you
(02:41):
may get the email from TashaJones.
They're like, oh yeah, we knowwho you are.
So um I came to St.
Stephen's Baptist Church in2010.
So I've been a member since2010.
Bishop Lanier C.
Twyman Sr.
is our bishop.
Um, and we're located at 5757Temple Hill Road.
(03:02):
That's in uh Temple Hills,Maryland.
So my passion is youth.
Um, like you said earlier, wemet when I was at Crossland High
School.
I'm still connected toCrossland, still connected to
Thurgood, Sootland, Alvalon,Allenwood.
I'm still connected to many ofthe schools.
(03:24):
Um so once I found um St.
Stevens, I knew my passion wasstill youth, um, very active in
the community with thehomelessness outside of the
church and in the church.
So once I found out about MercyHouse, I knew what ministry I
wanted to join because I wasalready outreaching in
(03:46):
Washington, D.C., PrinceGeorge's County personally, um,
and also in Virginia.
So I knew my passion when Ifound out about Mercy.
Those are just acronyms,M-E-R-C-Y, and it means
Mountaintop Emergency ResourceCenter for You, which started in
(04:07):
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 Ijust brought in my resources, my
partners, and I'm out, out inthe back.
Tamara Davis Brown (04:26):
That's great.
Um, so yeah, so you told us uhagain that uh what Mercy the
what the acronym actually standsfor, and it's the great vision
of uh Pastor Twyman.
I um I love your bishop, I loveyour pastor.
I visit the church as often asI as I can, and that's a um a
great uh visionary.
(04:47):
But tell us the the mission ofMercy House.
Tell us um what exactly you doin the community and for the
community.
Um so you know, just tell us alittle bit about that mission.
Tasha Jones (04:58):
Okay.
Um Mercy House, MountaintopEmergency Resource Center for
You.
What we do, all of ourresources are free.
We provide clothing for men,women, and children.
You don't have to be a residentof Prince George's County.
You can come in.
Um, if you live in DC orVirginia, you are allowed to
(05:19):
come in.
Uh partake of 30 items.
We have clothing, we havefurniture, we have appliances,
and a lot of our donations are,let's say, 89 to 90 percent new.
We get a lot of clothing thathave the tags that are there.
Um we are a 501c3, so you doget a donation receipt if you
(05:40):
request one.
Um, we do a lot of partnershipswith a lot of the organizations
in Prince George's County.
Um, once I became the ministryleader here, I'm a big domestic
violence advocate.
So Department of Family JusticeCenter reached out to me on
behalf of someone who knew me inthe community and gave my name
(06:02):
over an initiative I was goingto start during COVID called the
Safe Haven Grab and Go, whichactually I provide um a bag to a
domestic violence, um, whethervia female or a male, enough
items to stay in a hotel forabout two weeks.
They'll call the Safe Haven,Safe Haven Grab and Go bags.
(06:24):
That came about right at theheight of COVID.
Um so every three months Iprovide bags to them.
Um I actually have one here toum to show.
And then uh anotherorganization, uh Progressive
Life Center, heard of myinitiative.
And so I provide bags to themtoo every three months to their
victims that they assist.
(06:45):
So um I brought that into MercyHouse.
I do a lot of mental healthworkshops.
Uh, we partner with otherorganizations and we do
workshops for mental health.
We do um partnership with theOffice of Veterans Affairs.
I'm actually on the advisorycouncil on behalf of Prince
(07:07):
George's County Executive AngelaOlsenbrook.
I was invited to be on thatthrough Dr.
James Dula.
So I am um one of their boardmembers.
Um I'm actually a board memberof the uh Office Against Women
and Domestic Violence with theDepartment of Justice through
the Progressive Life Center.
So um we do a lot of resourcesthat's here in Prince George's
(07:31):
County.
So once you come into MercyHouse, we have the resources.
Um if we don't have it, we willconnect you to resources, um,
job skills, Emplore PrinceGeorge's is one of my uh
community partners.
We have our agreement withthem.
Um, they just attended ourcommunity day over the weekend
(07:52):
with their new uh employmentmobile they just purchased.
So um they showcased it at thecommunity day over the weekend.
It was great.
Wow, that's excellent.
Tamara Davis Brown (08:02):
So yeah, tell us about that grab and go.
What's actually in the bag?
Tasha Jones (08:06):
Um yes, it is called.
I'm gonna grab one reallyquick.
Tamara Davis Brown (08:11):
Okay.
Tasha Jones (08:12):
It's it's called Safe Haven Grab and Go.
It's purple because purple isdomestic violence, right?
And it's it has on it umhelping domestic abuse survivors
meeting their essential needs.
So that's the message that's onthe outside of it, and it's
called Safe Haven.
Because once you open the bagup itself, it has a very nice um
(08:34):
scripture just for motivationin there.
Uh, it has a gift card inthere, uh, an amount of $25 to
$50 or maybe more.
I've had partners who heardabout this and they donated
funds.
So we were able to purchase umgift cards to go inside.
It has all of the emergencycontacts once you are in a safe
(08:56):
haven place that theorganization that you were with
placed you.
There is a card there where youcan still reach out to a
counsel, to a mental healthperson, or you can just um the
toiletries that are there, um,whether it be just the essential
toiletries that you would needon a day-to-day basis, all the
(09:17):
items in the bags are white.
So if you need to wash, youdon't have to worry about the
colors.
Um, so there's towels, there'ssocks, there's t-shirts, things
like that that's inside of thisbag.
And um if you need to go andwash them while you're there,
throw Clorox in the washingmachine.
You don't have to worry abouteverything else.
Tamara Davis Brown (09:38):
So excellent, excellent.
That's a great idea.
That's a great idea to have tohave that.
Um, about how many um peoplewould you say on a monthly basis
or a weekly basis do you serve?
What are the actual hours ofoperation for Mercy House?
Um, how many people um comethrough on a consistent basis or
(09:59):
average?
I should say average base on aweekly or monthly basis.
Tasha Jones (10:05):
Yes.
Um Mercy House is open firstand third Saturdays every month
from 9 until 12.
We're located at 4402 SadellPlace, which is right off of
Temple Hills Road.
We don't advertise the housebecause it is in a housing
development, so we don'tadvertise it.
But the word is out, we are weare here.
(10:25):
And also we're open first andthird, but if you email
mercyhouseministry at yahoo.com,it comes directly to my cell
phone and we answer allemergencies within within that
hour.
So we may be open first andthird Saturdays, but all
emergencies are answered.
We never closed during COVID.
(10:46):
Uh we had several emergencies.
In a month, we may serve maybeabout 25 to 30 people a month.
It's growing and growing, uh,which is great.
We have a very large Spanishpopulation that's coming through
now because I do advertise onour Tuesdays food giveaway that
we have every Tuesday from 11 to3, and there's a very large
(11:09):
Spanish population come through.
I have a Spanish interpreter,which is great.
Um so when they're there, uh wedo have an interpreter that
speaks the Spanish.
Um, we've been blessed to havepartners that heard about Mercy
House, and they come by andvisit on a Tuesday.
That's when I usually schedulethe interview or a tour of Mercy
(11:32):
House so everyone can get thefull effect of what we do.
Right.
Um not just giving outclothing, 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, orwe've contacted another
organization where they know ofMercy House and we send them
(11:53):
their way.
So um that's why we callourselves the Mercy House.
The Prince Yours is kind of acommunity resource hub.
That's what's on our flyer.
Tamara Davis Brown (12:03):
Okay, excellent.
So we kind of talked about thisabout how Mercy House got
started as a vision of uh BishopTwyman as part of the ministry,
outreach ministry of St.
Stephen's um Baptist Church.
Um, so uh my you you said itstarted in 2007 and you didn't
join the church till 2010.
(12:24):
Do you you have a little bitmore history about um what Mercy
House looked like in itsinfancy stages, where you know
obviously now you actually havea physical building, physical um
house and space.
What was the the uh impetuslike 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 iseventually he wants to be able
to have someone stay in thehouse itself, but at this time
um it's not um no one staysthere.
We actually provide all theservices out of there.
Um so um that's his visioneventually.
(13:02):
But once he asked me to take itover, he knew that my vision
was to bring in the resources tohelp the community more because
that was his vision.
And I didn't even know umbecause 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.
(13:23):
So we've been able to join inseveral organizations.
Uh, we've been able to receivelots of grants through some of
the things that we're doingthrough domestic violence and
the mental health.
Um partnerships withAlzheimer's Association we have
now for the past uh three years,which is great.
Uh Office of Veterans Affairs.
(13:43):
Um I knew Bishop's vision, andI'm gonna continue to do my best
to even foresee uh many morethings that Mercy House can do.
Um we are listed under 311, Ifound out um excellent.
Three years ago, um I actuallygot a call.
We actually have a phone numberthere at Mercy House, too, from
(14:06):
311 saying that uh an apartmentbuilding had um caught fire on
St.
Bonhomme's Road and that MercyHouse is now listed as an
emergency contact.
So that's a plus for us.
The word is getting out aboutMercy House.
So we have assisted severalfamilies in the Temple Hills
Port Washington area whoactually um was in a apartment
(14:28):
fire or a house fire, so whichis which is um which is great.
Tamara Davis Brown (14:34):
Right, great, great, great.
Um so yeah, I um uh I thinkwe've answered the type of
services that that that youprovide, and I'm glad to see
that um um your vision when youwere saying um you you heard a
bishop's vision, but you alsohad a vision in the scripture
(14:54):
that came to mind is that yourgifts will make room for you.
And certainly um the the thingsthat God has laid on your heart
has been able to come throughfruition to the church that He
led you to at St.
Stephen's Baptist Church, andthat's such a wonderful
testimony.
And so um my last question, andyou kind of started talking
about this, but um let'scontinue on that vein.
(15:16):
What are some of the upcomingprograms, some of the ignit
initiatives that we can expectto see and hear from either St.
of the Mercy House but also St.
Stephen's Baptist Church?
You mentioned um your foodgiveaway every Tuesday.
Um for those who are listening,St.
Stephen's Baptist Church, evenprior to the pandemic, has
always had a free food giveawayon Tuesday um uh mornings again.
(15:41):
And so the the the word, likeyou said, the word has gotten
out, and so people come on aconsistent basis.
I have volunteered a couple oftimes and noticed that uh the
lines will be all the way downum um Temple Hills Road past the
the Temple Hills CommunityCenter.
I mean, people are reallycoming out, and you can
(16:03):
definitely see that there's aneed that the church is
fulfilling, and that's anawesome, awesome job.
I hate that I missed communityday as I mentioned in our when
we were talking before westarted recording that um I um
was out of town and so I missedthat community day.
But what are some of theupcoming programs that um you
guys are gonna be featuring atMercy House or at St.
(16:25):
Stephen's Baptist Church thatthe community could look forward
to?
Tasha Jones (16:30):
Yes, yes.
Um the last Saturday was agreat community day.
That was our annual communityday, um June 17th, and I'm
actually the project coordinatorof community day, so it was it
was great.
So don't worry, we'lldefinitely be on our list for
the next one.
Um, some of our initiativesthat are uh coming up, um first
(16:50):
and third Saturdays, we alwayshave um free new shoes that that
sits outside of Mercy House.
We were donated bundles andbundles of brand new children's
shoes from Shoppers World.
So we showcase those to all thepatrons that come in.
So that's every first and thirdSaturday.
(17:11):
Um it's posted um once you comeinto Mercy House, um, that we
have brand new shoes forchildren.
Um, so that's every first andthird Saturday.
So anytime you come in there.
Um, we also do a workshopthat's coming up for
Alzheimer's.
We call in at the Cafe forAlzheimer's Association.
That's coming up in September.
(17:32):
So we're gonna startadvertising that um soon because
they're one of our majorpartners that we um have at uh
Mercy House.
We do the walks with them.
Um any of our partners that wehave, we list them on some of
our literature.
We can't list all of them, butwhatever that we are doing
outreaching with that particularpartner, they're listed on our
(17:56):
literature, um, such as uhFamily Justice Center, uh,
Family Social Services, theVeterans Affairs, Emplored
Prince George's.
If we are outreaching with themthat particular week, um we
advertise their information onour tables.
We often go out and partnerwith other churches that's in
the uh local districts seven andeight and nine.
(18:19):
We partner with them.
Uh we're about to do acommunity day with um Central
Baths of Camp Springs, which iscoming up.
Um doing a community day withthem.
Uh we're also doing a PurpleSunday at St.
Stephen's.
This is our third year where wededicate a Sunday.
(18:39):
Bishop has allowed us todedicate a Sunday called Purple
Sunday to advocate for domesticviolence victims and survivors.
So that's very exciting.
And we invite um lawenforcement officers to come
out, mental health, domesticviolence partners.
So that's always a big plus.
And we welcome you to join usthis year.
Tamara Davis Brown (19:00):
Absolutely, absolutely.
And I have been getting youremails about some of the
upcoming events.
So I do uh plan to come out andsupport as I always have
whenever I'm available.
You know, come out and and andhelp.
And I've also come out andvolunteer 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 oncein a while to um support those
events.
You listed so many of them, soactually I'm gonna ask another
final closing question, which ishow can people, where can
people go?
Um, what's a website, what's acontact to see all of the
(19:43):
upcoming events and programsthat 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 andgo in the menu bar and um search
for Mercy House or email us atMercyhouseministry at yahoo.com.
Um reach out.
Once you email mercyhouseministry at yahoo.com, it
automatically um comes to mycell phone.
(20:12):
All emergencies are answeredvery quickly.
Um more quickly than than acell phone, more quickly than
calling the Mercy House itselfbecause no one is there every
day.
So once you email, I I get itimmediately.
And there's a ministry of about15 um men and women that assist
(20:33):
me with this because I cannotdo this by myself.
It is a team effort.
I call it team mercy.
Um my co-leader wasn't able tobe with me today, but um she's
aware of this interview.
Um, but we are very blessed todo what we do, and the more
partners that we meet, the moreconnections that we receive, um,
(20:55):
the more blessings that we areable to give out.
Tamara Davis Brown (20:58):
Excellent, excellent.
So one more time, a littleslower, 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 listeningto again, Mrs.
Tasha Jones.
She is the ministry leader ofMercy House, which is a ministry
of St.
Stephen's Baptist Church inTemple Hills, Maryland.
We are so glad that she tookthe time today to tell us the
good news about all of the greatwork that Mercy House is doing,
(21:46):
along with St.
Stephen's Baptist Church,Bishop Twyman, uh, his lovely
life, lovely wife, First LadyTwyman, um, as well, are doing
in the community.
Um, be sure you take that uhwebsite information down and
find out some of the upcomingprograms and initiatives that
they have.
If you do have a need or youknow someone who has a need that
(22:09):
may be a victim of domesticviolence, male or female, or any
of the services, free uhclothing, giveaway, shoes, um,
anything, anyone who has a need,please be sure to reach out to
Mrs.
Jones, ministry leader again ofMercy House.
We are so excited and delightedthat you took the time to be
(22:30):
with us today on All PoliticsLocal with me, your host, Tamara
Davis Brown.
And I know I will see you outand about in the community.
So thank you so much for yourtime, and we will we will
definitely um be following upwith you and um getting back
with you on some of the greatinitiatives that you have.
(22:53):
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 asLocal.
Thank you for listening.
Please come back and um be sureto subscribe, be sure to click
to like and share this good newsand all of the episodes of All
Politics as Local, the Marylandedition with me, your host,
(23:19):
Tamara Davis Brown.
Thank you.
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