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ABOUT US

Dedicated to helping those in need.

OUR STORY

The story of Mercy Deliverance Ministries began as MDM’s founder, Toni Vines, completely trusted her life to the mercy of Jesus and His divine process of deliverance. After Toni yielded her life to the painful, yet freeing process of deliverance, God saw fit to launch MDM with a missed flight, an unexpected trip to Hawaii, and recognizing a divine opportunity. Toni ended up in Hawaii after her original flight for a family trip was canceled, and the experience in paradise turned out to be much more than a vacation. This divine appointment changed the course of her life – and many more lives to follow.

When Toni heard about the history and near extinction of native Hawaiians, it crushed her heart. The fact that native Hawaiians are actually a race of people whose independent nation was overthrown, further endeared her to their history and culture.

The Lord further burdened her heart with the plight of the Compacts of Free Association (COFA) migrants living in Hawaii. A population of approximately 15,000 Micronesian people without proper access to healthcare, housing, and federal benefits shouldn’t be so easy to ignore, but somehow hardly anyone had been talking about or advocating for them. With this new found information and the lifelong burden to help those in her home state of Alabama, she knew she had to help.

Access to affordable housing, healthcare, and fresh food were common social problems shared by each state. God’s solution was clear – provide healthcare and food via mobile vehicles – take these services TO people.

With a background of 24 years in nursing, Toni gained extensive experience in the medical field. She decided to start where her feet were – taking the momentum of her short trip and begin her journey advocating for improved health and wellness and fresh food options for those in need. The process began by orchestrating change in her home state of Alabama while simultaneously learning more about how to help the people of Hawaii. 

Currently, MDM provides services in both Alabama and Hawaii, ushering in hope and deliverance for people greatly in need of love, acceptance, and transformation.

OUR MISSION

Our goal at Mercy Delivery Ministries is to break cycles of poverty by providing educational opportunities, healthcare services, and access to affordable healthy food.

THE VISION

At Mercy Deliverance Ministries, we are committed to the physical, emotional, and spiritual health of every person we reach. Our vision is to champion the cause of the marginalized and give a voice to the voiceless. By demonstrating the love of God through patience and compassion, those we serve will be better equipped to maximize their potential greatness, God-given identity, and destiny.

TESTIMONIALS

[People] call asking our church for food more than anything else. With the number of families that are being served, many times up to 400 families every month, I couldn’t be more excited and grateful for our partnership with Mercy Deliverance Ministries.

Pastor Tadera White
Senior Pastor For-Word Christian Center, Ensley, Alabama

“In our neighborhood, we have senior citizens’ apartments. A lot of those people cannot get out. I take food boxes to the senior citizens’ apartment building and pass them out in the neighborhood.”

Shirley Simmons
Vice President of Central Pratt Neighborhood Association

“I was so excited because I knew [the food boxes] would help people in the community, families, and friends. My kids asked me to pick up some for them. It helps with the families financially because everything went up and there was a shortage. The food boxes helped provide throughout the week for kids and families.”

Rose Johnson
MDM Food Box Client

“Through a generous donation, the American Heart Association was able to expand our Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Scholars program into a new area of Alabama: Tuskegee. This donation has allowed the inclusion of Tuskegee University, in partnership with Auburn University as the mentoring host, and the addition of six new students to the program over the next 3 years.”

Lizzi Wilkerson
American Heart Association

“MDM was the presenting sponsor of our semester-long service learning project for students. MDM provided a solid base upon which students developed and executed plans for raising both awareness and funds for cancer research. Partnering with MDM allowed students to give back to their community in creative and meaningful ways, ways that engaged both the students and the greater community. We are extremely grateful for MDM.”

Kym Prewitt
RISE at Vestavia Hills High School

MEET THE BOARD

Headshot of Toni Vines
Toni Vines, Founder & President

Antoinette “Toni” Vines
Headshot of Bryan Gunn
Bryan S. Gunn, Treasurer

Bryan S. Gunn
Barbara Edwards
Barbara Wallace Edwards, Secretary

Barbara Wallace Edwards
Dr. Sadeep Shrestha
Dr. Sadeep Shrestha, Board Member

Dr. Sadeep Shrestha
Timothy Vines
Timothy Vines, Board Member

Timothy Vines
Headshot of Toni Vines

Toni Vines, Founder & President

Antoinette “Toni” Vines

Founder & President

Toni’s heart for serving others is at the core of all that MDM aims to accomplish. She served in the United States Army Reserve for four years, and later earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Her nursing career involved working in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit as well as serving in Infectious Disease and Adult HIV/AIDS clinics. Toni’s true passion is seeing people: set free from the bondages of sin; fulfill their dreams by listening to their hearts; and guiding them to reach their full potential and destinies.

Headshot of Bryan Gunn

Bryan S. Gunn, Treasurer

Bryan S. Gunn

J.D., C.P.A., Treasurer

 

Bryan is the COO/CFO of EBS Services, LLC in Birmingham, Alabama. He oversees EBS corporate operations, coordinates client services, and works with clients in designing and implementing non-qualified executive benefit plans. Bryan has 35 combined years of experience in public accounting, private practice of law, and executive management.

Bryan holds bachelor’s degrees in Accounting and History from the University of South Florida, a J.D. from Mercer University School of Law, an M. Div. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and a D. Min. from Beeson Divinity School at Samford University.

 

Barbara Edwards

Barbara Wallace Edwards, Secretary

Barbara Wallace Edwards

Secretary

 

As a 1979 graduate of Auburn University, Barbara, holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration and Accounting. She has a vast array of managerial experience in the retail, not-for-profit, and non-profit worlds. After almost 29 years of service, Barbara retired from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama in December of 2012. Barbara has re-entered the working world several times serving as the Coordinator of Alumni Engagement of Auburn University, Director of Corporate and Community Engagement at Children’s Village, Inc., and Vice-President of Business Development at Smith Enterprises, Inc. Additionally, she has served on the Board of Directors for the Auburn Alumni Association, Children’s Village, Inc., Helping Hearts, and The James Owens Foundation.

 

 

Dr. Sadeep Shrestha

Dr. Sadeep Shrestha, Board Member

Dr. Sadeep Shrestha

Ph.D., M.H.S., M.S., Director

 

Sadeep is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He is the recipient of the Quetelet Endowed Professorship in Public Health.

Sadeep has tremendous experience in infectious disease epidemiology nationally and internationally, both in clinical settings and research studies, specifically among minority and vulnerable populations. Sadeep brings his academic experience and leadership in advising innovative approaches to healthcare delivery and program implementation.

Timothy Vines

Timothy Vines, Board Member

Timothy Vines

Director

Tim is currently the President and CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama. Tim has served in various capacities throughout the company, giving him a broad leadership background in the healthcare industry and ultimately positioning him for his current role. Tim also holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Auburn University, which helped him build extensive banking experience early in his career. He currently serves on numerous philanthropic, financial, and educational boards.

SUPPORT US

We invite you to join the MDM community. Let’s work together to provide access to fresh food and quality healthcare to those in need. Together, we truly can make a change in our communities and throughout the world.

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