Mercy In Action:
an overview

Mercy in Action is a faith-based non-profit organization founded by the Penwell family over a quarter century ago dedicated to mercy ministry among the poor around the world. Mercy In Action exists to bring hope and healing to the poorest of the poor, wherever they are found, by serving with practical acts of compassion, as did the Samaritan in the story told by Jesus of what it means to "Love God and love your neighbor". Our focus has been on Maternal and Newborn Health, and Primary Health Care for Children under Five, because these populations are the most vulnerable and most likely to die in the poorer areas of our world. Because of our focus, we are involved in Midwifery education and Primary Health Care training.

The Vision

We believe God's heart is for us to care for the poor, especially the children of this world. One of Mercy In Action's main goals is to provide midwives and medics to meet the felt needs of the poor, by educating midwives, primary health care mission medics, and children's workers. Those dedicated to Biblical justice can learn practical skills to serve in the two-thirds of our world where people live in inhumane conditions of poverty and neglect. Currently somewhere around 32,000 children under five years old die each day in the third world, and over half a million mothers die from complications of childbirth each year. The vast majority of these deaths are unnecessary and easily preventable, and that is why we believe in training medical missionaries and public health educators. Orphans and the fatherless are on God's heart, and He desires that we would "do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God". In a word, our vision is to rescue from death and suffering when we can, and share in death and sufferings when we cannot, in both cases offering the ministry of our presence, as a representation of Jesus our Lord. In doing so, we find that we meet Jesus among the poor and suffering, for as He once said so famously, what we do or fail to do with the poor, we do unto Him.

The Penwell family has set up charity clinics in Asia, Latin America and Alaska, with all services free to the people, and run these ministries with grass roots donations from caring individuals. We teach health care and mercy ministry all over the world. 2011 marks the 31st year since the beginning of this ministry, and more than 12,000 babies have been delivered free of charge for the poor in Mercy In Action's Birth Centers and literally tens of thousands of lives have been saved or healed in the medical outreaches. Countless numbers have been prayed for and felt the comfort of love. In addition, hundreds of Mercy In Action graduates have been equipped and released into service around the globe.
Donor contributions help us buy medical supplies and food for the poor in the Philippines, and help us travel to train others in health care and midwifery in surrounding countries such as Nepal, Cambodia, and India.

The Founders

Vicki Penwell CPM

Scott Penwell

Vicki and Scott Penwell founded the ministry that became Mercy In Action over 30 years ago. Vicki is a Certified Professional Midwife, Licensed Midwife (New Mexico and Idaho, USA) and health educator. Scott oversees all aspects of Tech Support, Publishing and building and physical support for the mission. For years they have lived and worked in Alaska, Asia, and Mexico, setting up clinics, birth centers, medical mission outreaches, malnourished children's feeding programs and schools to help the poor. They live full time in the Philippines and travel back and forth to the USA to teach classes and visit family.

Vicki's educational background includes a Master's of Science in Midwifery, and a Master's of Arts in Christian Studies (seminary degree) with a major in Missions/Intercultural Studies. Vicki is currently enrolled in a PhD program in International Maternal/Child Health. She is also an ordained pastor. Vicki teaches often in churches and mission's conferences on God's heart for the poor. She is a frequent guest speaker at University of the Nations and YWAM's health care schools all around the world, and has spoken at the International Confederation of Midwives Congress in Vienna, Austria. She has published articles in both national and international journals on missionary medicine and maternal/child health, and has a chapter in the new book edited by Robbie Davis Floyd entitled "Birth Models That Work".

Scott's educational background includes studying journalism at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. While at UAF he worked in the photography archive department, in publications for the Department of Natural Resources, and taught labs and classes at the university and the attached Tanana Valley Community College. Scott has years of experience working in Information Technology and oversees communication between the staff and students in the states and the Philippines. In prior years, Scott homesteaded in the wilderness of Alaska and is adept at building log cabins and subsistence living. Both Vicki and Scott know how to run a chainsaw!

Scott and Vicki have been married since 1978 and have three grown sons; Zak and Ian, and Sean, and now also two beloved daughter-in-laws; Amanda and Rose, who are both midwives. All the family is  involved in various aspects of the family business of missions and healthcare. And, happily, now there are 5 beautiful grandchildren in the family; Zoe, Irie, Titus, Selah, and Jamen.

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Field Directors in the Philippines

Ian Penwell CPM

Rose Penwell CPM

Ian Penwell, the son of Vicki and Scott, and his wife Rose, help lead all aspects of Mercy In Action as co-directors, and help teach Midwifery classes, Seminars and Internships. Ian Penwell is cross-trained in midwifery/maternal child healthcare, and is a graduate of the National College of Midwifery and a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) and holds a USA license in Midwifery in Idaho. He is also a Nationally Registered Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), and holds National Certification as a Wilderness First Responder. In addition, Ian Penwell is  a Worship Leader and a licensed Vineyard Pastor, and is enrolled in a Bachelors program in Midwifery. Rose is a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM), an Idaho licensed Midwife, a graduate of the National College of Midwifery, and a graduate of Boise State University, earning two Bachelor degrees, one in Sociology and one in Midwifery. Rose Penwell is an excellent teacher and is a passionate life-long learner. They have two girls, Irie and Selah, and a son, Jamen, all born at home or birth center. Selah was born in their island home in the Philippines.

 Theresa Eheler, CPM

Jason Eheler

 Jason and Theresa have been with Mercy In Action in the Philippines in one form or another over the past three years. Now in Olongapo they are coming on as co-field directors with Scott and Vicki and Ian and Rose.

Theresa Eheler is a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) and a graduate of the National College of Midwifery.  Theresa and Jason are involved in community development wherever they live. Jason is a builder and worship leader, with experience coordinating projects for the poor, including an innovative housing project to prevent homelessness in Winnipeg, Canada before moving to the Phiiippines to join Mercy In Action. They have four girls-Maiya, Ayda, Hannah and Nasira, all born with the help of midwives. Maiya was born in a birthing center in Japan, the other girls were homebirths in Canada.

 The midwives...

 (Left to Right) Imelda Navarro, Cecille Manaois, and Jen Bunquin.

 We have the greatest staff of Philippine Licensed Midwives, who have all been with us for years and years. Imelda is a widow, almost finished raising her three daughters, as her youngest is graduating high school next year. Her husband died when she was pregnant with the youngest. Jen has two little boys, so she delivers babies while breastfeeding (her husband Jokes helps chase the toddler). Sadly, Cecille lost her only child, Julius (nicknamed Third), to an infection recently; he was only 10 years old. Our community has gathered around her to give support through this time of grieving. All our national midwives are part of the family and the cornerstone of the birth center team here in the Philippines.

More family...............................................................…..