Mercy in Action is a Christian non-profit organization founded by the Penwell family over a quarter century ago dedicated to mercy ministry and servant evangelism 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". Because we realized early on that the fields are truly white with harvest but the workers are few, we began to pray to the Lord of the harvest to send forth workers. Dozens of students each year attend our missionary training programs in Midwifery and Compassion ministries such as Primary Health Care.

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, while also 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 have set up charity clinics in Asia, Latin America and Alaska, and taught health care and mercy ministry all over the world. 2007 marks the 27th 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 missionary service around the globe.
Birth Centers, Clinics and Feeding programs. Donor contributions help us buy medical supplies, food and housing for the poor, and travel to train others in health care and midwifery.

The Founders

Vicki and Scott Penwell founded the ministry that became Mercy In Action over 27 years ago. Vicki is a midwife and health educator, and 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.

Vicki's educational background includes a Master's of Science degree in Midwifery and the ongoing study of tropical medicine, third world diseases and health education issues. She has licenses in midwifery in Alaska and New Mexico, and is a Certified Professional Midwife(CPM) with the North American Registry of Midwives. Currently she is enrolled in a Seminary in Manila earning a Master's Degree in Missions/Intercultural Studies. 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 upcoming 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; Sean, Zak, and Ian, and two daughter-in-laws; Amanda and Rose, who all love Jesus and are involved in various aspects of the family business of missions and healthcare. And, happily, they have 5 grandchildren!

Other Ministries:

Megan Allen Memorial

Megan Allen
April 8, 1995 - June 25, 1998
Vicki's beloved niece died in a tragic accident in 1998 at the age of three years old. Megan had a wonderful life--she never knew hunger or suffering of any kind, and was loved and cherished by all her family. It is fitting that the memorial to her short life be one in which children who have suffered greatly find hope, healing, and love. Megan's Babies is a memorial ministry outreach to every baby we deliver. Our goal is to give a layette of baby clothes, a hat and a blanket to each new family. Often the parents are too poor to provide even basic clothing, diapers or blankets for their newborn, or medical care for sickness or birth defects. Babies who have special medical needs are helped with this fund as well, such as babies we deliver who need surgery but their parents cannot afford it and would have otherwise had to let them die. Donors can make financial gifts or mail newborn items directly to our babies.

Mercy In Action
P.O. Box 2777
Paso Robles, CA 93447
email: mercymissions@gmail.com

New or clean, gently used newborn clothing or hats can be sent to:

Mercy In Action
PO Box 30714
Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro, 5203 Philippines

Family News

Ian and Rose Penwell

Ian and Rose just returned to the states in June ‘08 so Rose could finish her BA in Education (she just had her student teaching year to complete when she married Ian and moved to the Philippines to pursue midwifery). While finishing school in Idaho they will also offer home birth services through their new business “The Natural Alternative Midwifery Practice” www.thenaturalalternativemidwifery.com For years Ian and Rose helped lead all aspects of Mercy In Action, and are still on the Advisory Board. Ian is a Nationally Registered Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), and holds National Certification as a Wilderness First Responder. He has co-taught with Vicki on various subjects relating to maternal/child health for YWAM Primary Health Care Schools in Nepal and Montana, and often shares about the mercy ministry in churches. Ian is cross-trained in midwifery/maternal child healthcare, and will take his board-licensing exam with the National College of Midwifery in August ‘08. Ian is also a Worship Leader and a licensed Vineyard Pastor. Rose is a midwife, and is currently in the process of earning two Bachelor degrees, one in Education and one in Midwifery. Together they are studying and working on projects to make pregnancy and childbirth safe and satisfying for the families they serve. They also have two girls, Irie and Selah, and are expecting a third baby in August.

Zak and Manga Penwell

Zak and Manga are currently living in Connecticut where Zak is completing his Masters Degree in Strength and Conditioning Coaching. Manga is a midwife with tons of experience in the Philippines, where she formerly directed a Mercy In Action Maternity Center before marrying Zak. She also holds a Bachelor degree in Midwifery. Zak grew up volunteering for Mercy In Action all through high school. They plan to go overseas to work with orphans and pregnant women and babies when Zak’s education is finished. Zak and Manga have two kids, Zoe and Titus. They will come and volunteer with us in the Philippines for a month over Christmas vacation in December ’08.

Sean Penwell

Sean is in his third year of medical school at Harvard, on a full-ride scholarship. He has not yet decided on a residency program, but will use whatever he specializes in to help the poor and underserved. Sean came to visit and volunteer with us here in the Philippines in Dec ’07 and Jan ’08, and delivered his first baby on Christmas day in a tiny nipa hut. After that, we all went surfing!

Terri Woods

Terri is Vicki's sister and an integral part of the ministry of Mercy In Action. Terri has been running our USA headquarters for the past two years, and keeps the books together. Mostly she allows us to be here doing this charity work because she is willing to devote so much volunteer time to doing the administration. Vicki’s mom also helps with the deposits and bookkeeping. Terri teaches personal safety for missionaries and acts as our international watchdog on matters of security. Currently she is enrolling in Doula training and will spend a good portion of ’08 volunteering for us here in the Philippines. Her daughter Kate, (a midwife) son-in-law Chris, and grandbaby Maia are also in the Philippines this year helping out.