Mercy Gate Ministries held its annual fundraiser, Keys to Freedom, at the 11th Street Cowboy Bar on Monday, April 7.
The event, which included a ribbon cutting for its new Bandera office, drew a crowd of about 100 to the outdoor venue.
Mercy Gate Ministries provides support and advocacy for victims of sex trafficking and exploitation in the Hill Country.
Originally founded in Kerr County, the organization has recently expanded with a new satellite office in Bandera.
The evening began with local performers Wade Lowrie and Chris Barnett entertaining the crowd with cowboy tunes.
Lowrie’s smooth, whiskey- soaked vocals drew several guests to the dance floor for a two-step. Many attendees stayed late into the evening to hear him perform.
A 50/50 raffle helped boost the fundraising total, with Bandera Brewery’s Elizabeth Cox winning the drawing and donating the prize money back to Mercy Gate. In total, the event raised $6,925 for operational and program expenses.
“We are overwhelmed by the generosity of everyone who has openly welcomed our efforts and supported our program launch,” said Aubri Reed, ARC program director for Mercy Gate. “As a community, we are making a lasting impact in the lives of those who call Bandera home.”
Guests enjoyed snacks catered by Brick’s River Café while hearing from co-owners Richard and Sasha Sutton, along with Mercy Gate administrators Lisa Carpenter, Aubri Reed and Chae Spencer.
A graduate of Mercy Gate’s program also addressed the crowd, sharing her personal story of survival and recovery after years of sex trafficking. Her testimony captivated the audience as she described how faith helped her rebuild her life and find hope.
“Bandera is truly a unique and blessed place,” said Executive Director Chae Spencer. “We felt called by God to launch our first satellite office here and are thrilled to begin our classes and support women through their healing journeys. We’ve witnessed God’s power to save, heal and restore even the most broken hearts, and we are confident that the same will happen in Bandera.”
“Seeing and hearing the excitement from our community in regard to Mercy Gate Ministries being in Bandera now was overwhelming in a really good way,” added Erin Rowe, Mercy Gate’s Bandera program coordinator. “What a beautiful night it truly was. The reception from folks in Bandera has been amazing. Thank you to our church partners and volunteers for your support—we couldn’t do this without all of you.”
The Bandera Chamber of Commerce also held a ribbon cutting during the event to celebrate the opening of the new office. Chamber Executive Director James Hernandez led the ceremony.
Church partners supporting Mercy Gate include Ridin’ the River Cowboy Church, Bandera Christ Chapel Church, Medina Community Church, Gateway Fellowship Church and Walker Community Church.
Mercy Gate also works with the Bandera County Interagency Coalition to identify service gaps and provide wrap-around support for the families they serve.
For more information about the organization, visit www.MercyGateMinistries. com.
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