Allen: Allen was born on April 24, 1972. He grew up along side his two older brothers in Wilmington Delaware. Education: Allen graduated with a BFA from Temple University’s Tyler School of Art in 1994 winning the award for best portfolio. He immediately became partner in Brand Design Group Inc. and later helped establish House Industries Inc., a computer type foundry. After finding Christ, he attended Moody Bible Institute’s graduate school for one year.

Sharon: Sharon was born as her parent’s only child on September 25, 1971. She was spent the majority of her childhood being raised in Wilmington Delaware. Education: Sharon first attended Liberty University and then later transferred to Bethany College of Missions in Minneapolis to complete her bachelor’s degree in Cross-Cultural Studies.

Benjamin: While Ben was still in Sharon’s womb, his life was threatened. A doctor who examed Sharon concluded that our less than 12 week old child had died. After further examination, the cause of alarm was found out to be a polyp. After removing the polyp, God granted that the pregnancy would continue to full term. Benjamin was born on July 1st, 2001 and we rejoice in God’s provision. Later at two years old, Ben developed sever problems breathing and was rushed to the hospital with a life threatening fever. Over the course of two weeks, his body struggled to recover from pnemonia and bronchitis. Once again, God was gracious in delivering him from death and returning him to complete health. God has given Ben giftedness in speech and wisdom beyond his age. Beyond those things, Ben is very active and loves a physical and mental challenge. We pray that he would grow to use this wisdom to glorify God and that his giftedness might be a blessing to others.

Elianna: Elianna was born September 3, 2003. Her middle name is Joy, and this is what defines her. Her smile can light up any room while her personality adds to the brightness. Elianna likes to follow Benjamin around and present herself on the same intellectual level. She likes to sing and her dance moves are beyond definition. Elianna's favorite color is yellow.

Kira: Kira was born May 11, 2006. Her middle name is Grace. Her name means light of grace which we experience shining from God.

Allen: After reaching the lifelong goal of owning and operating a successful Design Firm, Allen suffered a mid-life crisis at the age of 25. Success had given him no satisfaction, and depression became a daily battle to conquer. He began to reevaluate the meaning of life, and the claims of Christ. Church soon became an addiction, and the word of God was His new love interest. Allen gave his life to Christ in 1996. After a year of intense growing in faith and knowledge of Christ, Allen decided to be baptized to declare publicly his commitment to Christ. The night before his baptism, he clicked on a Christian radio program just as they read this verse: “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. And I will give you a new heart with new and right desires, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony heart of sin and give you a new, obedient heart.” (Ezekiel 36:25-26)

Sharon: Sharon was raised in a Christian family in Delaware. At the age of 8 she was at a Christian summer camp when she clearly heard the gospel. She felt strongly convicted that she needed to respond to the message and went forward after the service and talked with one of the counselors. Sharon received Christ that day after being convicted that she was sinful and that Christ was King of all and the only One able to rid her of her sin and make her right with God. She gladly repented that day and received Christ into her life. At 11 years of age, Sharon was attending her local church when she heard about baptism and was convicted that she should be baptized since she was a believer and should not wait until she became an adult.

Allen and Sharon Mercer are sent out by Brandywine Valley Baptist Church located in Wilmington Delaware.

We are employees of PIONEERS, a non-profit organization which seeks to mobilize teams to glorify God among unreached peoples by initiating church planting movements in partnership with local churches.