How Mercy Ministry in the Local Church Transforms Us All. Deeds of mercy are bridges to ChristThe Bible tells the story of eternal redemption and how God takes the trauma and brokenness of the redeemed and transforms them into gifts for His use in ministry. Not Just a Soup Kitchen is the story of how God transformed the life of the author from near-death skull fracture, childhood sexual abuse, thoughts of suicide and spiritual bankruptcy to becoming the minister of mercy at an historical church in the heart of Philadelphia. It is also an instructional guide for diaconal ministry and for those who are called to serve in mercy and compassion