House Story - Paddy Lynch

Paddy Lynch started attending House of Mercy roughly two years ago, and she has always been someone who perseveres along the journey. She became a Christian while in college at UCLA, got a PhD, and became a lifelong public educator. Unfortunately, she also eventually experienced the underbelly that can exist in the Church.

As a pastor's spouse that toxicity hit very close to home, and ruined her first marriage. Yet Paddy persisted on the journey of following Christ. She met a wonderful man and had a 2nd, beautiful marriage. Unfortunately, he passed away just as the pandemic was setting in. Like many of us at this time, Paddy was also very disappointed with much of the Church in the new Trump America. So, suffering from the loss of her husband, and the isolation she was experiencing from her religious community, Paddy found House of Mercy.

Yet again, it was through Cathy Walters that another disenchanted Christian heard about us. Cathy and Paddy had been in the same book club/ping pong group that gathered at Paddy's house. Paddy knew it was time for a change. It was time for an embodied faith, that wasn't just about believing in the "right things" intellectually, but living the Way of Christ. Paddy got involved with a young single mom encouraging her very tangibly to walk the healing path. She also threw her whole self into all that HoM was doing as we sought to center our church on the marginalized.

Paddy has been a faithful driver for women coming out of incarceration who can't drive. She also opens up her beautiful home as host par excellence for any need the church has, always quick to say, "This is what her home is for." Paddy's resilience, forged through suffering, is now enabling her whole self...mind, body, and soul, to evolve and become more conformed to the image of Christ. Thank you for showing us The Way, Paddy!