Melanie Wise – Mercy Multiplied

Organisation & Program:

• Melanie Wise works with Mercy Multiplied, which helps people experience God’s transforming power.
• Offers residential programs for young women with life-controlling issues, outpatient programs, and a resources & training arm for churches and ministries.
• Evaluated the Empower Workshop, a two-day training for pastors and ministry leaders supporting hurting people.

Reason for Evaluation:

• Pilot program for learning the evaluation method.
• Wanted to measure long-term impact, not just immediate reactions.

Evaluation Experience:

• Initial doubts about evaluating a short, two-day workshop.
• Found that participants experienced a lasting impact months later.
• Shifted focus from self-evaluation to participant-focused insights.

Benefits Observed:

• Unified the team and clarified the purpose of the workshop.
• Created engaging interactions between team members and participants.
• Renewed passion and enthusiasm for the ministry.

Challenges:

• Evaluation is hard work, requiring prioritisation, teamwork, and commitment.
• Needs significant time, energy, and staff investment.

Advice for Leaders:

• Keep an open mind and heart; be ready to discard assumptions.
• Listen to staff and participants for fresh perspectives.
• Understand that evaluation is not just data collection—it’s about understanding the heart and impact of your work.

Application of Findings:

• Implementing takeaway reflections during the workshop for participants.
• Follow up one month later to reinforce the application of learning.
• Evaluation informs continuous improvement and practical strategies to amplify impact.