ABOUT US

The story of Mercy Deliverance Ministries began as MDM’s founder, Toni Vines, completely trusted her life to the mercy of Jesus and His divine process of deliverance. After Toni yielded her life to the painful, yet freeing process of deliverance, God saw fit to launch MDM with a missed flight, an unexpected trip to Hawaii, and recognizing a divine opportunity. Toni ended up in Hawaii after her original flight for a family trip was canceled, and the experience in paradise turned out to be much more than a vacation. This divine appointment changed the course of her life – and many more lives to follow.

When Toni heard about the history and near extinction of native Hawaiians, it crushed her heart. The fact that native Hawaiians are actually a race of people whose independent nation was overthrown, further endeared her to their history and culture.

The Lord further burdened her heart with the plight of the Compacts of Free Association (COFA) migrants living in Hawaii. A population of approximately 15,000 Micronesian people without proper access to healthcare, housing, and federal benefits shouldn’t be so easy to ignore, but somehow hardly anyone had been talking about or advocating for them. With this new found information and the lifelong burden to help those in her home state of Alabama, she knew she had to help.

Access to affordable housing, healthcare, and fresh food were common social problems shared by each state. God’s solution was clear – provide healthcare and food via mobile vehicles – take these services TO people.

With a background of 24 years in nursing, Toni gained extensive experience in the medical field. She decided to start where her feet were – taking the momentum of her short trip and begin her journey advocating for improved health and wellness and fresh food options for those in need. The process began by orchestrating change in her home state of Alabama while simultaneously learning more about how to help the people of Hawaii. 

Currently, MDM provides services in both Alabama and Hawaii, ushering in hope and deliverance for people greatly in need of love, acceptance, and transformation.

Antoinette “Toni” Vines
Founder & President

Toni’s heart for serving others is at the core of all that MDM aims to accomplish. She served in the United States Army Reserve for four years, and later earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Her nursing career involved working in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit as well as serving in Infectious Disease and Adult HIV/AIDS clinics. Toni’s true passion is seeing people: set free from the bondages of sin; fulfill their dreams by listening to their hearts; and guiding them to reach their full potential and destinies.

Bryan S. Gunn

Bryan is the COO/CFO of EBS Services, LLC in Birmingham, Alabama. He oversees EBS corporate operations, coordinates client services, and works with clients in designing and implementing non-qualified executive benefit plans. Bryan has 35 combined years of experience in public accounting, private practice of law, and executive management.

Bryan holds bachelor’s degrees in Accounting and History from the University of South Florida, a J.D. from Mercer University School of Law, an M. Div. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and a D. Min. from Beeson Divinity School at Samford University.

Barbara Wallace Edwards

As a 1979 graduate of Auburn University, Barbara, holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration and Accounting. She has a vast array of managerial experience in the retail, not-for-profit, and non-profit worlds. After almost 29 years of service, Barbara retired from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama in December of 2012. Barbara has re-entered the working world several times serving as the Coordinator of Alumni Engagement of Auburn University, Director of Corporate and Community Engagement at Children’s Village, Inc., and Vice-President of Business Development at Smith Enterprises, Inc. Additionally, she has served on the Board of Directors for the Auburn Alumni Association, Children’s Village, Inc., Helping Hearts, and The James Owens Foundation.

Dr. Sadeep Shrestha

Sadeep is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He is the recipient of the Quetelet Endowed Professorship in Public Health.

Sadeep has tremendous experience in infectious disease epidemiology nationally and internationally, both in clinical settings and research studies, specifically among minority and vulnerable populations. Sadeep brings his academic experience and leadership in advising innovative approaches to healthcare delivery and program implementation.