After years of personal trauma, counsellor and author Mercia Scharneck shares how faith and a renewed mind became the foundation for lasting change.
From the depths of trauma to the heights of transformation, Mercia Scharneck’s story is one of redemption, restoration, and grace. A dynamic speaker, life coach, counsellor, and author, Mercia uses her voice to help others heal from pain, shame, and self-condemnation — guiding them to discover hope and purpose through faith.
In her new book, A Mind Renewed, A Life Transformed, she unpacks the power of shifting thought patterns and embracing God’s truth to unlock a life of freedom and renewal. Her message is deeply personal yet universal — reminding readers that healing is not just possible but promised when we allow transformation to begin from within.
Born and raised as the youngest of seven siblings, Mercia built a successful corporate career before choosing to dedicate her life to her family and calling. Married for 40 years, she is a proud mother of two daughters and a joyful grandmother of two. Her journey, marked by both deep pain and profound faith, has become a testament to the power of grace and the courage to rebuild.
A traumatic experience early in her life left her battling feelings of inferiority, shame, and silence. Yet, through a life-changing encounter with God, Mercia began a powerful process of healing and restoration — one that redefined her purpose and inspired her to help others overcome the limitations of their past.
Over the years, she has served on the board of a home for abused girls, mentored women from broken backgrounds, and led faith-based initiatives and women’s ministry camps. Together with her husband, she counsels and mentors premarital and married couples, offering guidance rooted in biblical principles and lived experience.
Mercia’s speaking engagements and her YouTube channel extend her ministry beyond the walls of the church, allowing her to reach diverse audiences with a message of authenticity, grace, and renewal. Her passion is to show that no life is beyond repair — and that through the renewal of the mind, individuals can step into a future defined not by pain but by purpose.
“Healing begins when we allow truth to challenge the lies that have held us captive,” says Mercia. “A renewed mind changes everything — how we see ourselves, how we live, and how we love.”
Mercia Scharneck’s latest book, A Mind Renewed, A Life Transformed, will be launched on 1 November 2025 at 09h00 for 09h30 at Every Nation Rosebank, 20A 7th Avenue, Parktown North, R50 per person
