Deacon’s Retirement Party Highlights Fight to End Human Trafficking

The Rev. Mary Delancey already knew that June 22, 2025, would be an emotional day for her. After more than 16 years of diaconal service and building invaluable relationships at Grace, Ocala, Delancey, 77, would attend her retirement party, where she knew tears of both sadness and joy would flow.

But when donations totaling more than $15,000 were announced to help support the cause for which she has adamantly fought for years – ending human trafficking – Delancey, known as “Deacon Mary,” was understandably overwhelmed.

The money will go to International Justice Mission, with whom she has enjoyed a lengthy partnership to help save young women and men from lives of slavery and exploitation. The gift left her speechless.

“I still find it hard to put into words how I feel about this,” Delancey said. “To say that I was surprised does not begin to describe my feelings. The Grace congregation has always been generous, and the church has donated to IJM for the past few years. I had always hoped that we would some year be able to donate the equivalent of the estimated cost of one rescue operation. Instead, donations were double that.

“When I learned that there would be donations for a retirement gift in my name, I knew I would feel honored if that happened,” she explained. “When I saw the check, I was overwhelmed by the realization of what it represented, how this money would go toward relieving – and ultimately preventing – the suffering of the most vulnerable of God’s children.” Additional donations arrived after the retirement party, adding up to more than $17,000.

“To say that I felt greatly loved in response to the donation is certain, but there is more,” Delancey said. “For many years I have educated the congregation and larger community to increase awareness about modern-day slavery and show them ways to respond in whatever way possible for them. That was not always an easy task, as it is challenging to confront the issues surrounding this evil. It touched my heart to realize that people did hear me.”

The Rev. Jonathan French, who worked with Delancey for several years as the rector at Grace and is now serving at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Geneva, Illinois, said he wasn’t the least bit surprised when Delancey expressed her desire to join the battle against human trafficking. The two discussed the possibility after attending a leadership conference in Atlanta, where Delancey found a booth set up by IJM to inform the public about its mission.

“What always has amazed me about Mary is her willingness to take on anything and try anything that would further her love for the kingdom,” French said. “We were in the back seat of the car with others driving back, and she mentioned that she visited one of the booths around the stadium that had information about fighting human trafficking. She said she had always wanted to do something with that, and I encouraged her to do so. She filled out the application in the car. Not six months later, she was off to the Philippines.”

Then 68, Delancey spent a year in the Philippines working on a volunteer basis for an organization connected with IJM, even paying for her own living expenses.

“At the time, it seemed like an outrageous thing to even consider becoming a part of,” she said. “But God had plans that I was not fully aware of. … The year I spent in Manila was one of the most significant in my life and helped me better understand the factors that make modern-day slavery the growing criminal enterprise it is today. … I worked with teen girls who were at the beginning of the very, very long process of recovery and restoration.

“In the year I was there, we could only see the beginnings of the process,” Delancey said. “We could only show them the possibility of another kind of life. Since many of the girls had been trafficked by their family members or friends, we worked to show them another kind of relationship, based on God’s love for them. My hope and prayer are that what we were able to do changed the trajectory of their lives and gave them hope.

“I came back to the U.S. committed to working toward not just rescuing those enslaved, but to end slavery,” she said. “That is how I became an active supporter of IJM. They have proven programs that educate and support governments and communities in ending modern-day slavery and other violence against the poor and vulnerable in 19 countries around the world. Together they work to rescue victims, bring perpetrators to justice, restore survivors and help local law enforcement to create a safe environment for their people.”

The Ven. Julie Altenbach, one of two archdeacons for the Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida, has known Delancey for years and was delighted to attend her retirement celebration.

“Deacon Mary is a quiet and humble person, and while her retirement party rightfully celebrated all her work for the kingdom of God, it was clear she was a little uncomfortable being in the spotlight,” Altenbach said. “When Father Frans [van Santen, current rector of Grace, Ocala] showed her the check representing the donations made in her name, she gasped, then took the microphone with such excitement to share how the donation would make a meaningful impact.

“Deacon Mary is the embodiment of what it means to be a deacon,” she continued. “Her faithfulness in serving those who were victims of human trafficking – while encouraging and inspiring the members of her church and community to join in her tireless efforts – is the very vision of a deacon with one foot in the church and one foot in the world.”

Van Santen, who became Grace’s rector in December 2023, has known Delancey for 4 ½ years, having first met her at a conference where she spoke of her work in the Philippines. She immediately impressed him with her devotion to her work and to spreading the good news of Jesus Christ.

“Deacon Mary has always been very servant-hearted,” he said. “The gospel became more of a reality through her actions. The book of James says that faith without works is dead, and she is very much alive because of the works that flow out of her. Without question, she is the hands and feet of Jesus.”

Delancey also sees the gospel as an integral part of her mission and ministry. “The gospel is a vision of hope in ‘a weary and broken world,’ and if there are any people and situations that need hope, it is the enslaved, and the poor and vulnerable,” she said. “That is what has kept me in this work. The organization I served with in the Philippines is Christian-based, as is IJM. I have seen Christ’s redemptive work in those I have served as well as in those I have worked alongside. IJM starts every day in every office with prayer and has a weekly prayer time to come together to pray for specific needs around the world.

“As an imperfect person, I cannot say my actions have always been fully aligned with the gospel,” she continued. “But I have strived to keep the gospel and Jesus’ commandments to His disciples in my heart and mind, not just in my anti-slavery work but in all my actions in the communities of which I am a part.”

Although Delancey’s fight against the injustice of human trafficking won’t end with her retirement from Grace, certain aspects of her life will shift going forward.

“Although I will continue to work to end modern-day slavery, some things will change with my retirement,” she said. “I will no longer represent Grace Church in education and awareness programs that have been conducted over the years. I won’t be serving in direct care halfway around the world. I will continue my financial support of IJM and other antislavery organizations and remain on their prayer teams. I will also continue legislative advocacy. I will continue to use social media when appropriate to raise awareness and encourage support. My involvement will be different but will not end until all are free.”