December Newsletter

Our children have returned from their fall school break, and the second semester has

commenced!

Our team began the month with a study in the Book of Daniel led by our friend, Joel Vermillion. Through this time of reflection, each member experienced spiritual renewal, embraced fresh challenges, and was strengthened in faith. United in purpose, we are prepared to entrust the days ahead into the sovereign hands of the Lord. The children have adjusted remarkably well to being back at Grace. We are deeply moved by one of our newest family members—a 16‑year‑old girl at high risk—who has just come under our care. Here she is finding warmth, encouragement, and hope. She is showing great dedication to her studies and building meaningful relationships with our

team and students.

We give thanks to God for the eight young people who recently responded to the message of Jesus’ love and lordship, each of them expressing a desire to experience new life in Christ and to transform the history of their families.

DeAnn Vermillion, who along with her husband, Joel, visited us this month, summarized her time with us.

At Grace Ministries I met a staff who felt well-cared for, valued, and loved. They are full of purpose and a desire to serve at Grace Ministries for the long haul.  Our visit was so beautiful and refreshing!  It is a remarkable feat to care so well for each of the 121 children! We found a leadership team that is healthy and well because they have put into practice godly habits and rhythms, and they focus on those things that are most important. Each staff member is valued and loved both in theory and in practice. First and foremost, they know that Grace Ministries is the Lord’s work, and any fruit of the ministry comes only from Him. This frees the staff to serve and simply trust the Lord with the outcomes. I was also impressed by how they all share the workload with one another and with each child.  Essentially, each person learns to do almost every job from cooking to driving, to shopping, to cleaning-- learning responsibility, leadership, ownership, service, and love in the process.  The weight of each area does not fall on one leader but rests on the shoulders of everyone. The leadership development and training I saw is beautifully ingrained into the culture of this community. I am fully confident that this beautiful, faithful community will continue to flourish, grow, and bear much fruit for God’s glory for years to come.  

A special thanks to a generous boy in Concord, Ohio, who treated all of our children and staff to a delicious ice cream party with his birthday gift money.

With thankful hearts,

Yao and all of us at Grace Ministries