Here's a follow-up story about Grace, a young Ethiopian missionary we first posted about a year ago.
For the past three years, ZEELO has had the privilege of walking alongside Grace as she serves among the Lokoya people of South Sudan. Now, we have two exciting reasons to write again: Grace recently completed her Master's degree from William Carey International University (WCIU), and she was invited to be a featured speaker at the university's annual global gathering in Nairobi, Kenya, where they celebrated their 50th Anniversary as a university. I guess you could say Grace is kind of a big deal!
South Sudan is one of those hard places where the leaders we serve face extraordinary challenges. Having gained independence in 2011, it is the world's youngest nation. Its history is marked by conflict, instability, displacement, and hardship. For missionaries serving among unreached people groups, daily life requires great courage and perseverance.
Yet this is where God has called Grace.
As a church planter among the Lokoya, Grace shares the Gospel, makes disciples, and helps build a community of Christ-followers. Her calling requires spiritual maturity, resilience, wisdom, and dependable relationships. At ZEELO, our mission is to provide exceptional care to leaders serving among unreached people groups, helping them remain fruitful in ministry and fulfilled in their calling. Grace is a wonderful example of why this mission matters.
We've had the privilege of mentoring Grace and offering trusted counsel through the challenges of cross-cultural ministry. We don't direct her calling or take credit for her accomplishments. Instead, we listen, encourage, and help her face the pressures of ministry in difficult places. Our investment isn't in programs or projects, but in a lasting relationship that supports her spiritual, emotional, relational, and personal well-being.
Grace has endured physical threats from local men, illnesses and infections, and even encounters with lions and snakes in her village. Yet she has not only persevered but continued to grow as a leader. Completing graduate studies under such conditions is an amazing accomplishment. WCIU recognized her achievement by selecting her as one of only eight recent Master's graduates chosen to participate in its annual global gathering.
Why Investing in Leaders Matters
At ZEELO, we know our ministry is not primarily about hosting events or funding projects. We invest in people who are investing their lives in the Great Commission. By strengthening leaders like Grace, we help them grow, face challenges, and remain effective in their calling. Their influence reaches the people and communities they serve with the Good News of Jesus Christ. While the impact of personal care cannot always be measured in numbers or reports, we see its value in the faithfulness and growth of those we serve. Grace's story shows what our ministry partners make possible through their generosity.
Thank You for Making Stories Like Grace's Possible
We are proud of Grace and grateful to God for His faithfulness in her life. Her courage and commitment to the Lokoya people inspire us. We are also deeply grateful for the donors who make our work possible. Your generosity enables us to build and sustain meaningful relationships. You help us pour into people serving in places where the Gospel is barely known. Rather than simply responding to immediate needs, you are helping ZEELO invest in the health and growth of leaders whose influence can reach future generations. Please join us in congratulating Grace and praying that God will strengthen her ministry and equip her for the years ahead.