Sowing Seeds of Joy and Growth
A pound hit the side of my car window. I startled—then laughed in relief as I saw Daw’s smiling face beaming through the glass. Moments later, I was surrounded by Daw and his siblings—Anger, Ashan, Nyabol, Ashuil, and Mobel—along with several other students, all eagerly asking if there was anything they could do to help set up for our End of Summer Celebration. It was a moment that captured so much of what this past year has meant: transformation, trust, and the joy of community.
Daw, the oldest of six children from Sudan, has walked through deep sorrow. After tragically losing their mother, he and his siblings arrived in the US with heavy burdens—but over the months, we’ve watched him grow in confidence and joy. To see him smiling and ready to serve was a beautiful reminder and example of how far so many of our students have come.
That afternoon, we gathered for our celebration—a time to honor students’ hard work and to simply delight in being together. Thanks to the generosity of Eastside Community Church, who graciously hosted our celebration in their space, the kids were able to play games in the gym, laugh loudly, devour dozens of pizzas, and slurp down colorful, sticky Bahama Bucks snow cones. It was a time of joy and community.
-Alysa Marx
Our Preschoolers
When our preschoolers first join the program, most have had little to no exposure to the English language. Any familiarity they do have often comes from listening to older siblings or from watching television. That’s why it's especially exciting to see how quickly they begin to grow and learn, week by week!
We’ve loved watching them learn their colors, count to ten, engage in conversation, follow simple directions, and even wait patiently in line. While these may seem like small milestones, they are essential building blocks for school readiness—and they’re setting our young scholars light-years ahead on their academic journey.
To dream, create, play, and laugh—these are all vital parts of early childhood development. It’s a delight and an honor for us to nurture that growth and witness the joy on their faces as they discover new things and take part in the learning process.
Most recently, we let their imaginations run wild with a snowball fight—right in the middle of July! Go to the video below to watch!
The Courage to Speak
Each year, we set aside intentional moments for mentors to guide students through The Three Circles—a simple, visual way to present the Gospel and the redemption Christ offers to those who repent, trust, and believe in Him. We also take this time to encourage students to practice sharing the Gospel with their own friends and family.
This year, one of our students, Sarah (name changed for privacy), was especially hesitant to learn how to share The Three Circles. Sarah is extremely shy, and her mentor wasn’t sure how she’d respond. Her mentor shared the following:
“Last night we went over The Three Circles, and since I know Sarah is a believer, I tried to present it in a way that would help her feel confident sharing it with others. At the end, I told her that Jesus’ final command to us was to share the Gospel and encouraged her to consider sharing it at school.
She paused for a long time, looked at me, and said, ‘I didn’t know we were supposed to share the Gospel with people.' I gently shared with her the Great Commission from Matthew 28, and it really resonated with her. We made a plan for her to begin practicing by sharing The Three Circles with her family so she could grow more comfortable sharing it at school.
She also shared that she was nervous about sharing because of her shyness. I reminded her of her memory verse—Joshua 1:9—and how she can pray for boldness and courage, trusting that the Holy Spirit will help her. It was such a sweet and meaningful moment!"
Stories like this remind us how the Holy Spirit moves profoundly in people’s hearts through faithful obedience, simple truths, and intentional relationships. We are grateful for every opportunity to plant gospel seeds and watch God grow them in His perfect timing.
Our Rising Senior
This remarkable young woman is our oldest and most advanced student—a rising senior now reading at a college level!
Juliana first joined our program when she was just six years old, and we’ve had the immense privilege of walking alongside her ever since. From the early days of struggling to learn her ABCs, she has faced every obstacle, barrier, and setback with quiet strength and perseverance. Over the years, we’ve watched Juliana grow into a confident young scholar—one now exploring college campuses and dreaming boldly about her future.
Just a few weeks ago, she and her mentor visited Baylor University to see if it might be the right fit for this next chapter of her life. As a first-generation college student, her courage and determination are deeply inspiring—not only to us, but to the younger students who look up to her with hope and admiration.
Fewer than 1% of students have been part of Reading Circle since the very beginning. One of those few is this exceptional young woman. Since 2014, through every transition, Juliana has faithfully shown up—week after week over the past eleven years -believing that literacy would be life-changing. Her consistent presence, despite the challenges, speaks volumes about her determination and hope for a better future.
Juliana believes it matters. And she is right. Literacy is life-changing.
We are incredibly proud of her and filled with joy as we imagine all that God has in store. She is a young woman of extraordinary strength and character, and we have no doubt that she will go on to do truly amazing things.
Our Student Population
Looking back on where our students have come from, it is both humbling and powerful to pause and honor their dedication. The commitment, perseverance, and faithfulness they’ve shown in pursuing literacy is nothing short of inspiring. Below is a breakdown of the students in Reading Circle and how long they have been in the program.
What’s Next?
Are you interested in joining in on this important work and becoming a mentor? Consider letting the Lord use you to invest, shape, mold, equip, raise up and train the next generation of students. The Lord will use our mentors and students to reach the nations for His Glory. Come and be a part of what He is doing in transforming lives one child at a time!
