Chapter Seventeen – Deeper Waters
Grace stood before the mirror, holding baby Hope in her arms, her heart swelling with gratitude. The soft morning light filtered through the curtains of their modest but beautiful home—a place that had become more than a shelter; it was a sanctuary, a dwelling where grace truly abounded.
Hope's tiny hand gripped Grace's finger tightly, her innocent gaze locked on her mother's. Grace smiled. Her name had not been chosen lightly. She was a symbol—not just of answered prayer, but of a future bursting with promise. Yet, beneath the warmth of new motherhood and ministry expansion, Grace sensed a deep stirring—an invitation to go even deeper, to trust God with the unfamiliar.
Daniel entered the room quietly, careful not to wake the baby. "You look radiant," he whispered, placing a gentle kiss on Grace's forehead. "Are you ready?"
Grace nodded, though her heart trembled slightly. They had been invited to speak at a nationwide Christian conference for families and young leaders. It would be their first major appearance together since launching Wellspring Grace, and the spotlight felt daunting.
"God will give us grace for this," she said, more to herself than to Daniel.
"He always does," Daniel replied with a confident smile.
The Gathering
The auditorium buzzed with expectancy. Leaders from different regions had gathered for the three-day conference. The theme: Deeper Waters: Building Godly Homes in a Godless Age. It could not have been more fitting. The world was changing rapidly, and the divine blueprint for marriage and family was under attack. Grace and Daniel knew this was more than an opportunity; it was a divine assignment.
When they took the stage, Grace's knees felt weak. But as she gripped Daniel's hand and looked into the sea of faces, the Holy Spirit flooded her heart with peace.
Daniel spoke first, sharing their testimony—not just the scandal, the redemption, or the proposal, but the in-between moments: the doubts, the hard prayers, the nights of silence and healing. "You don't build a godly home because you have perfect people," he said, his voice steady. "You build it because you have a perfect God guiding two surrendered hearts."
Grace followed, sharing her story of fear and faith, of how she had once felt unworthy of love. "But God's grace found me," she said softly, tears glistening in her eyes. "And He didn't just give me a man. He gave me a purpose, a voice, a calling. God restored me so I could help others walk into their restoration."
By the time they finished, the crowd was on their feet—not in applause for them, but in awe of the God who still writes beautiful love stories in broken places.
Behind the Curtain
That night, in their hotel suite, Grace sat curled on the sofa, her Bible on her lap. Hope slept peacefully nearby, her little breaths steady and gentle. Daniel sat across from her, reading some emails from their staff.
"Something's shifting," Grace said, almost to herself.
Daniel looked up. "You feel it too?"
She nodded. "I think God's calling us to more. Not just speaking engagements. Something deeper… more discipleship. More direct involvement."
Daniel considered her words. "Like a discipleship school?"
"Yes," Grace said, sitting up straighter. "A place where couples, singles, young adults can come and be mentored—not just in love and marriage, but in life. In identity. In purpose."
Daniel exhaled deeply, struck by the idea. "Wellspring Grace Academy," he murmured. "A fountain of learning, grace, and truth."
Grace smiled. "Exactly."
It would require prayer, planning, and provision. But it felt right.
The Test of the Vision
As they returned home and began laying out the vision for the academy, opposition arose. Some donors pulled out, claiming it was too early for such a project. A few friends warned them to wait until Hope was older. Even Daniel's mother expressed concern. "You two are already doing so much. Don't stretch yourselves too thin."
But Daniel and Grace had learned to discern the difference between caution and fear. They didn't move in haste—they fasted, prayed, and brought their team together for unified agreement.
One night, during a prayer vigil in their living room, a word of knowledge came through their friend and intercessor, Sister Miriam. She had joined them on Zoom from Nairobi.
"The Lord says, 'You have walked through shallow waters and crossed the rivers. Now I will take you to the deep seas. Fear not the wind nor the waves. I am the anchor. I am the sail. I will provide, and I will guide. Launch out into the deep, for there you will find the multitudes waiting to be rescued.'"
Tears streamed down Grace's face. She looked at Daniel, who nodded in confirmation. "We go forward," he said simply.
The Launch
Six months later, Wellspring Grace Academy launched its first class with thirty students from seven different nations. The campus was small, located on a donated property near a peaceful lake, but it was vibrant with purpose.
Classes included "Kingdom Identity," "Healing from Brokenness," "Marriage That Ministers," and "Marketplace Discipleship." Grace taught weekly sessions, her words laced with passion and power. Daniel mentored young men, helping them navigate manhood, responsibility, and integrity.
Each student arrived with their own story—some broken, some seeking, some skeptical. But by the third month, testimonies began pouring in. Addictions broken. Marriages restored. Suicidal thoughts silenced. Callings discovered.
One student, Maria from Brazil, shared how she had planned to end her life before stumbling upon their story online. She had applied to the academy out of desperation. Now, she was burning with the fire of God, determined to return home and start a women's shelter.
Another student, Jamal from Atlanta, had grown up in gangs. His transformation was so visible, his family traveled across the country just to attend his baptism on campus.
Daniel stood watching as student after student emerged from the waters of baptism, clothed in white, eyes shining with new hope. He whispered to Grace, "This… this is deeper waters."
She nodded, heart overwhelmed. "And we're just getting started."
A Moment of Worship
At the close of the academy's first term, they held a worship night by the lake. Students led the songs, and testimonies were shared between sets. Grace stepped up to sing a song she had written during their early days of ministry—a prophetic anthem called Grace Carried Me.
As her voice rose into the night sky, Daniel couldn't help the tears that welled in his eyes. He remembered the boardroom battles, the sleepless nights, the questions, the fears. And now, here they were—in the center of God's will, in deeper waters, with lives being changed because they had dared to trust.
He walked over, took the microphone, and said, "I want to thank God for my wife. Not just for her voice, but for her strength, her prayers, and her obedience. And to every couple, every young person here tonight—know this: God can redeem your past, rewrite your present, and relaunch your future. Just give Him everything."
The night ended with a powerful move of the Spirit. Students knelt by the water, others lifted their hands in surrender. Prophetic words flowed. Tears and joy mingled.
Grace leaned into Daniel, whispering, "These waters are deep, but His grace runs deeper."
Daniel smiled. "And we've only just begun to swim."
End of Chapter Seventeen