I want you to keep asking me! 

For months on end there was hardly a place I would go where I wouldn’t be asked, “Has

GraceWorks found a new home yet?” And hey, I not only got it, but greatly appreciated your

concern! We too were very concerned and now, like you, are relieved for the extension, which we have affectionately dubbed “a stay of execution.” 

We teased ourselves with this term because we were worried GraceWorks wouldn’t have a place to be! So much so that we thought for a quick moment that maybe we would have to cease existing all together! In hindsight that does sound a bit melodramatic, but in truth we did take a step back to ask ourselves were we still relevant? Was GraceWorks still needed in our community? 

Our current numbers of serving more than 13,000 Neighbors this past year prove the

answer to both questions is a resounding yes. Not only do we want to continue to meet the growing request of our Neighbors for the food, shelter and support services we provide, but we also decided it was crucial that we remain in Williamson County and most ideally in Franklin. 

As you know, as wonderful as this city is, it is not easy to find six rightly zoned affordable acres that can hold a 50,000 to 80,000 square–foot multi-use building with at least two docks and a minimum of 200+ parking spaces. But this remains our hope and our prayer. 

So, while we are extremely grateful for our extended lease which begins July 1, our goal remains to own our own space. In fact, of all the subcommittees of the Board, the New Home Committee meets most frequently, because of the pertinence, the magnitude and near impossibility of our task. The Board, staff and community members serving on this committee know they are on a faith walk where we are looking to our heavenly Father to provide.  

And yes! It is going to take a miracle (but lucky for us we serve a God who still performs them!), and it is going to take all of us (you included!) being ready for God to use us as a vehicle for making that miracle happen. 

So, even though we have a lease extension, I want you to keep asking me that all important question of “Has GraceWorks found a permanent home yet,” because you never know when that conversation could lead to a referral or even a donation of a 6-acre parcel of land or an 80,000–square–foot existing building. Our prayer is that God will align the right location at the right time at the price that would give us cause to excitedly issue an invitation for you to come and be part of this “real live Bible” story where you say yes to God using you to do the impossible, the improbable and the unlikely.  

In the meantime, I do want to thank you for standing with us in this posture of expectantly waiting and yet continually serving and honoring our Neighbor serving Neighbor mission in the place God has us planted – for now!

Waiting on Him,   

Valencia A. Breckenridge, CEO