Where It All Began

On June 17, our community learned that there would be a void in Christian Education in Brazil, Indiana.

But God was already preparing the way.

Mrs. Longo reached out to Pastor Jeremy to discuss the possibility of continuing Christian education for a small group of students at Grace Chapel. At that very same time, Pastor Jeremy was meeting with the elders of the church, where they had been discussing the possibility of opening the church to Christian education.

Neither side knew what the other was about to ask.

The timing was no coincidence.

What seemed like an unexpected turn of events was the beginning of Grace Academy.

A School in 47 Days

We quickly learned that opening a school was not going to be simple. We were told that the process could take many months and that numerous building, safety, plumbing, accessibility, and fire-protection requirements would need to be addressed.

We didn't have months.

We had a calling—and we believed God had a plan.

A launch team came together to begin the work. Volunteers, church leaders, educators, families, and members of our community all stepped forward to help make Grace Academy a reality.

One of our first major hurdles was passing the required Fire Marshal inspection. After working through the requirements with the city and receiving help from people with the necessary expertise, the remaining needs were completed. The inspection was passed on July 14, and just two days later, on July 16, Grace Academy received its State School ID number.

In just 29 days, what we were told could take more than a year had been accomplished.

God was making a way.

God Provided Our Teachers

With the school approved, another question remained: how many students would actually enroll?

Enrollment numbers changed repeatedly as families made decisions, but eventually we knew we would welcome 55 students for our first school year.

Our Pre-K and elementary classrooms were coming together, but Kindergarten still needed a teacher. With only two weeks before school began, we still had no one in place for the class.

Then God provided.

Mrs. King expressed interest in teaching Kindergarten, and the pieces quickly fell into place.

Once again, we saw God working through people to provide exactly what was needed at exactly the right time.

Provision for Every Need

Opening a school requires more than classrooms and teachers. It requires resources.

Tuition would cover much of the cost of teacher salaries, but additional funding would be needed for payroll, insurance, utilities, classroom supplies, technology, and countless other expenses.

Throughout the journey, God repeatedly provided.

A significant initial donation that we were counting on unexpectedly fell through. Almost immediately, another $10,000 donation was secured.

An Amazon list containing more than $5,000 worth of supplies was covered by generous donors. Five new laptops were donated for our teachers to use for lesson planning, grades, and classroom responsibilities. Volunteers gathered to assemble and organize the supplies as they arrived.

Time after time, whenever a need arose, an answer followed.

We had a school.
We had teachers.
We had students.
And God continued to provide.

Building a Strong Foundation

As Grace Academy came together, we knew we also needed experienced leadership to help guide our teachers and staff.

That is where Della stepped in.

With decades of experience in education, Della Thacker brought wisdom, strength, compassion, and high standards to Grace Academy. Her leadership helped establish the foundation for a school committed to excellence in both education and character.

Every person who joined this journey brought something different to the table. Together, they became part of something much bigger than themselves.

A Story of Faith

Grace Academy began in the midst of a difficult situation.

What followed were 47 of the most remarkable and challenging days of our lives.

There were questions we couldn't answer, obstacles we didn't expect, deadlines that seemed impossible, and needs that seemed too great. But there were also prayers, generosity, volunteers, encouragement, answered prayers, and open doors.

Most importantly, there was a growing realization that God was leading the way.

On August 5, 2026, 55 students walked through the doors of Grace Academy.

In that moment, every challenge was worth it.

Our Story Continues

Grace Academy exists because people were willing to say yes to God's calling.

We are deeply grateful to every person who prayed, donated, volunteered, encouraged, served, taught, organized, built, and believed in the vision of Grace Academy.

This school is more than a building. It is more than a classroom. It is a community built on faith, education, and the belief that God has a purpose for every child.

The story of Grace Academy began in just 47 days—but we believe it is only the beginning.

God had a plan then, and we trust Him with what comes next.