As we prepare to launch our non-profit ministry in honor of Greyson, we thought it would be good to share the story behind the phrase “New home” and the heart of Gold for Grey Ministries. Below you’ll find our plan and vision moving forward and how you can be a part of helping kids find their “new home” too.
First, a little backstory. In November of 2020 our son, Greyson had been in remission with Leukemia for several months. We were cautious and patient, trying to navigate the world of COVID and a child with cancer. But we were excited that his cancer was in remission and the promise of a normal life ahead awaited.
In December 2020 we received the devastating news that his cancer had returned. And it had returned with a vengeance. For over a month we watched our two-year-old fight for his life while the effects of heavy and hard-hitting chemo took their toll on his little body. The goal in December was to do all we could to get him back into remission and attempt a bone marrow transplant.
By January 2021, it was evident that the heavy and hard-hitting chemo had not been effective. We begin to process the reality that he was not likely going to survive this battle. And then we received a phone call from Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City. They offered a new immunotherapy treatment called “CAR-T Cell Therapy.” CAR-T offered a very high likelihood of being a cure for him. But in order for Greyson to receive this treatment, we had to temporarily move to Kansas City for about a month.
In March, we made the move. We were hopeful that this treatment would work. As we walked into the apartment that would be our home for the next month, Greyson looked around and happily said “New home!”
There it was… “new home.” We didn’t know how impactful those two little words would be to our family when he said them. But we will never forget them. Fast forward about a month- it was now apparent that CAR-T Cell Therapy had failed. We were out of options. Greyson would not survive this battle with leukemia. We were broken, scared, confused and trying to be strong. A few days before Greyson died, he woke up in the middle of the night and told his mom that he was scared. When she asked him why, he pointed to the corner of his room and said “Door.” The confusing part was that where he was pointing, there was no door. There was a couch, a wall, and a window. But no door. We talked to the hospice doctor the next day and told her that Greyson said he saw a door. She knowingly looked at us and told us that many people see a door, a gate, or an entrance of some kind when they are close to death. We talked to Greyson about that door later that day. We told him that if he saw the door again, he didn’t need to be scared. We told him that Jesus was on the other side of the door, that he wouldn’t be sick anymore and that he’d have a new home. Greyson listened closely and we asked him if he was still scared. He thought about it for a few seconds and looked at Karla and said, “No, not scared.” Karla asked him if he was ready to go. Again, he thought about it and simply said “No.” A few days later, as he was breathing his last, his momma held him tight, and I grabbed his hand. With a lump in my throat and a puddle of tears on the floor, I somehow managed to say the words, “It’s okay buddy. Go to Jesus. Go to your new home.” And he did.
We have no doubt that Greyson is now in his new home, with Jesus. And we can’t wait to see him again. But until then, we recognize that God has given us a story to tell. And he has placed a burden, deep in our hearts to help as many kids as we possibly can find their “new home” in memory of our son Greyson.
This is the heart behind Gold for Grey ministries. We want to help kids find their “new home” in two ways.
First, we want to help kids find their “new home” by providing adoption grants. God has graciously allowed us to adopt Mason and Greyson. Adoption is Greyson’s story. And a perfect way to honor his life is to help other kids find their “new home” by providing grants for adoption.
Secondly, we want to help kids find their “new home” by providing building grants for families that need housing in developing countries. In December 2020 I (Brian) was scheduled to go on a mission trip to build a home for a family in Juarez, Mexico. When Greyson relapsed, I was unable to go. A year and half later, I was able to return to Juarez on my first build since Greyson passed. The mission team, knowing this was my first trip since he passed, put the “Gold for Grey” logo on our mission t-shirts and made the trip so very special to me. Greyson was on my mind the entire trip, as I watched children in Juarez run around the build site. I wondered what Greyson and Mason would be doing if I had them in Juarez with me. And I knew I had to do something to help more children in Mexico and other developing countries find their “new home.”
Over the next few months, we’ll be doing all the startup non-profit things like writing by-laws, having meetings and filing for a 501c3 determination letter. These things take a lot of time and a lot of energy. In many ways, we’re learning as we go.
We have our first fundraising event scheduled for October. Karla will be providing more information about that in the coming weeks.
And our goal is to begin officially awarding grants for adoptions and housing grants in early 2023. The beautiful part about Gold for Grey Ministries is that our overhead expenses are minor. We have no building or vehicle to maintain and no employees to pay. The only expenses we will incur is what it costs to maintain the non-profit and what it costs to raise support.
We’ll be sharing more in the coming days—But for now—here’s how you can help:
- Pray! It takes a lot of work and a lot of time to start up a non-profit.
- Ask Karla about the upcoming fundraiser event and how you can help.
- Pray some more.
- If you have knowledge about starting a non-profit, tell me all the secrets.
We can’t wait to look back and see all the ways the Lord will use Gold for Grey Ministries to help kids find their “new home.” You can be sure of this; our ministry approach will always be centered around helping everyone we encounter find their eternal home. The Gospel is the goal, the grants are the means.
To God be the glory!