Page 118 - South Mississippi Living - December, 2025

WHERE WE’RE GOING
The Next
story by Ronnie Arant
Years
Home of Grace has spent six decades helping men and women find freedom from addiction through long-term, Christ-centered recovery. Now, as the ministry looks toward the future, the mission is to expand—not just to serve more people, but to reach them earlier, care for them more deeply, and strengthen the families and communities that surround them.
CROWN JOY:
A New Chapter of Care
Earlier this year, Home of Grace launched Crown Joy Counseling Center in Gulfport—an outpatient center providing Christ-centered counseling for individuals, couples, and families.
Originally designed to bridge the gap for Home of Grace alumni transitioning back into life, Crown Joy has quickly become a trusted resource for the wider community. Licensed counselors and pastoral staff provide evidence-based therapy grounded in biblical truth, helping people navigate anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, and other challenges of the heart.
“The same God who heals addiction also heals fear, loss, and despair,”
says Executive Director Josh Barton. “Through Crown Joy, we’re meeting people where they are and providing tools for emotional, relational, and spiritual health.”
What began as an extension of Home of Grace’s recovery mission has grown into a vital part of its vision
for whole-person
healing—serving those who need hope long before addiction takes hold.
A NEW WOMEN’S CAMPUS: Restoring Families, Rebuilding Futures
For decades, Home of Grace has served women in a small, landlocked facility— faithful in mission but limited in space. While the 160-acre men’s campus in Vancleave has long offered room for both renewal and growth, the women’s campus has carried the same heart for healing within far tighter walls.
That’s about to change. Plans are underway for a new 80-acre Women’s Campus in Vancleave, purpose-built for restoration, growth, and hope. The new campus will expand capacity from 40 to 70 beds, doubling the number
of women served each year. The final design includes residential cottages, classrooms, a chapel, and spaces for family reunification and maternal care— creating a safe, beautiful environment
for women, including mothers, pregnant women, and survivors of trauma.
“The women who come to us are fighting for more than sobriety,” says Women’s Program Director Jessica Maddox. “They’re fighting for their children, their families, and their futures. This new campus will give them the environment and support they deserve.”
More than $2.5 million has already been invested in land, utilities, and architectural planning, with construction leadership from Roy Anderson of AnderCorp. When complete, the new Women’s Campus will give thousands of women over the next decade a renewed chance at life—restoring families and strengthening communities across Mississippi.
LOOKING AHEAD
From its earliest days, Home of Grace has been built on faith, prayer, and
the belief that no life is beyond redemption. As the ministry enters its seventh decade, that same faith continues to guide its work—through Crown Joy’s growing outreach and the new Women’s Campus that will open doors for more women and families to find lasting recovery.
For 60 years, Home of Grace has changed lives. The next 60 are about changing generations.
118 | December 2025
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