Step Into Power: Launching Our First Pearls Into Adulthood

Something beautiful is happening at Pearl House — a kind of milestone we’ve never reached before. For the first time, three of our Pearls are stepping into a brand-new season of life: adulthood. And we’ve been savoring every moment of this transition with them.

These three remarkable young women have recently wrapped up their years in high school and vocational training. With diplomas and degrees in hand, they’ve also completed their National Service — a rite of passage in Ghana that places graduates in government offices or schools for a year, giving them real-world experience and a small stipend. It’s a stepping stone into independence, and for our oldest Pearls, it’s the final chapter of their time under our roof.

Launching them into adulthood isn’t something we take lightly. It’s a first for us, and we wanted to do it with intention, care, and celebration. So, we created something special: a weekend program called “Step Into Power.” It was designed not only to honor their journey but to equip them with final tools for the road ahead. The sessions covered topics like purpose, self-respect, relationships, mental health, finances, and the importance of giving back. Our caregivers were there, not just to support but to underline how meaningful this moment is.

On a Sunday afternoon, we gathered in a quiet, powerful circle — what we called an empowerment circle. The three young women stood at the center, surrounded by their sisters, our Pearls. Each girl held a letter, one they had written to their future selves. Around them, each Pearl wrote letters of encouragement. Then came the blessings. One by one, each Pearl and Mom spoke a word of life over them — a prayer, a scripture, a vision. And at the end, each graduate received a graduation certificate: a simple but profound symbol that they are now stepping into the world as adults.

But they are still Pearls. Still precious. Still deeply loved.

They’ve absorbed so much — knowledge, courage, grace — and now they carry that with them as they begin to shape their own futures. They’re going out to impact families, communities, and a nation. And we’ll be right here, cheering them on, waiting for the day they return to share the stories of who they’ve become.

The House

Written by Steve Bullard

I’m still amazed every time I drive up to the Pearl House. The people who come with me who have never visited assume I’m used to the sight. I’m not. Ten years ago, we had a small rented house. The stairs were uneven. The pipes were often broken. Sparks might fly when you turn on a light. 

The house wasn’t the only thing that needed attention. I had no idea what I was doing. God has grown me so much over this decade. Sure, the complex has grown, the girls have grown, and numbers have grown explosively. But, God has taught me so much. He’s taught me much about Him, and what He’s capable of. He’s taught me much about me, and how much I must depend on Him. The Pearl House will go on with or without me or anyone else. But it’s an honor to be included. My prayer is that I can humbly continue to join God in this work and be used as a Founder, a CEO, a leader, a father figure, as well as a better dad and husband at home. Thank you, Pearls, for teaching me so much and making me a better man.

Dreams are Coming True

Written by Courtney Quist-Therson

Just yesterday, a friend reminded me of an old song. The lyrics say

“He’s still working on me, to make me what I ought to be. It took him just a week to make the moon and stars, the sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars. How loving and patient He must be, cause He’s still working on me”

It reminds me that our lives are constantly in process. We do not wake up one day and become perfect, it takes a lifetime for God to work on us and mold us into who He wants us to be. Oh how loving and patient He must be! 

As I watch our school building become a reality one block at a time, I cannot help but think of the strong foundation that is being built in each of our students. Not only our 25 Pearls, but also the 8 students we now have from the community. Armed with a quality education and an understanding of God’s truth, there is no limit to the impact they will have on the nation of Ghana and hopefully, the world.

Believe it or not, construction on the school is in full force. The foundation of our 18 classroom school building is almost complete. The rainy season starts between March and May, so it has been our goal to get the foundation completed before the rains started. Due to the provision of funds, an ambitious contractor and the grace of God, we are ahead of our goal! Once the foundation is completed, the concrete floor will be poured and the walls of the first floor will start going up. We hope and pray that our additional classrooms will be available by the start of the school year in September.

Stars in the Darkness: A Glimpse of God’s Work Through the Pearls

From time to time in Ghana, the electricity will go out for a few hours. When the lights are out at night, I always try to go outside and see the sky. As houses and businesses all become quiet and dark, the lights of the sky are brightly on display. The stars shine brighter in the darkness.

Recently, our Pearls shared about the time spent in their hometowns over the Christmas holidays. As our Pearls, new ones and old ones, told about their experiences, I saw in my mind, lights being lit all over the nation of Ghana. One girl had devotion by herself in the home because her grandmother is a Muslim. Another girl got her relatives to join in song and prayer with her. Another convinced her family to go to church for New Year’s Eve service. One by one, as each of the Pearls goes out from our home and into the world, she enlarges God’s light of fame. Their faithfulness shines brighter in the darkness.

Our vision is to empower young women to change their families, their communities and their nation. My friends, this vision is coming to light right before our eyes. The world may seem very dark at times, but I guarantee that the Light is at work, and oh how brightly it shines in the darkness.