(Adams Group, Houston, TX) — There are very few autobiographical books written by high school seniors, but Koedi Nealy, the author of the new children’s book, “Pennies From Heaven,” is not your typical 18-year-old. At the early age of seven, Nealy saw a homeless person on the streets of her hometown of Houston and was moved to do something about it.
“At that young age, I didn’t know why people were living on the street,” says Nealy, “but I felt a calling in my heart to help them. Around that same time, I started noticing pennies laying on the ground and people would walk right by them, much like they did the homeless. Those pennies have value and so do those people. I started picking up pennies and getting my friends to do the same. It wasn’t long before we were using the pennies we collected to buy toiletries, water, and other items to give to the homeless.” Nealy tells her story in detail in the new children’s book, but she says this isn’t just a book for kids.
“’Pennies from Heaven’ is written as a children’s book, but I believe all ages can learn from it,” says Nealy. “I want to remind people that they are valuable to God, and you’re never too young or too old to make a difference. Anyone can be the hands and feet of Jesus, but I think as Christians we don’t always see how simple it is to be like Him. Jesus came to earth to love others and that’s what I was trying to illustrate in the book.”
Nealy is founder and president of the non-profit Graced Ministries which has grown exponentially in just a few years. Their Ambassador Program rallies volunteers to help roll pennies, and put Graced Packs together for the homeless, as well as doing outreach to the homeless in the greater Houston area.
“What I find most satisfying in this ministry is creating relationships with the people who I would now call my friends on the street,” says Nealy. “During outreach, we serve warm meals, pass out Graced Packs and pray with six different homeless camps around Houston. I’ll never forget the day when a 46-year-old man named Dave shared his story with me. Tears were streaming down his face as he told me he really wanted to live a safer life off the streets. This was the first time one of my Graced Packs led to a deep conversation. Thankfully, one of our partner organizations was able to provide housing help for him. A few of the Graced Ambassadors and I were able to help move him into his apartment and pray over his doorstep.”
Nealy is currently working on raising one million dollars to secure a home in a transformational community that consolidates the needs of Houston’s homeless communities.
“It’s a pretty lofty goal, but one that we are already on our way to meeting,” says Nealy. “We held our first gala in February of 2020 and raised $46,000. One thing I love about Graced Ministry that I believe is different from other non-profits is that we are intentional with the relationships we build. Life change doesn’t take place without trust, and trust takes time. The people who work with us are focused on making others feel heard, loved, and cared for and that is our goal at the end of the day.”
About Koedi Nealy:
A native of Houston, Texas, Koedi Nealy is a senior at Cypress Christian School. She received her local minister’s license at the age of sixteen and is an active member of her school and community, holding leadership roles in various sports, drama, praise and worship groups, Thespian Society, and National Honor Society. She is the founder and president of Graced Ministry. She has not let dyslexia define or deter her as she advocates for others with learning differences through the NILD program. For more information visit https://www.gracedministry.org .
