TESTIMONIES

girls academy struggling It has been my privilege to know Bud and Debbie Martin and the great work they have done and are doing at the Refuge of Grace Academy. I have seen the work first hand and the lives of young people turned around. I am so glad to be a part of this great work in our missions program. I thank God for Bud and Debbie Martin and their compassion for others.
-Dr. Darrell Cox, Pastor of Trinity Baptist Church of Mocksville, NC

girls program struggling My parents enrolled me in Refuge of Grace for my senior year of high school when I was 17 years old. I had been in and out of rehabs and juvenile hall since I was 14 and nothing had ever produced lasting results. When I first walked through their door, I was a year behind in school and horribly addicted to drugs. When I walked out less than a year later I was a new girl. Refuge of Grace provided me a light and a path. They shared with me the love of God and helped me cultivate a new purpose in life. Because of their self paced learning program I was able to finish almost 2 years of high school in one and graduate on time. I now have a husband and I am a homeschooling, soccer/football/gymnastics mom to 4 beautiful children! I am getting ready to begin my midwifery training and hope to open my own practice one day. I am forever thankful for the lessons and love that I received at Refuge of Grace!
-Meagan Anderson-Former Student

girls school struggling Bud and Debbie Martin and their staff were Angels brought into our lives!! I knew I could call at anytime to check in. I knew at Refuge, our daughter was safe and taken care of in a strict ruled, yet extremely loving environment. The constant reminders of God's love and his plan for all of us, really began to register with our daughter. She was able to focus on her blessings provided by our God without all of the outside ugly influences in our world today. The location of the campus is breathtaking. I was able to visit her in the spring and see the green acreage in bloom. I also visited in the summer and enjoyed the warm evenings with fireflies. We picked our daughter up to take her to college (yes college) in the winter 15 months after she arrived and we experienced the pure white snow surrounding the academy. Coming from California, the opportunity for her to experience the change of seasons along with her spiritual and academic growth, was priceless! The tuition was absolutely reasonable and worth every single penny. Now our daughter is at a Christian College and thriving! She is among other students of faith and she chose to go there!! She has surrounded herself with wonderful friends that want to make a positive impact on this earth!!! I'm extremely proud of her and we are absolutely eternally grateful for Refuge of Grace Academy!! Please ask Debbie Martin for our contact information and I would be honored to elaborate.
Krauses of CA-Former Parents

The Martin family attended church weekly and became very involved in the different programs such as the bus ministry, teaching teen-age girls Sunday School, Patch the Pirate Club, Vacation Bible School, etc. Their passion is with the youth. They conducted research and found that we were losing our youth to suicide, drug use, alcohol, promiscuity leading to pregnancy, and basic rebellion against any and all authority. Statistics show:

SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) reports that in 2009:

an estimated 21.8 million Americans ages 12 or older were current (past-month) illicit drug users with the highest levels being with marijuana, pain relievers, and cocaine.
22.5 million persons aged 12 or older were classified with substance dependence or abuse in the past year.
23.5 million persons aged 12 or older needed treatment for an illicit drug or alcohol use problem.
NIMH (National Institute of Mental Health) shows for 2007 that suicide was the 3rd leading cause of death for 15 - 24 year olds.
CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) states that each year, approximately 19 million new STD infections occur, and almost half of them are among youth ages 15 - 24.
the US Department of Health and Human Services reports some 900,000 pregnancies occur each year among teen girls 15 - 19.
IES - National Center for Education Statistics shows that in 2008 approximately 3.0 million 16 - 24 year olds were not enrolled in high school and had not earned a high school diploma or equivalent.

With a sincere desire to help troubled youth and based on their research, they became determined to try and make a difference in their community and across the nation. In 1994, after much soul searching, praying, and asking advice, they stepped out on faith, quit their jobs, and started the Refuge Girls Academy and started taking troubled and at risk girls in their home.

They started their journey by first going to similar schools where they asked and learned all they could. Then they went to Lewisville, TX to the School of Tomorrow (Accelerated Christian Education-ACE) Headquarters to be trained and certified on how to set up and run an ACE School.

By 1999, they realized the need to search for a different, more desirable location. During this time, a similar school, Grace Baptist Girls Academy in Gaylord MI, had lost its workers and Pastor Jon Jenkins asked the Martins to come and help out. They did while still searching for the right place to settle and grow. Finally, in 2004, The Martins and Pastor Jenkins made a survey trip to Missouri and with Pastor Jenkins blessing, the "ideal location" was found. The Refuge of Grace Academy (a merger of Refuge and Grace) was moved to Stockton, Missouri. Since relocating to Missouri, they have set up their Incorporation Status, 501(c)3 status and their accreditation through the Missouri Association of Christian Child Care Agencies and through School of Tomorrows' Accreditation International.

Most of their students' relationship with their parents have been destroyed. Instead of the student quitting or resorting to the "easy way out," the staff works with the ladies in order that they may find the right answers to their problems. They do not give them answers, but give them the tools that they may find their own answers and find their way in life and succeed. Bro. and Mrs. Martin oversee the entire operation of the school.

The Martins started this school while raising two children of their own. Melissa, who is now 27 years old, works along side her parents in this ministry. Junior, who is 30 years old, grew up in the ministry that God had called his parents to. After graduating high school he went on to get his Bachelors and Masters of Theology from Hyles Anderson College. During his college years he married Jessica and they are now preparing to go to the mission field.