Big Faith in Small Hearts
How God Is Using Children to Lead the Way Home
By Sheila-Ann Bender
“You shall teach them diligently to your children… when you sit… when you walk… when you lie down… and when you rise.” — Deuteronomy 6:6–7
In short: The Neos Initiative is a children’s ministry planting organization with a powerful strategy: reach a child, and you open the door to the entire family. Founded in San Francisco in 2021 by two women who grew up in broken, non-Christian homes, Neos operates Christian schools, Bible clubs, and community programs that equip children to carry the Gospel home. From a boy with a severe medical condition whose faith now influences his whole family, to mothers finding Christ while volunteering in a community kitchen, children are becoming the catalysts God uses to lead families to Him.
From the earliest pages of Scripture, God reveals His heart for generational discipleship—a calling for parents, families, and communities to pass down the truth of His love from one generation to the next. The Neos Initiative is living out this biblical mandate in powerful and practical ways, beginning in San Francisco and now extending to Cleveland.
What Is the Neos Initiative?
The Neos Initiative is a children’s ministry planting organization with a clear and compelling mission: to ensure that every child knows they are loved by God and is equipped to show that love to others.
Through schools, outreach programs, and community partnerships, Neos focuses on evangelizing and discipling young hearts with the message of hope found in Christ. Their vision extends beyond individual transformation—they seek to establish sustainable, Christ-centered initiatives that can ultimately be entrusted to local communities of believers.
By reaching children in homes where the Gospel is not yet known, Neos is cultivating something remarkable: children becoming the very catalysts God uses to lead their families to Him.
Who Founded the Neos Initiative?
Co-founders Vanessa Brakey and Marie France Lanine understand this mission deeply—because they once lived it. Both women grew up in broken, non-Christian homes marked by hardship, loneliness, and spiritual absence. Their passion to reach children today is rooted in their own longing as young girls to know the love of God.
Vanessa’s Story
“I grew up in a broken home where I didn’t hear the Gospel. I knew about God, but all I really knew were rules. I tried to find my worth in being a good girl and excelling in sports.”
Everything changed when an injury in college halted Vanessa’s pursuit of basketball.
“That’s when God got hold of my heart. I realized how different my life could have been if I had known from a young age that I was loved—not for what I could do, but because of who God is.”
Marie France’s Story
Marie France’s childhood was marked by instability and pain:
“By the age of eight, I had experienced divorce, drug abuse in my home, and even a murder. I was a very lonely child.”
One night, lying awake at her grandmother’s house, she whispered a simple but profound prayer: “God, are You there? And if You are, You are BIG—and I am in trouble.”
Believing she needed to earn God’s favor, she set out to make 1,980 birthday cards for Jesus before Christmas. After weeks of effort, she had only completed one hundred. She buried them in her grandmother’s backyard and looked up at the sky, hoping it would be enough.
A month later, God answered—not through her effort, but through His grace. Her mother encountered the Gospel through a televised message and gave her life to Christ. Soon after, their family found a Bible-believing church.
“My life has never been the same. Like me, how many children today are asking, ‘God, are You there?’ That question has always stayed in my heart. At one time, Vanessa and I were them.”
How Did the Neos Initiative Begin?
The seeds of Neos were planted in 2017, when Vanessa and Marie France independently began hosting pop-up Vacation Bible School programs in their San Francisco neighborhoods during school breaks.
Recognizing the need—and God’s hand—they officially launched the Neos Initiative in 2021.
One of their most impactful steps was opening a Christian elementary school in a part of San Francisco where no K–5 Christian education options existed. Alongside camps, outreach events, and after-school programs, the school provides both academic support and spiritual formation.
With small class sizes and deeply committed teachers, students who once struggled in traditional school settings are now thriving—academically and spiritually. And while the educators play a vital role, the founders are quick to give glory to God for the transformation taking place.
How Does Reaching Children Transform Families?
At the heart of Neos is a simple but powerful strategy: reach the child, and you open the door to the family.
Children take home Bible lessons, assignments, and conversations that introduce their parents and guardians to the Gospel—often for the first time. As families come to faith, discipleship begins to take root within the home itself.
Stories of Transformation
The testimonies are both moving and unmistakably God-driven:
A boy with a medical condition finds Christ: A young boy with a severe medical condition came to the school for extra attention—and encountered Christ. Today, his faith is influencing his entire family.
Two sisters bring the Gospel home: Two girls faithfully walked themselves to a weekly Bible and Breakfast program for months. Through the materials sent home, their mother came to faith—and even a previously unbelieving sibling now believes.
These are not isolated stories—they are evidence of God’s transforming power at work through faithful ministry.
What Is Happening in Cleveland?
In 2024, God called Vanessa and her husband to relocate to Cleveland, where a new chapter of Neos began.
Serving in the Buckeye–Woodhill community—an area facing significant economic challenges—Vanessa launched a weekly Bible club through a local after-school program. Children from Pre-K through fifth grade gather for Bible teaching, crafts, and encouragement.
But the need extended beyond spiritual nourishment.
Goodness Grows Kitchen
Recognizing that many children relied on school meals as their primary source of food, Vanessa encouraged a Christian woman from her church who volunteered with her for the weekly Bible club to start Goodness Grows Kitchen. She later partnered with the volunteer, and their local church also got involved, helping to cover the cost of preparing meals.
This initiative provides free, healthy, consistent meals to children who might otherwise go hungry. More than that, it offers dignity, stability, and a tangible expression of Christ’s love.
Local mothers—many of whom may not yet know Christ—volunteer in the kitchen, preparing and delivering meals. Through these relationships, they are being introduced to the Gospel and welcomed into Christian community.
Vanessa shares:
“A mother from the community joined Goodness Grows Kitchen. Through her involvement, she has not only gained meaningful work and connection but has stepped into deeper community and is now part of our church family. We have watched her grow in confidence, relationships, and a sense of belonging.”
What Is the Vision for Neos?
When asked about the future, Marie France responds with faith-filled boldness:
“We would love to see a Neos Initiative in every city, every neighborhood, every church—until all children know the love of God and can share that love with others. We know this is far too big for us—but we pray.”
And indeed, what is impossible for man is never beyond the reach of God.
Key Takeaways
Children Open Doors to Families
The Neos strategy recognizes that reaching a child often means reaching an entire household. Bible lessons, conversations, and materials travel home with children, introducing parents to the Gospel—often for the first time.
Personal Pain Becomes Kingdom Purpose
Both founders grew up in broken homes without the Gospel. Their childhood longing to know God’s love now fuels their passion to ensure other children don’t have to wait as long to hear the good news.
Holistic Ministry Meets Whole Needs
Goodness Grows Kitchen demonstrates that spiritual ministry and practical care go hand in hand. Feeding hungry children and engaging volunteer mothers creates natural pathways for the Gospel.
Sustainability Through Local Ownership
Neos seeks to establish Christ-centered initiatives that can be entrusted to local communities of believers. The goal is not dependence on outside organizations, but flourishing local ministry.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Neos Initiative?
The Neos Initiative is a children’s ministry planting organization founded in 2021 in San Francisco. Their mission is to ensure every child knows they are loved by God and is equipped to show that love to others. They operate Christian schools, Bible clubs, camps, and community programs.
Where does the Neos Initiative operate?
Neos currently operates in San Francisco, California, and Cleveland, Ohio. In San Francisco, they run a Christian elementary school and various outreach programs. In Cleveland, they serve the Buckeye–Woodhill community through Bible clubs and the Goodness Grows Kitchen feeding program.
What is Goodness Grows Kitchen?
Goodness Grows Kitchen is a feeding initiative in Cleveland that provides free, healthy meals to children who rely on school meals as their primary food source. Local mothers volunteer in the kitchen, creating opportunities for Gospel conversations and community connection.
How does reaching children help reach families?
Children take home Bible lessons, assignments, and conversations that introduce their parents to the Gospel—often for the first time. As children share what they’re learning, parents become curious, and many eventually come to faith themselves. Children become catalysts for family transformation.
Who founded the Neos Initiative?
Vanessa Brakey and Marie France Lanine co-founded Neos in 2021. Both women grew up in broken, non-Christian homes and came to faith later in life. Their personal experiences fuel their passion to reach children with the Gospel before hardship defines their identity.
Conclusion: When a Child Discovers God’s Love
The Neos Initiative is more than a ministry—it is a living expression of Deuteronomy 6 in action. By reaching children, equipping them with truth, and empowering them to carry that truth into their homes, Neos is helping ignite generational transformation.
Because when a child discovers the love of God, it rarely stops there.
About the Author
Sheila-Ann Bender is a writer and ministry contributor who documents stories of faith and transformation. She specializes in sharing testimonies of God’s work through organizations reaching children and families with the Gospel.
About the Neos Initiative
The Neos Initiative is a children’s ministry planting organization founded in 2021 by Vanessa Brakey and Marie France Lanine. Operating in San Francisco and Cleveland, Neos runs Christian schools, Bible clubs, camps, and community programs with a mission to ensure every child knows they are loved by God and is equipped to share that love with others. Their approach focuses on reaching children to open doors for entire families to encounter the Gospel.
