In 1958, Mills was asked to return to the Richmond headquarter. The move for the Millses was an emotional one, since their hearts were so deeply rooted in Asia. However, CCF was in the midst of fundamental redirection. He was reminded that if the headquarter failed, there would be no more money available to help the needy children overseas. Reluctantly, he moved back to the Richmond headquarter.      His experience in the field of 25 years became a tremendous asset to the organization. With first-hand experience of working with children, he was able to provide valuable insight into the issues the organization was facing. When Dr. Clarke stepped down in 1963, Verbon Kemp became the executive director of CCF, but insisting that Mills became the director of operations. For the next five years, Mills instituted many changes in the organization, among them the computerization of the entire operation, and the development of family helper projects, assisting children through helping the families instead of displacing them to orphanages. On February 15, 1970, he succeeded Mr. Kemp to become the executive director of CCF.      Mills' efforts had been recognized by citations and letters from many sources. General Chiang Kai-Shek, President of the Republic of China, awarded him on numerous occasions with medals and certificates for his humanitarian efforts in China. The President of Korea conferred on him the country's highest civilian award-"The Order of Cultural Merit National Medal" in 1965, and "The Order of Civil Merit Camellia" in 1971. A year later, Ewha University in Seoul, Korea conferred on him the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, in recognition of his distinguished services to the cause of child welfare in Korea. In 1974, the Emperor of Japan conferred on him the "Third Order of the Sacred Treasure", in recognition of his effort in behalf of the children in Japan. In 1980, Pope John Paul VI awarded him the Golden Medal Benemerenti "Benefactor of Mankind". He was the only Protestant minister ever to receive such a recognition from the Vatican.