tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-190172742024-03-13T21:04:21.282-07:00Impact Corner: Impact Houston Church of ChristThis blogspot is another avenue for sharing what God is doing in downtown Houston at the Impact Church of Christ. To learn even more, visit the link to Impact's main site www.impacthouston.org, or email office@impacthouston.orgThinkWells (formerly Impact Houston)http://www.blogger.com/profile/00664189027844038084noreply@blogger.comBlogger142125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19017274.post-89497746922622659752011-04-12T14:52:00.000-07:002011-04-12T14:52:40.521-07:00<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; font-size: 11.5pt; language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: "Kozuka Gothic Pr6N R"; mso-ascii-font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; mso-currency-font-family: "Kozuka Gothic Pr6N R"; mso-default-font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; mso-halfwidthkana-font-family: "Kozuka Gothic Pr6N R"; mso-hebrew-font-family: "Kozuka Gothic Pr6N R"; mso-kana-font-family: "Kozuka Gothic Pr6N R"; mso-latin-font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; mso-latinext-font-family: "Gill Sans MT";"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwuEV2CE0CDnSLZMRbqEPlywrDve1yYO8bjrUkufv18bFaLyhXb-A631NBJOlvSwYI4766OQ2XABqBDOK4yeLVO4N-GBk0rWryXA79QdqfXO0_CAAO6G5g-kaw3QV2G6X9Vs673w/s1600/sm+group.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwuEV2CE0CDnSLZMRbqEPlywrDve1yYO8bjrUkufv18bFaLyhXb-A631NBJOlvSwYI4766OQ2XABqBDOK4yeLVO4N-GBk0rWryXA79QdqfXO0_CAAO6G5g-kaw3QV2G6X9Vs673w/s320/sm+group.png" width="320" /></a></div><h2 style="mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US;">Small Groups Do Big Things </span></h2><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; font-size: 11.5pt; language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: "Kozuka Gothic Pr6N R"; mso-ascii-font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; mso-currency-font-family: "Kozuka Gothic Pr6N R"; mso-default-font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; mso-halfwidthkana-font-family: "Kozuka Gothic Pr6N R"; mso-hebrew-font-family: "Kozuka Gothic Pr6N R"; mso-kana-font-family: "Kozuka Gothic Pr6N R"; mso-latin-font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; mso-latinext-font-family: "Gill Sans MT";">This spring I have been meeting with a small group of High School and Middle School girls. We have committed to studying the Beatitudes and have focused on a different Beatitude each week. We really try to have fun with it! One tradition we have started is to cook dinner together at the home of a member at Impact. This has been such a blessing for the girls to work together to prepare the food and also to be welcomed into the home of one in our Impact </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; font-size: 11.5pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: "Kozuka Gothic Pr6N R"; mso-ascii-font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; mso-currency-font-family: "Kozuka Gothic Pr6N R"; mso-default-font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; mso-halfwidthkana-font-family: "Kozuka Gothic Pr6N R"; mso-hebrew-font-family: "Kozuka Gothic Pr6N R"; mso-kana-font-family: "Kozuka Gothic Pr6N R"; mso-latin-font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; mso-latinext-font-family: "Gill Sans MT";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After dinner is served, we have a time for open discussion of God’s word and prayer.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; font-size: 11.5pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: "Kozuka Gothic Pr6N R"; mso-ascii-font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; mso-currency-font-family: "Kozuka Gothic Pr6N R"; mso-default-font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; mso-halfwidthkana-font-family: "Kozuka Gothic Pr6N R"; mso-hebrew-font-family: "Kozuka Gothic Pr6N R"; mso-kana-font-family: "Kozuka Gothic Pr6N R"; mso-latin-font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; mso-latinext-font-family: "Gill Sans MT";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The purpose of this small group was to allow a safe </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; font-size: 11.5pt; language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: "Kozuka Gothic Pr6N R"; mso-ascii-font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; mso-currency-font-family: "Kozuka Gothic Pr6N R"; mso-default-font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; mso-halfwidthkana-font-family: "Kozuka Gothic Pr6N R"; mso-hebrew-font-family: "Kozuka Gothic Pr6N R"; mso-kana-font-family: "Kozuka Gothic Pr6N R"; mso-latin-font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; mso-latinext-font-family: "Gill Sans MT";">environment that the girls could begin to trust one another and encourage growth in their relationship with God. Another main goal was to begin to truly understand what it means to be a Living Sacrifice. I am so proud of my girls! After researching several non-profit organizations, they have decided to raise </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; font-size: 11.5pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: "Kozuka Gothic Pr6N R"; mso-ascii-font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; mso-currency-font-family: "Kozuka Gothic Pr6N R"; mso-default-font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; mso-halfwidthkana-font-family: "Kozuka Gothic Pr6N R"; mso-hebrew-font-family: "Kozuka Gothic Pr6N R"; mso-kana-font-family: "Kozuka Gothic Pr6N R"; mso-latin-font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; mso-latinext-font-family: "Gill Sans MT";">$</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; font-size: 11.5pt; language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: "Kozuka Gothic Pr6N R"; mso-ascii-font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; mso-currency-font-family: "Kozuka Gothic Pr6N R"; mso-default-font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; mso-halfwidthkana-font-family: "Kozuka Gothic Pr6N R"; mso-hebrew-font-family: "Kozuka Gothic Pr6N R"; mso-kana-font-family: "Kozuka Gothic Pr6N R"; mso-latin-font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; mso-latinext-font-family: "Gill Sans MT";"><span dir="ltr"></span>1,000 dollars for Operation Smile! They have dreams to continue raising money in hopes to fund several other organizations as well. They have big hearts and desire so much to help others; it is truly inspiring.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; font-size: 11.5pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: "Kozuka Gothic Pr6N R"; mso-ascii-font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; mso-currency-font-family: "Kozuka Gothic Pr6N R"; mso-default-font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; mso-halfwidthkana-font-family: "Kozuka Gothic Pr6N R"; mso-hebrew-font-family: "Kozuka Gothic Pr6N R"; mso-kana-font-family: "Kozuka Gothic Pr6N R"; mso-latin-font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; mso-latinext-font-family: "Gill Sans MT";">Please be in prayer for these wonderful girls as they live out God’s will.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; font-size: 11.5pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: "Kozuka Gothic Pr6N R"; mso-ascii-font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; mso-currency-font-family: "Kozuka Gothic Pr6N R"; mso-default-font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; mso-halfwidthkana-font-family: "Kozuka Gothic Pr6N R"; mso-hebrew-font-family: "Kozuka Gothic Pr6N R"; mso-kana-font-family: "Kozuka Gothic Pr6N R"; mso-latin-font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; mso-latinext-font-family: "Gill Sans MT";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-Tyler Gentry</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; font-size: 11.5pt; language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: "Kozuka Gothic Pr6N R"; mso-ascii-font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; mso-currency-font-family: "Kozuka Gothic Pr6N R"; mso-default-font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; mso-halfwidthkana-font-family: "Kozuka Gothic Pr6N R"; mso-hebrew-font-family: "Kozuka Gothic Pr6N R"; mso-kana-font-family: "Kozuka Gothic Pr6N R"; mso-latin-font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; mso-latinext-font-family: "Gill Sans MT";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><br />
</div>ThinkWells (formerly Impact Houston)http://www.blogger.com/profile/00664189027844038084noreply@blogger.com45tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19017274.post-10045303927979268292011-04-12T14:48:00.000-07:002011-04-12T14:48:37.866-07:00<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 114%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;"></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: medium;"><div class="MsoBodyText3" style="mso-pagination: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbu8g1c2rEGvalS9YyrwMd1vjr6Db_m8GDPWEr42-_9h6mwG3mCO1B4xjBccwVi-Tyfy2o0UT6PYcbTn__5pmDgejfnOL3TMif-rt6tHbheABkTpjHGqVwF-gIM-d3ctnpGWCFyQ/s1600/laura.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbu8g1c2rEGvalS9YyrwMd1vjr6Db_m8GDPWEr42-_9h6mwG3mCO1B4xjBccwVi-Tyfy2o0UT6PYcbTn__5pmDgejfnOL3TMif-rt6tHbheABkTpjHGqVwF-gIM-d3ctnpGWCFyQ/s200/laura.png" width="199" /></a><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; letter-spacing: -.2pt; line-height: 114%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><h2 style="margin-bottom: 0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Bodoni MT Condensed"; font-size: 31.7999pt; language: en-US; line-height: 128%; mso-ansi-language: en-US;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: purple;">Helping </span></span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Bodoni MT Condensed"; font-size: 31.7999pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; line-height: 128%; mso-ansi-language: en-US;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: purple;">Others </span></span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Bodoni MT Condensed"; font-size: 31.7999pt; language: en-US; line-height: 128%; mso-ansi-language: en-US;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: purple;">Help in Times of Need</span></span></h2><div class="MsoBodyText3" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; letter-spacing: -.2pt; line-height: 114%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
</span></div> “I teach 5th grade at an inner city school about<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; line-height: 114%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; line-height: 114%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; mso-armenian-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";"><span dir="ltr"></span>10 minutes from Impact. Last week our school counselor sent out an e-mail saying that a student’s house burned down and the family </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; letter-spacing: -.3pt; line-height: 114%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; mso-armenian-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">lost everything they owned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; letter-spacing: -.3pt; line-height: 114%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; mso-armenian-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">I e-mailed her back</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; line-height: 114%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; mso-armenian-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";"> and told her that I was sure my church would</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; letter-spacing: -.4pt; line-height: 114%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; mso-armenian-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";"> </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; line-height: 114%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; mso-armenian-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">be able and willing to help. The counselor </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; letter-spacing: -.3pt; line-height: 114%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; mso-armenian-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">escorted the family to my classroom earlier this</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; line-height: 114%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; mso-armenian-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";"> week so I could give them the necessary </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; letter-spacing: .1pt; line-height: 114%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; mso-armenian-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">information and I felt so proud of what God does through Impact. They came to the Distribution</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; line-height: 114%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; mso-armenian-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";"> Center this week and were able </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; letter-spacing: -.1pt; line-height: 114%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; mso-armenian-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">to walk away with food and clothing to help</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; line-height: 114%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; mso-armenian-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";"> them during this difficult time. Thank God that He uses Impact to meet people’s physical needs so that hopefully bridges will be built to meet their much more important spiritual needs. What an awesome God we serve!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoBodyText3" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; line-height: 114%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; mso-armenian-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">-Laura Hamilton</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; line-height: 114%; mso-ansi-language: en-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><br />
</div></span>ThinkWells (formerly Impact Houston)http://www.blogger.com/profile/00664189027844038084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19017274.post-10930013413371997072011-04-12T14:15:00.000-07:002011-04-12T14:15:38.936-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpsBMEUzB0QnrRsRdjbZWwiu5A6ERSNTUuYwmZTCrZN1Kzirc4-Ez7MOeJFlcfHpy3M9DyGlKdHUKpMg9RMxHTKP6hYiiRtAdIosuygm7rEPEJ5tEM0_EpwVahEE7unjShMhdWCA/s1600/break+fix1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpsBMEUzB0QnrRsRdjbZWwiu5A6ERSNTUuYwmZTCrZN1Kzirc4-Ez7MOeJFlcfHpy3M9DyGlKdHUKpMg9RMxHTKP6hYiiRtAdIosuygm7rEPEJ5tEM0_EpwVahEE7unjShMhdWCA/s320/break+fix1.png" width="284" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #1e0034; font-family: "Rosewood Std Regular"; font-size: 62.0pt; language: en-US; line-height: 125%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Rosewood Std Regular"; mso-default-font-family: "Rosewood Std Regular"; mso-latin-font-family: "Rosewood Std Regular"; mso-latinext-font-family: "Rosewood Std Regular";">Break Fix<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="language: en-US;"> SPRING BREAK ACTIVITY<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="language: en-US;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="language: en-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 114%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 114%; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial;">During March, Impact hosted six college groups and one high school youth group for two weeks of Spring Break service. Oklahoma State University, Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Murray State University from Kentucky, Abilene Christian University, and Lubbock Christian University sent students to serve 125 children for a week of Vacation Bible School, help clean out the warehouses after our Annual Garage Sale, serve our homeless brothers and sisters, and encourage the staff, elders, and ministers at Impact. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxNANCzz3fj1sQzl5aYYcvcYXyQUGOG2mLFYLhqCCT-YQEB6aE52tdiLUzL2_Kcagm6bJD71b7ZKVaVZ1evXUl0OrFOCwuGhuPJkduIciqW7HwM9swId_7lEvlr0E6rmzLpqk1Zw/s1600/break+fix2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="88" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxNANCzz3fj1sQzl5aYYcvcYXyQUGOG2mLFYLhqCCT-YQEB6aE52tdiLUzL2_Kcagm6bJD71b7ZKVaVZ1evXUl0OrFOCwuGhuPJkduIciqW7HwM9swId_7lEvlr0E6rmzLpqk1Zw/s320/break+fix2.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 114%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 114%; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial;">During the second week of Spring Break, the University of Arkansas from Fort Smith campus ministry and the Pleasant Valley Church of Christ youth group from Van Buren, Arkansas scraped and painted one of our members' home. They planted a flower and vegetable garden, painted the kitchen, and also painted the bathroom. Most of us take a nice place to come home to for granted, but after this experience, this group will not take their homes for granted. Our member is so incredibly grateful and bubbling over with excitement for her sweet family to have a newly painted home in which to live. </span></div><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmORbo1pci8ZCBiMnZuCLbqxZ9168aC_FF5SHZ7e7yjCnVEBWPEwPETtL-OO2GPeNhB-wcU4g1XpRsO-eOOvL0VEh60YfdIrgZwV1tB8yun3W_CMMZ-KRKxHRy_9dOdUdFwyqLtg/s1600/break+fix3.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmORbo1pci8ZCBiMnZuCLbqxZ9168aC_FF5SHZ7e7yjCnVEBWPEwPETtL-OO2GPeNhB-wcU4g1XpRsO-eOOvL0VEh60YfdIrgZwV1tB8yun3W_CMMZ-KRKxHRy_9dOdUdFwyqLtg/s320/break+fix3.png" width="213" /></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 114%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 114%; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial;">It is one of the greatest experiences to be around college students more interested in making a difference during their week off from school, than skiing in Colorado or tanning in South Padre. May we all have the perspective of serving the Lord through serving others during our vacation. Thank you to all of the youth ministers, campus ministers, elders, congregations, and especially parents for raising people that love people!</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 114%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJNzfyL-W5KX-wuFJSuGAdxEaM88qjOqucbpCf1vLAWMFBZNbom6_wNA2U7rjySx_8l0yS1v8HKPy1tTbJ_zqrYA0IzNHNLwd7LoyX0ZmLW-xcbrGCnIISB4e6hQxOo2blvaC-mg/s1600/break+fix4.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJNzfyL-W5KX-wuFJSuGAdxEaM88qjOqucbpCf1vLAWMFBZNbom6_wNA2U7rjySx_8l0yS1v8HKPy1tTbJ_zqrYA0IzNHNLwd7LoyX0ZmLW-xcbrGCnIISB4e6hQxOo2blvaC-mg/s320/break+fix4.png" width="317" /></a><span lang="en-US" style="language: en-US;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>ThinkWells (formerly Impact Houston)http://www.blogger.com/profile/00664189027844038084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19017274.post-75561469840742029512011-04-12T14:04:00.000-07:002011-04-12T14:04:55.459-07:00<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Bernard MT Condensed"; font-size: 24.0pt; language: en-US; line-height: 125%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bernard MT Condensed"; mso-default-font-family: "Bernard MT Condensed"; mso-hebrew-font-family: Narkisim; mso-latin-font-family: "Bernard MT Condensed"; mso-latinext-font-family: "Bernard MT Condensed";">Bob’s Story:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An Impact Story<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="language: en-US;"> -by Laura Hamilton<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="language: en-US;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="language: en-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; language: en-US; line-height: 125%; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-oriya-font-family: Kalinga; mso-thai-font-family: "Angsana New";">One of the greatest blessings of being a member at Impact is getting a clearer picture of the heart of God by listening to the stories of those around you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bob’s story makes me love my Heavenly Father even more than I did before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; language: en-US; line-height: 125%; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-oriya-font-family: Kalinga; mso-thai-font-family: "Angsana New";">By all appearances, Bob was a lost cause.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sixty-one years old and homeless, with an addiction to alcohol and crack cocaine that spanned more than four decades.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But thankfully, “The LORD does not look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; language: en-US; line-height: 125%; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-oriya-font-family: Kalinga; mso-thai-font-family: "Angsana New";">Bob grew up not far from Houston with a promising future ahead of him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But in 1968, two weeks before his high school graduation, his younger brother was killed by a drunk driver while he was covering Bob’s paper route.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bob’s descent into the pit began a week later with his first beer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His descent deepened three years later upon entering the Vietnam War where he was introduced to illicit drugs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over the following years, Bob admits that he regularly turned to drugs and alcohol to cope with his pain rather than to turn to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And there was a lot of pain: being treated like a criminal upon his return from Vietnam, two divorces, unemployment, multiple stints in prison, the death of his beloved mother and more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eventually Bob was no longer able to hold a regular job and became homeless, living under bridges and in tents in downtown Houston.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; language: en-US; line-height: 125%; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-oriya-font-family: Kalinga; mso-thai-font-family: "Angsana New";">But the battle was not finished because Bob’s Heavenly Father was still pursuing him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the summer of 2005, Bob started coming to Impact regularly, not for fellowship, but for food and basic necessities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When asked why he kept returning to Impact he said, “People at Impact love the needy and the hungry and no one looked down on me.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Four years later, he started attending church services and last summer joined Impact’s Recovery House. Bob graduated from the Recovery House program on February 1, 2011 with 184 days clean and sober.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; language: en-US; line-height: 125%; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-oriya-font-family: Kalinga; mso-thai-font-family: "Angsana New";">Listening to Bob’s story left me humbled and in awe of a loving Father who pursues his children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we studied the Bible together, I noticed that Bob was flipping through highlighted, well worn pages- evidence of where his strength comes from.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Frequently in conversation, he quotes scriptures that have become the rock on which he stands and there is an unmistakable peace where once loomed only addiction.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; language: en-US; line-height: 125%; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-oriya-font-family: Kalinga; mso-thai-font-family: "Angsana New";">Bob has moved to Lufkin to be with his family, but he wouldn’t leave until after the Impact “Outdoorsmen” Super Bowl party.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has attended every Super Bowl party since 2005, but this time he wanted to come as a servant, clean and sober.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God is good!</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; language: en-US; line-height: 125%; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqtEBaQP3ZxL8qJuHST1STip9Z4kuXqZm0JUZDpus0VLBJ0pUJt6DAtUBX5VniysXpuOnIMA0e-ljO89MvetWIy0QA_Xa1mU7t6DVKELHr5f9tiWyYjA-EyvQPqcgAZRNVnz7ohg/s1600/bob2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqtEBaQP3ZxL8qJuHST1STip9Z4kuXqZm0JUZDpus0VLBJ0pUJt6DAtUBX5VniysXpuOnIMA0e-ljO89MvetWIy0QA_Xa1mU7t6DVKELHr5f9tiWyYjA-EyvQPqcgAZRNVnz7ohg/s320/bob2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><br />
</div>ThinkWells (formerly Impact Houston)http://www.blogger.com/profile/00664189027844038084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19017274.post-85249680148617716622011-04-12T13:59:00.000-07:002011-04-12T13:59:06.647-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbBN0tK_G983_thL983HUvdc1d6joaDBDc1gI2eVyfWeoRqf7O-OkXUZNeZW5DerNxySJJerUjZHpLRvsylNSis1tTLJWvq2Icp5qg2zE6vmr9-_zXgJD5Kv_flCpBV4UwGSVDiw/s1600/IMG_2092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbBN0tK_G983_thL983HUvdc1d6joaDBDc1gI2eVyfWeoRqf7O-OkXUZNeZW5DerNxySJJerUjZHpLRvsylNSis1tTLJWvq2Icp5qg2zE6vmr9-_zXgJD5Kv_flCpBV4UwGSVDiw/s320/IMG_2092.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18.0pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 125%;">See that building on the right? <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18.0pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 125%;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.1pt; language: en-US; line-height: 125%;">It’s nothing fancy really.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s just an old refurbished warehouse with a simple sign outside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet, many people in need seem to find their way to our doors for help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The homeless have literally worn a path to our location.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Young children from impoverished areas are transported in for classes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Families know where to find food and clothes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, some of the greatest news is what happens inside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Inside our building, the Good News of Christ is shared.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Inside hearts, miracles occur as that message hits home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Inside this community, people learn from each other how to love and serve one another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Outside, things may not appear the most appealing, but inside, something beautiful is occurring.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><br />
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</div>ThinkWells (formerly Impact Houston)http://www.blogger.com/profile/00664189027844038084noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19017274.post-43191091472832959522011-04-12T13:57:00.000-07:002011-04-12T13:57:08.788-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR64m-iSX514b4f0vDJ4b1_bdv5DvcxIX6sLd4ItVKa5eQEEagdSuWw3XOhs9HKMLeyhIlwKy0pN2Ecs5jHJcFUux4HqTpt8OwlKrQ41AwkAr7svrfR3Do8mvozbRqbMA3hGNq3w/s1600/clover+yield.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR64m-iSX514b4f0vDJ4b1_bdv5DvcxIX6sLd4ItVKa5eQEEagdSuWw3XOhs9HKMLeyhIlwKy0pN2Ecs5jHJcFUux4HqTpt8OwlKrQ41AwkAr7svrfR3Do8mvozbRqbMA3hGNq3w/s400/clover+yield.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: 'Freestyle Script'; font-size: 32pt; line-height: 125%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Hope Springs:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: 'Freestyle Script'; font-size: 32pt; line-height: 125%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Eternal Benefits of Spring Break and Interns</b></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;"> March saw</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book'; line-height: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> various groups and potential interns descend upon the Impact campus to serve and love the people of downtown Houston.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book'; line-height: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book'; line-height: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Many visiting youngsters will come back to work during the Summers.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book'; line-height: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book'; line-height: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Some will apply to be summer interns, and among those, it is likely that some will eventually come to work with us full-time, like recent staff members, Tyler Gentry and John Carson.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book'; line-height: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book'; line-height: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Tyler has blessed our young women with special outings, cooking at members’ houses and just being in their lives.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book'; line-height: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book'; line-height: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">John is Impacting the young men in the same way.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book'; line-height: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book'; line-height: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Both are refreshing ministers who bring hope into the lives of many.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 92%; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book'; line-height: 92%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 92%; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book'; line-height: 92%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Although John is a great servant, he is humble enough to be a learning disciple. He shares what he learns from those around him in the following words. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 92%; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book'; line-height: 92%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 92%; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book'; font-style: italic; line-height: 92%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> “Sunday, I found myself sitting next to three or four children of ours who often misbehave. I sat with them on the second row, and I watched them play tic-tac-toe and attempted to keep them quiet, while I tried to listen to Les preach about the Beatitudes. I remember thinking, “I wonder if they’re getting anything out of this sermon.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 92%; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book'; font-style: italic; line-height: 92%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Of course, I’m more than happy with them sitting quietly and playing tic-tac-toe, but I also think God wanted to show me something that morning. As I listened to Les, I glanced down at the seventh grade girl next to me. She had “Blessed are the pure in heart” written on her hand. I thought of Jesus and the little children coming to him. God wanted to remind me that he is good and likes to surprise me all the time.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 92%; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book'; line-height: 92%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">When we listen and share what we learn we are like a spring that refreshes. We are life-givers, whether we see instant results or not. So, we continue to share and trust God to cause seeds to grow. Consider sponsoring Impact interns who are ready to serve and learn. See what God will grow for His </span></span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book'; line-height: 92%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">kingdom!</span></span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Franklin Gothic Book"; font-size: 11.0pt; language: en-US; line-height: 92%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Franklin Gothic Book"; mso-cyrillic-font-family: "Franklin Gothic Book"; mso-default-font-family: "Franklin Gothic Book"; mso-greek-font-family: "Franklin Gothic Book"; mso-latin-font-family: "Franklin Gothic Book"; mso-latinext-font-family: "Franklin Gothic Book";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><br />
</div>ThinkWells (formerly Impact Houston)http://www.blogger.com/profile/00664189027844038084noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19017274.post-70665295272101521172011-04-12T13:50:00.000-07:002011-04-12T13:50:22.287-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh09ohgfIGvNmOpvxLjquBkG0C2m-ac9lXKSRVKDBWTMVT_1jyJdqUsDrT0OahFxu1TBWxK6aheYHch9-5I9i3I5niEHL6TI9o7fYiUfsyq-R73m259aa56Y56flJtZfe5J89VE-g/s1600/whattacrew.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh09ohgfIGvNmOpvxLjquBkG0C2m-ac9lXKSRVKDBWTMVT_1jyJdqUsDrT0OahFxu1TBWxK6aheYHch9-5I9i3I5niEHL6TI9o7fYiUfsyq-R73m259aa56Y56flJtZfe5J89VE-g/s400/whattacrew.png" width="400" /></a></div>ThinkWells (formerly Impact Houston)http://www.blogger.com/profile/00664189027844038084noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19017274.post-21999247180549265422011-04-12T13:46:00.000-07:002011-04-12T13:47:12.290-07:00<div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUCXOpLgx4hiXEv-JHoMU5IjaJsqM4qZByUWFkJTsjvjRHvyq7BQvC5qbHKtBHyr5lPkTAczVCTq00pg-yGe6H9suioV5A4rkwN-oL_Xowyfgj1o-KX7UrJagjXUHEqDbN2zYLeQ/s1600/pray4charlie.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="83" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUCXOpLgx4hiXEv-JHoMU5IjaJsqM4qZByUWFkJTsjvjRHvyq7BQvC5qbHKtBHyr5lPkTAczVCTq00pg-yGe6H9suioV5A4rkwN-oL_Xowyfgj1o-KX7UrJagjXUHEqDbN2zYLeQ/s200/pray4charlie.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2eRn-72wH8BoNeX0YNzA1rECpjKMRsK4zNbnzoyXlr79wsr6paCU4390zJ7RTmjzs81fdaeTv3oiM0puuWf_o1GlwBDDo1pPmyAiGkXE3-P2clOZBnMQ_2s_OdxTw78PWWmQGzw/s1600/cheer4+laurie.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book'; font-style: italic; line-height: 125%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">When Charlie Middlebrook went into the hospital early this year due to a severe stroke, fear and concern swept over his family, friends, and everyone at Impact. Prayer soon took over as passionate pleas went up to the Father. As the photo to the left documents, Impact ministers and members went to visit and pray with Charlie’s family in the hospital waiting room. Other families were hurting, so the group invited all around to pray for the different families and their situations. Thousands prayed for Charlie’s healing and as of this writing he is walking and having some success communicating as he continues with therapy. But what an amazing reminder of the need and power of sharing concerns and faith in community! A family was comforted, families were blessed, and throngs were able to participate in what God wanted to bring about. We at Impact have learned this, and know that life in Christ is life is to be shared. We cry when others are crying. We celebrate when others celebrate. We admonish one another in love and in the Word. We spur one another along. We love one another with a love so special we are compelled to share it with others. We seek those who are hurting and needy and give that love away so that what we have will be planted in their souls as well. Just as several friends cheered Impact Children's Minister, Laurie Templeton in the Houston Marathon (LEFT), we are here to encourage one another along </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book'; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic; line-height: 20px;">..for another 24 years, if the Lord wills. -Steven Wells</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book'; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2eRn-72wH8BoNeX0YNzA1rECpjKMRsK4zNbnzoyXlr79wsr6paCU4390zJ7RTmjzs81fdaeTv3oiM0puuWf_o1GlwBDDo1pPmyAiGkXE3-P2clOZBnMQ_2s_OdxTw78PWWmQGzw/s1600/cheer4+laurie.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="96" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2eRn-72wH8BoNeX0YNzA1rECpjKMRsK4zNbnzoyXlr79wsr6paCU4390zJ7RTmjzs81fdaeTv3oiM0puuWf_o1GlwBDDo1pPmyAiGkXE3-P2clOZBnMQ_2s_OdxTw78PWWmQGzw/s200/cheer4+laurie.png" width="200" /></a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>ThinkWells (formerly Impact Houston)http://www.blogger.com/profile/00664189027844038084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19017274.post-6187645829584290972011-04-12T13:39:00.000-07:002011-04-12T13:39:32.900-07:00<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Bernard MT Condensed"; font-size: 18.0pt; language: en-US; line-height: 125%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bernard MT Condensed"; mso-default-font-family: "Bernard MT Condensed"; mso-hebrew-font-family: Narkisim; mso-latin-font-family: "Bernard MT Condensed"; mso-latinext-font-family: "Bernard MT Condensed";">“Darkness Cannot Drive Out Darkness”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="language: en-US;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;">- Josef Bilnoski</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilNoLkWcgW-VVRVEQrCpvu4l2Hht2SXFyo9AYSs0IxLo3P7PQ2MvbZDQNz1DlaDNhJsrCCxfWnGkL-r93hLWSmMUsu9qJo0YiFhzanSKEKLGPp8xbJdd9vt6i3H7DlSs86R8gyYA/s1600/jr.+hike.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilNoLkWcgW-VVRVEQrCpvu4l2Hht2SXFyo9AYSs0IxLo3P7PQ2MvbZDQNz1DlaDNhJsrCCxfWnGkL-r93hLWSmMUsu9qJo0YiFhzanSKEKLGPp8xbJdd9vt6i3H7DlSs86R8gyYA/s200/jr.+hike.png" width="113" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">My last three days of 2010 were spent camping in Bastrop State Park with12 middle school boys. The kids were concerned about bears and snakes as we headed into the “deep woods”. It was interesting watching the kids pitch their tents, and with a little assistance, they finally had the campsite set up. After playing some football and grilling hotdogs for dinner, the kids got to experience real nighttime. Living in the city, they are always surrounded by light. But in the woods when the sun goes down, “dark” takes on a whole new meaning. The middle school boys that were so tough a few hours ago were now scared to walk to the restroom alone. It is really interesting when you think about it: These kids live in parts of the city that we won’t drive through without locking the doors. They walk to school and to the store alone amongst gangs, bullies, and predators, but in the woods where they’re actually safe, they become afraid. Eventually, nighttime became their favorite time because it allowed them to play hide-and-seek in the dark with flashlights. We used this as an opportunity to teach them about the light of Jesus. At night, when we are in darkness, a flashlight is very bright. It attracts your attention to it. We explained to the boys how the flashlights were like the things in this world that attract our attention when we are living in spiritual darkness: popularity, money, drugs and alcohol, etc… And just like when the sun comes up in the morning and the flashlights lose their attraction, when we are in the light of Jesus the things of the world lose their attraction also.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 125%;">No one was ready to leave on our final day. Though worn out by the previous day’s 8 mile hike, boys begged us to stay</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 125%;"> l</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 125%;">onger and asked when</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 125%;"> </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 125%;">we were going to come back. The night before they all ventured out of their tents and slept under the</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 125%;"> </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 125%;">stars - the darkness no longer scared them. Some of them talked about living in the forest when they</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 125%;"> </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 125%;">grew older. It was so great to get them away from the city for a few days and out of their comfort</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 125%;"> </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 125%;">zones. This trip and others like it bring these kids closer to God and closer to each other. The unity in the group is strengthened and it is something that we can build on for the future. Before we headed</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 125%;"> </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 125%;">back to Houston we circled up, held hands, and thanked God for our trip, His beautiful creation, and to</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 125%;"> t</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 125%;">ake us home safely.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><br />
</div>ThinkWells (formerly Impact Houston)http://www.blogger.com/profile/00664189027844038084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19017274.post-83060023010182141652011-01-12T21:17:00.000-08:002011-01-12T21:17:20.755-08:00<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: cyan;">Steven Gaunt of Garland Street Church of Christ</span></b> posted this in his church’s bulletin this week:<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><b>Walking the Pipes</b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b><br />
</b></span></span> <span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">“The pipes hung high above the grassy watershed underneath the Houston street. Normally I wouldn’t cross from one side to the other by walking on pipes, but this wasn’t a normal day. It was a day that would alter the way I looked at life.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span> <span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">We were on a mission trip to work with the Impact Church of Christ in inner-city Houston. Each day our group of forty something college kids split up into groups and went out into the city – talking to college students at the University of Houston, helping in the Impact warehouse, door-knocking to invite people to a gospel meeting, and making sandwiches to deliver to the homeless. The groups that made the sandwich runs got to walk the pipes as we learned about the homeless who lived under the bridges in downtown Houston.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span> <span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">I was one of the first ones to walk the pipes. As soon as I got off the pipes I turned around a took a picture of the guys walking the pipes behind me. Then I turned back to scene underneath the bridge. In front of us was an area where homeless people spent the night. They were usually all gone by the morning. But on this day there was still a homeless man lying there underneath a sleeping bag. I took a picture. Not wanting to startle this man with a bunch of strangers standing around, some in the group walked over and attempted to wake him up. It was too late.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span> <span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">I was one of the ones who ran across the bridge to find a business where we could use a phone to call 911. We huddled in the grass beside the bridge as firemen and police and newspaper reporters scampered onto the scene. We stayed an extra day to attend a funeral for a man that we had never known, I believe his name was Dennis and Houston was just the latest city where he lived under a bridge. We had learned a song on that trip entitled “One More Day.” Some of the lyrics are, “If my time on earth is long and I am young, and I see God’s people dying I want to help them… For if Jesus comes tomorrow, we’ll have just one more day.” Singing the song beside the bridge that day brought new meaning as we felt the impact of those words.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span> <span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">The picture of the green sleeping bag with the worn shoes sticking out from under it still causes my stomach to turn. My stomach doesn’t turn because of the death that we witnessed that day, but because of the many more who are like Dennis that we don’t see for whatever reason. May our eyes be opened.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX0YvC-owxK0jEAPY6VwjuUXPjOTLfR48NRGh2TgnSKiKPBIj6Xa-NZU3_0FbocKPR8ifqgBP6Gtr3w_Ob2lboIq_URybM6GZFcTpR-4Oo0TGpNuzUzc_UQFbxo1izRlGZJ6ms8Q/s1600/houston+skyline.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX0YvC-owxK0jEAPY6VwjuUXPjOTLfR48NRGh2TgnSKiKPBIj6Xa-NZU3_0FbocKPR8ifqgBP6Gtr3w_Ob2lboIq_URybM6GZFcTpR-4Oo0TGpNuzUzc_UQFbxo1izRlGZJ6ms8Q/s320/houston+skyline.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The preceding article is my bulletin article for this week. In my mind it was Charlie who was leading the group I was in that day walking the pipes. I don't know if that is true or not - many years have filtered out some of the details. But I do know that if it weren't for those men and women who had a faith like Charlie, there would be a lot of people who wouldn't know how to love like we should.</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br />
</i></span> <span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>I have been and will continue to pray for Charlie, his family, and the work of Impact. May God bless you richly today and may He be glorified in all things. -sg</i></span></span></span></div>ThinkWells (formerly Impact Houston)http://www.blogger.com/profile/00664189027844038084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19017274.post-48143128328686595512011-01-09T12:11:00.000-08:002011-01-09T12:11:15.119-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ4bjTbysnnHoui3zyExDVH0Ouy0yHwlDZBc9MnxJymrPW3MiCJrbHHL7PLnvKHggYnVL2xtRT5D0x-4ULbqsssEWe2yO_KfxX1Rw46W4s7SKgHUG43Wij_b2oSkJakRY441UTCQ/s1600/167393_495138282267_761027267_5859270_5079055_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ4bjTbysnnHoui3zyExDVH0Ouy0yHwlDZBc9MnxJymrPW3MiCJrbHHL7PLnvKHggYnVL2xtRT5D0x-4ULbqsssEWe2yO_KfxX1Rw46W4s7SKgHUG43Wij_b2oSkJakRY441UTCQ/s1600/167393_495138282267_761027267_5859270_5079055_n.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">from Ron Sellers:</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">“Today is the 24th anniversary of Impact's first Sunday worship service in inner city Houston. It was a time of deep prayer and our Father guided amazingly. He still does as we continue to seek His will in this city . . . and as we seek His divine intervention for Charlie. Thanks to all who have joined this journey alo</span><span class="textexposedshow">ng the way</span>”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="textexposedshow"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">For the past few days, Charlie Middlebrook has been in the hospital after having suffered a stroke. Some of the most dangerous moments seem to have past, but we are anxiously praying for a full recovery. See the link below to Facebook posts that give the latest updates, and a history of what has been happening.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="textexposedshow"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_176854579021376&ap=1" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3b5998;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://www.facebook.com/home.</span></span><span style="color: #3b5998;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">p</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><wbr></wbr><span style="color: #3b5998;"></span></span><span style="float: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">hp?sk=group_176854579021376&a</span></span><span style="color: #3b5998;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">p</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #3b5998;"></span><wbr></wbr></span><span style="float: left;">=1</span></a></span></strong></div>ThinkWells (formerly Impact Houston)http://www.blogger.com/profile/00664189027844038084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19017274.post-48304054667965859322010-12-09T22:21:00.000-08:002010-12-09T22:21:41.114-08:00<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-top: 12.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #000066; font-family: "Gill Sans Ultra Bold"; font-size: 18.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Gill Sans Ultra Bold"; mso-default-font-family: "Gill Sans Ultra Bold"; mso-latin-font-family: "Gill Sans Ultra Bold"; mso-latinext-font-family: "Gill Sans Ultra Bold";">Something Beautiful I saw today...<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-top: 12.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #000066; font-family: 'Gill Sans Ultra Bold';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">by Dennis Jaeger and Gaylee Garroutte</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-top: 12.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEDeE4o91ARU3w8TwK2Qrk6C9Gr8P9orvaHWmX6Vjh0nt1mrmxhQOqzW4cB4WOzVeeGC6y0qGU4hNUy6Iw8tI704Re65FAy5vViRNlLBQ65eJJ3xy6SzGotXpWjdumRPnl5bhmLQ/s1600/193.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEDeE4o91ARU3w8TwK2Qrk6C9Gr8P9orvaHWmX6Vjh0nt1mrmxhQOqzW4cB4WOzVeeGC6y0qGU4hNUy6Iw8tI704Re65FAy5vViRNlLBQ65eJJ3xy6SzGotXpWjdumRPnl5bhmLQ/s320/193.jpg" width="320" /></a><span lang="en-US" style="color: #000066; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US;">Being a part of Impact never ceases to amaze me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Impact is a place where God uses any and everyone to be a blessing to others. A place where anyone can find a way to serve, and where God’s love is alive and well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you walk in on a Sunday morning, there is such a broad spectrum of people you might cross paths with; people who you can encourage and people who will encourage you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Below are the words of Gaylee Garroutte after a Sunday morning at Impact.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lord, teach me to be more like the little girl she describes!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-top: 12.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #000066; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US;">“This morning when I was in church I saw the most beautiful thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was the sweetest little blonde haired baby, she was cute as a button, and if I had to guess her age...<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>maybe 1 ½ or 2 years old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This little girl amazed me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was sitting in the back row with her mother and behind them was a row of elderly people in wheel chairs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This little girl left her mom and walked right over to one of the ladies in the wheelchairs and just smiled at her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The smile that came over the older woman's face was priceless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The little girl proceeded to put her hands on the woman’s legs and kind of mini hugged her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The older woman was gleaming!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She lingered around and then looked over at the elderly woman in the wheelchair next to her and then went to her and just smiled so cute at this woman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The older woman bent over, picked her up and sat her in her lap for a little bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The girl was completely happy, smiling and laughing, and the joy that it gave to this woman was amazing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The little girl continued to go from wheelchair to wheelchair, smiling, laughing, and just loving on all these people I doubt she knew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was so impressed with how generous this little baby girl was with her love and the difference it made to the people who she was loving on.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-top: 12.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #000066; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US;">She was such a lesson to me. She reminded me how powerful it can be to love another - just the simple gift of love and the impact that it can make on someone else. She wasn't selfish at all, she loved them all. Her tiny little arms had so much power when she hugged another. She was tiny, but her message was huge. Today, I choose to try and love others more like her. She was wonderful :)”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><br />
</div>ThinkWells (formerly Impact Houston)http://www.blogger.com/profile/00664189027844038084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19017274.post-86415463786951508902010-10-21T20:50:00.000-07:002010-10-21T20:54:25.939-07:00<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><a href="http://followinghiscalltohouston.blogspot.com/2010/09/what-is-impact.html"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #cc3300; font-family: Haettenschweiler; font-size: 26pt; text-decoration: none;">What makes Impact so attractive to the mission</span><span lang="en-US" style="color: #cc3300; font-family: Haettenschweiler; font-size: 26pt; text-decoration: none;">-minded?</span></a><span lang="en-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: Haettenschweiler; font-size: 26pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 114%; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxmRnk1P0d4YIv_1fTKinTVMRjH6i2KxsDSTVKBkP4q5r-tC8aIGaPGx5tzrOqgBQ6ftQPhljz3EkyIt8Ht14ysm0akvbvpyKDX8zDqYbx8umZHSX0W6lR2L25LmS9oK1yXFFRQ/s1600/attractive.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxmRnk1P0d4YIv_1fTKinTVMRjH6i2KxsDSTVKBkP4q5r-tC8aIGaPGx5tzrOqgBQ6ftQPhljz3EkyIt8Ht14ysm0akvbvpyKDX8zDqYbx8umZHSX0W6lR2L25LmS9oK1yXFFRQ/s640/attractive.png" width="640" /></a></div><span lang="en-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.6pt; line-height: 114%;"> </span><span lang="en-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.6pt; font-style: italic; line-height: 114%;">Impact has seen the loss of some special members and has had some seen volunteers come and go. Although the makeup of our demographic is often very transient, there are many who have decided to make Impact their home, whether they must drive and hour to be with us, or have moved to our area just to be closer to the action and the family. Impact attracts Christ-followers who are looking for more than a place to worship. They are working for a way to serve in the body, as a body...as a servant-disciple. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 114%; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9j2od2v-IDfgSzEnzCmX4HFhNPmXx53R69l5yXTBnbz6-eKfuK-sS22EnqW_03LBK02OBWeTrwbIXxtKKvwAl7PWH5J-EXkBJq66yOJqN24c2g073id-d23r9bOd-ZVAc9ARJFA/s1600/jonc.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9j2od2v-IDfgSzEnzCmX4HFhNPmXx53R69l5yXTBnbz6-eKfuK-sS22EnqW_03LBK02OBWeTrwbIXxtKKvwAl7PWH5J-EXkBJq66yOJqN24c2g073id-d23r9bOd-ZVAc9ARJFA/s1600/jonc.png" /></a></div><span lang="en-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.6pt; font-style: italic; line-height: 114%;"> I like how John Carson puts it in a letter he is generating to raise support to work as permanent Impact staff. Here is an excerpt:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 114%; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoTitle2" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: 'Agency FB'; font-size: 9.6pt; line-height: 113%;">“Over the past month or so while fundraising, I've been asked this question in various forms. I honestly don't believe I can describe in words what Impact is like. To really know you would have to come see for yourself, but I'll attempt anyway.<br />
<br />
</span><span lang="en-US" style="color: #9a140a; font-family: 'Agency FB'; font-size: 9.6pt; line-height: 113%;"> </span><span lang="en-US" style="color: #9a140a; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 9.6pt; line-height: 113%;">Impact is a place </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: 'Agency FB'; font-size: 9.6pt; line-height: 113%;">where the hungry are fed and the naked are clothed. Our distribution center at Impact serves as a place where thousands of people can come and receive food and clothes. David, who takes care of everything there, is a man who seeks to live out what Jesus said in Matthew 25, and push me to be the same way.<br />
<br />
</span><span lang="en-US" style="color: #9a140a; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 9.6pt; line-height: 113%;">Impact is a place </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: 'Agency FB'; font-size: 9.6pt; line-height: 113%;">where the homeless can feel at home. Everyday of the week, Impact's kitchen is open and many of our homeless, or outdoorsmen, as we call them, come and fed. Along with food, they have the opportunity to shower and wash clothes. They can also receive their mail at the church, and can get help in finding a job and a way off of the streets.<br />
<br />
</span><span lang="en-US" style="color: #9a140a; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 9.6pt; line-height: 113%;">Impact is a place </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: 'Agency FB'; font-size: 9.6pt; line-height: 113%;">where people of all races and languages come to worship. Any given Sunday you can people from all walks of life at Impact. From doctors and lawyers to abused and neglected children, all come to worship the same God, and to share a meal together afterwards.<br />
<br />
</span><span lang="en-US" style="color: #9a140a; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 9.6999pt; line-height: 113%;">Impact is a place </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: 'Agency FB'; font-size: 9.6pt; line-height: 113%;">where the unloved are loved. Whether it be a neglected child from a horrible situation, or a wheelchair bound elderly individual stuck in a nursing home, both are cared for and loved at Impact. Many of our ministers go to assisted living and nursing homes every week, to seek out the forgotten children of God in these places. Just as we as a youth team, seek to love our kids and help them grow as people, and equip them to love others as Jesus loved them.<br />
<br />
</span><span lang="en-US" style="color: #9a140a; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 9.6999pt; line-height: 113%;">Impact is a place </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: 'Agency FB'; font-size: 9.6pt; line-height: 113%;">that I have been called. I've been called to work with the youth, specifically the high school, and to show them more about the reality and way of Christ. Honestly, no matter how many cool trips, lessons, and small groups I do they probably will not grow and learn from what I do, nearly as much as I will grow and learn from being in their presence.</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 9.6pt; line-height: 113%;"> “ -from http://followinghiscalltohouston.blogspot.com/</span><span lang="es-CO" style="font-family: 'Agency FB'; font-size: 9.6pt; line-height: 113%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: auto;"><br />
</div><span lang="en-US">Both John Carson (above) and Tyler Gentry (right) </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgQsfM5cVX1UWSXdc09b5hmCC34zNjXG5ikLCEEkHBVEEQyfj0nOT6_BayKhTmxZA1dKV2xxXpnX9KpB8Siz52VpnIAm8vPZbKcZbkJ1zb-lRCRbNw0YWiJgZFeMOgcrrHNNduyQ/s1600/tay.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgQsfM5cVX1UWSXdc09b5hmCC34zNjXG5ikLCEEkHBVEEQyfj0nOT6_BayKhTmxZA1dKV2xxXpnX9KpB8Siz52VpnIAm8vPZbKcZbkJ1zb-lRCRbNw0YWiJgZFeMOgcrrHNNduyQ/s1600/tay.png" style="cursor: move;" /></a><span lang="en-US"> have worked with and are loved by the Impact family. They are doing what they can to be able to live in the heart of Houston with us. To learn more about either or both see John’s blog, or Tyler’s video, </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9znRMORg3w"><span lang="en-US" style="text-decoration: underline;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9znRMORg3w</span></a><span lang="en-US">.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><br />
</div>ThinkWells (formerly Impact Houston)http://www.blogger.com/profile/00664189027844038084noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19017274.post-9589188910647500202010-10-21T20:45:00.000-07:002010-10-21T20:45:03.306-07:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'MS Shell Dlg'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.1pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 114%; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.3999pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 114%; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial;">Faith and Fear in the Big City</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgueR9zjRlO5Yg8rO458_kX8n4c0TsPnLgfMiMUeKXs2d7WOLFc-a6t8XnXlpCA-8d1zdmG_4lKpagMP4-abYe_qt9UJqJNqfW2DPvn9vyCVNSot3kAKkR0_WeguaVSj3XOx4lZUg/s1600/deb.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgueR9zjRlO5Yg8rO458_kX8n4c0TsPnLgfMiMUeKXs2d7WOLFc-a6t8XnXlpCA-8d1zdmG_4lKpagMP4-abYe_qt9UJqJNqfW2DPvn9vyCVNSot3kAKkR0_WeguaVSj3XOx4lZUg/s1600/deb.png" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 114%; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 114%; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.3999pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 114%; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial;">One of the greatest missions at Impact is the care and protection of our older members. There is a constant action in the surrounding blocks away from the building where several of our aged members and distribution cetner clients live. Others or our number are wheelchair bound, live miles away in assisted living projects and are at the mercy of transport vans and caretakers. Perhaps there are those of who have heard their stories of pain, discomfort and fear for so long that we have become immune to the problems these loved face on a daily basis.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 114%; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.3999pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 114%; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial;"><br />
Unfortunately, it took at occurrence of tragic magnitude to bring us back to reality as one of our longtime members, Debbie Boudreaux, died in her room at a project in mid-September. Other reports in this monthly newsletter have referred to Independence hall where several have taught weekly classes for years and where we have partnered with other churches in serving Thanksgiving meals for the entire complex and where several of our members live. Debbie now has good health, a pain free body, and has peace at last living with the Father in Heaven. Debbie's friends and loved ones at Impact hosted the memorial service at Independence Hall and lives were blessed in the process.</span><span lang="es-CO" style="font-size: 11.3999pt; font-weight: bold; language: es-CO; line-height: 114%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 114%; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.3999pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 114%; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial;"><br />
</span></div>Impact has been able to respond spiritually and physically to these friends for some twenty years because of the previous financial support of other congregations and individuals. For that we are thankful, but now, even more than ever, the plea for additional and continued support is of utmost importance. May we ask that you consider this part of Impact's mission outreach as your own? You will be blessed!</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 12.1pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 12.1pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US;">-Jim Deloney</span><span lang="es-CO" style="font-size: 12.1pt; font-weight: bold; language: es-CO;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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</div>ThinkWells (formerly Impact Houston)http://www.blogger.com/profile/00664189027844038084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19017274.post-87720333941749303902010-10-21T20:39:00.000-07:002010-10-21T20:39:52.259-07:00<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-cyrillic-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-default-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-greek-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-latin-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-latinext-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><b>Celebrating a Sister</b>: <i>a Story of Lating Impact</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbGAjJxW-H1xA81WQIekm1EJZwj1jbMvU8-XuKT2-kpJ9Yg-kCUrpbhnfwN67wa87YblbDm-VP2-E515qliV9vXp3COioDAKE5z9v7ADndf9l9PRyllQ0DkWmt4k9PbQoaiv9aCA/s1600/ash.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbGAjJxW-H1xA81WQIekm1EJZwj1jbMvU8-XuKT2-kpJ9Yg-kCUrpbhnfwN67wa87YblbDm-VP2-E515qliV9vXp3COioDAKE5z9v7ADndf9l9PRyllQ0DkWmt4k9PbQoaiv9aCA/s320/ash.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-cyrillic-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-default-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-greek-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-latin-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-latinext-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-cyrillic-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-default-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-greek-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-latin-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-latinext-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-cyrillic-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-default-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-greek-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-latin-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-latinext-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Join me in congratulating Ashley Cooks for her graduation from Texas Southern University. Ashley has achieved a tremendous accomplishment being the first one in her family to go to and graduate from college, with help from the Brooks Scholarship Program. She has worked very hard and long hours in the Juvenile Justice Department while completing her degree in Marriage and Family.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-cyrillic-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-default-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-greek-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-latin-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-latinext-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">It has been a great blessing watching Ashley grow up at Impact over the last twelve years. Ashley has served in many capacities, mostly helping with the youth program and working several summers as an intern.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-cyrillic-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-default-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-greek-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-latin-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-latinext-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Ashley is a great example of hard work and perseverance. She has brought joy and happiness to all who become acquainted.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-cyrillic-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-default-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-greek-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-latin-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-latinext-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Well done, Ashley!"<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><br />
</div>ThinkWells (formerly Impact Houston)http://www.blogger.com/profile/00664189027844038084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19017274.post-24328906492611989912010-10-21T20:25:00.000-07:002010-10-21T20:25:00.173-07:00<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-align: justify; text-justify: newspaper; text-justify: newspaper; text-kashida-space: 50%; text-kashida-space: 50%;"><span lang="es-CO" style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; language: es-CO; mso-ansi-language: es-CO; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; mso-default-font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; mso-latin-font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have recieved and installed our long-awaited freezer!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The freezer is 1760 square feet and is located beside the Distribution Center.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This allows us to eliminate 5 refrigerator/freezers from inside the building, freeing up some much-needed space in what is usually a very crowded building.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More importantly,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>it will give us the opportunity to store food longer and serve more people in need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Praise God as He continues to provide for us.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;"><span lang="es-CO" style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; language: es-CO; mso-ansi-language: es-CO; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; mso-default-font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; mso-latin-font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold";">______________<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-align: justify; text-justify: newspaper; text-justify: newspaper; text-kashida-space: 50%; text-kashida-space: 50%;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-align: justify; text-justify: newspaper; text-justify: newspaper; text-kashida-space: 50%; text-kashida-space: 50%;"><span lang="es-CO" style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; language: es-CO; mso-ansi-language: es-CO; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; mso-default-font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; mso-latin-font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Put October 23rd <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-align: justify; text-justify: newspaper; text-justify: newspaper; text-kashida-space: 50%; text-kashida-space: 50%;"><span lang="es-CO" style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; language: es-CO; mso-ansi-language: es-CO; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; mso-default-font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; mso-latin-font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold";">on your calendars!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-align: justify; text-justify: newspaper; text-justify: newspaper; text-kashida-space: 50%; text-kashida-space: 50%;"><span lang="es-CO" style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; language: es-CO; mso-ansi-language: es-CO; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; mso-default-font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; mso-latin-font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold";">We will be having our Fall Block Party - food, clothes, and hot dogs for all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will have the Food Stamps and Medicaid people there too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember that 55,000 people go hungry in Harris County every day.</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 9.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; mso-default-font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; mso-latin-font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-align: justify; text-justify: newspaper; text-justify: newspaper; text-kashida-space: 50%; text-kashida-space: 50%;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 9.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; mso-default-font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; mso-latin-font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-align: justify; text-justify: newspaper; text-justify: newspaper; text-kashida-space: 50%; text-kashida-space: 50%;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 9.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; mso-default-font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; mso-latin-font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; mso-default-font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; mso-latin-font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold";">-David Beegle</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 8.5pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-thai-font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg63Zs7DLjNlYY_X-TdjAxC5kR_WJWHDXp6c5iQCdufQv-q7WWbE0Xex91GYrkmrTozYG2Wo4T6ZKeLJ7EiIMSFnSUfaOd45FuGF6UupPXPy7EkgId-PaiO7xbXpWAxnf3oJ7EA8g/s1600/Picture2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg63Zs7DLjNlYY_X-TdjAxC5kR_WJWHDXp6c5iQCdufQv-q7WWbE0Xex91GYrkmrTozYG2Wo4T6ZKeLJ7EiIMSFnSUfaOd45FuGF6UupPXPy7EkgId-PaiO7xbXpWAxnf3oJ7EA8g/s320/Picture2.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><br />
</div>ThinkWells (formerly Impact Houston)http://www.blogger.com/profile/00664189027844038084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19017274.post-1523705852394126242010-09-09T21:03:00.000-07:002010-09-09T21:03:31.593-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJtlTEJRqKpr27hLHq5EcUGkjkhlGcMiyw6pKfW8n1KUtyzALg226DBTeEWOFvqLBN_kq-Rd6oo54OCaiC6CEpbn_ws2WGRpdgnp92-HZByQOoIXj7JbiHIgREqzEliVqdZTTq3Q/s1600/41234_594980263331_71005511_34518347_1188015_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJtlTEJRqKpr27hLHq5EcUGkjkhlGcMiyw6pKfW8n1KUtyzALg226DBTeEWOFvqLBN_kq-Rd6oo54OCaiC6CEpbn_ws2WGRpdgnp92-HZByQOoIXj7JbiHIgREqzEliVqdZTTq3Q/s320/41234_594980263331_71005511_34518347_1188015_n.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">Will You Stand?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Standing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those of us who are able do it hundreds of times a day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we were infants, it was new and exciting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We would practice again and again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now it’s become a habit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We sit and we stand without thinking - it’s no big deal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For a while, it’s exciting again as we watch with bated breath our children and grandchildren explore with wonder what their bodies are able to do as they learn how to sit, stand, and walk.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">There are children, however, who do not have parents to partake in the joy of learning these things with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are children who grow up without any encouragement to explore the world around them, no congratulations when they learn something new, and who are viewed as more of a hassle than a gift.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we encounter these children, once again we need to learn how to stand.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">God stands on behalf of children who have been wronged by people who are supposed to love them no matter what.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We at Impact are thankful that one of the ways he does so is by allowing us to cross their paths.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The story of four brothers who showed up at Impact this last June are a perfect example.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">With their father in jail, these four boys (ages 5-9) were already missing out on an important person in their life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the beginning of June, their mother brought them to Houston, dropped them off at grandma’s, and left without a word of when she would return for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The boys found themselves in a new city, with people they didn’t know, and not knowing whether they would ever see their mother again.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Their grandmother, an Impact member, signed them up for VBS.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They came to Impact scared of the unknown, rejected by their mother, but embraced by family desperate to show them love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over the next six weeks of VBS, they were smiled at, laughed with, hugged on, and loved more than they ever had been in their short lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They began the summer lonely, with big behavior problems, big eyes, and blank stares.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They ended the summer earning awards for exceptional behavior and service, with huge smiles, lots of giggles, and more friends than they’d ever had.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Above all, they learned through all those people that there is a God who will <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">never</i> leave them, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">never</i> forsake them, who loves them so much that he gave up his only son so they could be with him, and will <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">always</i> stand on their behalf.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He will be there to rejoice with them when they learn something new, to cry with them when the world is unkind, and to encourage them towards a great and amazing life lived for him.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">The mother of these four sweet boys has not returned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one knows where she is or if they will ever see her again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The boys have found a new home, with people who love them and who are joyfully learning how to stand on their behalf.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you for allowing God to use you to enable Impact to stand in the gap for those who are unable to stand alone! </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"> -Dennis Jaeger</div>ThinkWells (formerly Impact Houston)http://www.blogger.com/profile/00664189027844038084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19017274.post-37992428691104270542010-09-09T20:55:00.000-07:002010-09-09T20:55:17.256-07:00<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-US" style="line-height: 125%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"></span></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Juice ITC"; font-size: 48.0pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 125%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Juice ITC"; mso-default-font-family: "Juice ITC"; mso-latin-font-family: "Juice ITC"; mso-latinext-font-family: "Juice ITC";">Impacting Our Health<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy4UUIHDmJae9aBtsQT6BzokGnsBdvOS6G5y3iSJ1b2E7HiKzcV2dWOFbjIWTYFKCFnvCtgfqv9DxWQHlhDNWLS_fwO0Sg7I2SNfK2JfOIduG_C__iVcKcG1HW8BIFe9ifhpbqNA/s1600/Picture4.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy4UUIHDmJae9aBtsQT6BzokGnsBdvOS6G5y3iSJ1b2E7HiKzcV2dWOFbjIWTYFKCFnvCtgfqv9DxWQHlhDNWLS_fwO0Sg7I2SNfK2JfOIduG_C__iVcKcG1HW8BIFe9ifhpbqNA/s200/Picture4.png" width="176" /></a><span lang="en-US" style="line-height: 125%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">Healthy Treasure, a Christian-Based bilingual health and wellness program. We will meet every Fridays beginning September 3, 2010 from 6pm-8pm. We just decided to make some changes due to concerns from current participants. We will have Bible Class for the first half hour, discuss nutrition and menu planning the second half hour and then we will focus on mental health dealing specifically with self-esteem (building) and motivation. We will add exercise at the beginning of the new year once we have helped the women understand the importance and benefits of exercise.</span></span></span></span><span lang="en-US" style="line-height: 125%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"> -Maria Arzu</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-US" style="line-height: 125%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"><br />
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</div>ThinkWells (formerly Impact Houston)http://www.blogger.com/profile/00664189027844038084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19017274.post-72535183717740605562010-09-09T20:48:00.000-07:002010-09-09T20:48:35.951-07:00<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Juice ITC"; font-size: 48.0pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 125%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Juice ITC"; mso-default-font-family: "Juice ITC"; mso-latin-font-family: "Juice ITC"; mso-latinext-font-family: "Juice ITC";">A Second Opportunity<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US;">In February of this year we began a </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US;">residential recovery program</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US;"> on our campus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We began with six individuals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two completed the program and are now in </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US;">After Care </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US;">and housed on our campus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Three who dropped out of the program are still utilizing our continuing services for the homeless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Beginning Aug. 1, we added eight individuals to the program.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With the House Manager and an intern, we have ten in our small facility.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNDt5sVNbpc778gbP-N1-h8omHaIdOruErD0FW-vDdD2OTBfqwPvJ9uIfDtnCablT0GozRsq-YCs1U9EwVvVJ6qEV3B7UNgzFAto4IROiaBz_uaFEmId1eM_fqFPtS6ALb901Y5w/s1600/IMG_8406.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNDt5sVNbpc778gbP-N1-h8omHaIdOruErD0FW-vDdD2OTBfqwPvJ9uIfDtnCablT0GozRsq-YCs1U9EwVvVJ6qEV3B7UNgzFAto4IROiaBz_uaFEmId1eM_fqFPtS6ALb901Y5w/s200/IMG_8406.JPG" width="200" /></a><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US;">These men are older than the first group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All express an intense desire to leave the life of addiction and grow closer to the Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course you would say anything to get off the street and into housing and care.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But these men seem to be sincerely dedicated to recovery, but fearful about the whole process of recovery and becoming independent and self-supporting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will add a daily Twelve Step program that will be open to others interested in recovery.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US;">We request your prayers for these men for the long process ahead of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We ask, also, that you pray for an opportunity to offer the same program to women in the near future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That will mean acquiring more room for the men and having the women taking over the present facility.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can do this…and we must. Please pray for them…and us as we plan for the future.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"></span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"></span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"></span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"></span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"></span></span><span lang="en-US" style="language: en-US;">-Doug Williams<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><br />
</div>ThinkWells (formerly Impact Houston)http://www.blogger.com/profile/00664189027844038084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19017274.post-63829180757216548642010-09-09T20:43:00.000-07:002010-09-09T21:04:56.791-07:00<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkJD-Lwht_UqBTR1vzkWRJz67uHyEhRIZ6scyDGgxByylXp99jZQQE53eUPnEAlKPl-uhkh7pBagmH0T9AqOi9EGdt7o-f0m_wSw2nlUoY8OQDEx7yNS2WJfKbgSnpCph6hY2V7w/s1600/Urban_Summit_Booklet_Cover.32454801_std.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkJD-Lwht_UqBTR1vzkWRJz67uHyEhRIZ6scyDGgxByylXp99jZQQE53eUPnEAlKPl-uhkh7pBagmH0T9AqOi9EGdt7o-f0m_wSw2nlUoY8OQDEx7yNS2WJfKbgSnpCph6hY2V7w/s200/Urban_Summit_Booklet_Cover.32454801_std.jpg" width="154" /></a><span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">In Feb. of 2009, several leaders of inner-city ministries across the nation met in St. Louis at Jim Harbin's request to feel the "state of the nation" in urban ministry within our brotherhood. That was a great time of being together, again. <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #ffe599;">The Impact Church volunteered to host another conference in 2011. We intend to keep that promise. The dates are Feb. 25 and 26.</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"> The theme will be (or something like this) "Impact at age 24: What we did right and what we did wrong." We will overview our programs and offer time for question and answers. Being onsite, you can visit each ministry and ministry leader(s). We will also explore what happened to some of the ministries that have failed since 2005. I hope you will plan now to attend and spread the word. -Doug Williams<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><br />
</div>ThinkWells (formerly Impact Houston)http://www.blogger.com/profile/00664189027844038084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19017274.post-55865488647066117802010-09-09T20:41:00.000-07:002010-09-09T20:41:06.830-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_kjArsRCNawj0puVUgnGnUxv6Q5XTtDPrtZtwq-geRKU-KrzaHXMP1WSjWFVQl2MahGvEhu9MELHoTeOLWTU5V6akB8HbPFRmlt_ZCcGcjID5wlr7ddTvY5M1-hOmunsyi_K7Lg/s1600/38253_1219106924743_1440990708_30966976_3861036_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_kjArsRCNawj0puVUgnGnUxv6Q5XTtDPrtZtwq-geRKU-KrzaHXMP1WSjWFVQl2MahGvEhu9MELHoTeOLWTU5V6akB8HbPFRmlt_ZCcGcjID5wlr7ddTvY5M1-hOmunsyi_K7Lg/s320/38253_1219106924743_1440990708_30966976_3861036_n.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Georgia; font-style: italic; line-height: 125%;">There are so many pictures and stories we didn’t get to share about what God did among the young people at Impact, but know that many lives were changed forever!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Georgia; font-style: italic; line-height: 125%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0mnQpnsxuPCvS-PDmU94KyG9qMfeVdw8VgRpk6uhrNOlyrasgSXdA3JEMHUarogbccrrw6qE0T9oqXMNhA3d1d-29DrFvMWjdkGQqzfG0UwnxUz4So85RiVi2ByCPTzkv4H96Hw/s1600/35973_1219103924668_1440990708_30966906_2769343_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0mnQpnsxuPCvS-PDmU94KyG9qMfeVdw8VgRpk6uhrNOlyrasgSXdA3JEMHUarogbccrrw6qE0T9oqXMNhA3d1d-29DrFvMWjdkGQqzfG0UwnxUz4So85RiVi2ByCPTzkv4H96Hw/s320/35973_1219103924668_1440990708_30966906_2769343_n.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Georgia; font-style: italic; line-height: 125%;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Georgia; font-style: italic; line-height: 125%;">Learning a new language is much easier when a friend is there to help. Daniel Arzu (above) helped his friend, Hector learn English just in time for his first taste of Texas schools. (Below) Already back at SFA, Marilyn Flores made so many summer/lifetime buddies!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div>ThinkWells (formerly Impact Houston)http://www.blogger.com/profile/00664189027844038084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19017274.post-9583850624443636782010-09-09T20:34:00.000-07:002010-09-09T20:34:01.131-07:00<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: "MS Shell Dlg"; font-size: 18.0pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 125%; mso-arabic-font-family: "MS Shell Dlg"; mso-armenian-font-family: "MS Shell Dlg"; mso-ascii-font-family: "MS Shell Dlg"; mso-currency-font-family: "MS Shell Dlg"; mso-cyrillic-font-family: "MS Shell Dlg"; mso-default-font-family: "MS Shell Dlg"; mso-greek-font-family: "MS Shell Dlg"; mso-hebrew-font-family: "MS Shell Dlg"; mso-latin-font-family: "MS Shell Dlg"; mso-latinext-font-family: "MS Shell Dlg"; mso-thai-font-family: "MS Shell Dlg"; text-decoration: underline; text-underline: single;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">WANTED</span></span><span lang="en-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: "MS Shell Dlg"; font-size: 18.0pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 125%; mso-arabic-font-family: "MS Shell Dlg"; mso-armenian-font-family: "MS Shell Dlg"; mso-ascii-font-family: "MS Shell Dlg"; mso-currency-font-family: "MS Shell Dlg"; mso-cyrillic-font-family: "MS Shell Dlg"; mso-default-font-family: "MS Shell Dlg"; mso-greek-font-family: "MS Shell Dlg"; mso-hebrew-font-family: "MS Shell Dlg"; mso-latin-font-family: "MS Shell Dlg"; mso-latinext-font-family: "MS Shell Dlg"; mso-thai-font-family: "MS Shell Dlg";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: "MS Shell Dlg"; font-size: 18.0pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 125%; mso-arabic-font-family: "MS Shell Dlg"; mso-armenian-font-family: "MS Shell Dlg"; mso-ascii-font-family: "MS Shell Dlg"; mso-currency-font-family: "MS Shell Dlg"; mso-cyrillic-font-family: "MS Shell Dlg"; mso-default-font-family: "MS Shell Dlg"; mso-greek-font-family: "MS Shell Dlg"; mso-hebrew-font-family: "MS Shell Dlg"; mso-latin-font-family: "MS Shell Dlg"; mso-latinext-font-family: "MS Shell Dlg"; mso-thai-font-family: "MS Shell Dlg";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">Bilingual Minister! ..and a supporting congregation!</span></span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18.0pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 125%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="language: en-US;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxqivxtZFP_e54X2py7spBSaFIUNeojZuh45IVXwTGq4FkAeBmMTAvETIEK6aOSRPTFO7IxdYrv2t-HXFXumW7hyphenhyphen4ofKRsw-6WxxLNlR00zq-g3chaGOX7t4pGToAUedk9rpEECQ/s1600/Picture2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxqivxtZFP_e54X2py7spBSaFIUNeojZuh45IVXwTGq4FkAeBmMTAvETIEK6aOSRPTFO7IxdYrv2t-HXFXumW7hyphenhyphen4ofKRsw-6WxxLNlR00zq-g3chaGOX7t4pGToAUedk9rpEECQ/s200/Picture2.png" width="150" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUIopOAiTOEvxLietPSDwlIwXZIcGUki8qt7axplB0vb7fcJRK7d8-2a9JOkkL3vsujU_KEjmlWasZe4AUgrqXEF1VYRCR88JdYa_L7RiOpAnWeJvpsxJN7w38e8ukrO3-YqKR8w/s1600/Picture3.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUIopOAiTOEvxLietPSDwlIwXZIcGUki8qt7axplB0vb7fcJRK7d8-2a9JOkkL3vsujU_KEjmlWasZe4AUgrqXEF1VYRCR88JdYa_L7RiOpAnWeJvpsxJN7w38e8ukrO3-YqKR8w/s200/Picture3.png" width="155" /></a><span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.0pt; language: en-US; line-height: 125%; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial;">For 23 years a local congregation has supported our bi-lingual minister. That began with Calvin Henry, to Ken Lewis to Steve Austin to Steven Wells who just left to do graduate work in St. Louis. </span><span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.0pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 125%; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial;">That congregation can no longer support this position</span><span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.0pt; language: en-US; line-height: 125%; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial;">. Two candidates are scheduled to come seeking to fill that vacancy. Both are fully aware of the financial shortfall we are experiencing. Please pray that we can find suitable support to this very vital work. Our rapidly growing Spanish-speaking outreach is one of our most important staff positions.</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.0pt; language: en-US; line-height: 125%;"> </span><span lang="en-US" style="language: en-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>ThinkWells (formerly Impact Houston)http://www.blogger.com/profile/00664189027844038084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19017274.post-71077901409199106042010-09-09T20:27:00.000-07:002010-09-09T20:27:03.611-07:00<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="es-CO" style="font-family: 'Juice ITC'; font-size: 36pt; font-weight: bold; line-height: 125%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">“How I Spent My Summer Internship...”</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="es-CO" style="font-family: 'Juice ITC'; font-weight: bold; line-height: 125%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">by Ezequiel Lopez</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="es-CO" style="font-family: 'Juice ITC'; font-weight: bold; line-height: 125%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: blue;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="es-CO" style="font-family: 'Juice ITC'; font-weight: bold; line-height: 125%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;">We have already reported on how 3 of Impact’s young men left to </span></span></span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-cyrillic-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-default-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-greek-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-latin-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-latinext-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;">serve in other ministries for the summer. Ezequiel Lopez was asked to report on his experiences:</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihucPIZeBZIKQyqWHFZGyrpHWbw485Z7QD6duQ27Q4862usO8iwJNCB9lxDu1PayidCwHwRB7EVFAlNxuOlSKiYLSLe3Xkm2q0UFpCWi5oiRZZlR1ChZD6U0N4UhtTIENON5gOg/s1600/zeke.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihucPIZeBZIKQyqWHFZGyrpHWbw485Z7QD6duQ27Q4862usO8iwJNCB9lxDu1PayidCwHwRB7EVFAlNxuOlSKiYLSLe3Xkm2q0UFpCWi5oiRZZlR1ChZD6U0N4UhtTIENON5gOg/s320/zeke.png" /></a><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-cyrillic-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-default-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-greek-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-latin-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-latinext-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I was able to spend my summer in an urban area of Tulsa, Oklahoma working with Contact Church of Christ. While there I was able to work with youth, who lived in impoverished neighborhoods. I was able to go to camp with many of them at the beginning of the summer and get to know them by living, playing, and worshipping with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also learned this summer that the best way to communicate with a teenager is by doing the things they like, which is play video-games. So we would do that with a couple of teens on Friday, just to hang out and relax. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-cyrillic-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-default-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-greek-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-latin-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-latinext-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
Another thing that I was able to do and learn from this summer was Contact Bible Club (CBC), which is similar to Impact’s Vacation bible school. We would go every Tuesday and Thursday to one apartment complex and go knock on doors, find some kids and bring them to the Recreation Center. Inside they would have government snacks ready for them before we started. We would start by singing (led by me), Skits (led by Kayla Bilby and performed by our Contact youth kids), crafts (led by Kaytie Jo Stinson), then “Ticket Time” (led by me!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the part where the kids are allowed to be as noisy and as crazy as they can be just for a piece of gum. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-cyrillic-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-default-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-greek-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-latin-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-latinext-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
This summer has been, hands down, one of the best summer’s I have ever had. I was able to fellowship not only with the adults of the church, but also with the teens and the youth. Thanks to all of those who were able to make this summer possible, either financially or through prayer. I had a life-changing experience, thanks to God and to the support of many friends.”</span><span lang="en-US" style="language: en-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><br />
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</div>ThinkWells (formerly Impact Houston)http://www.blogger.com/profile/00664189027844038084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19017274.post-50368947476377409902010-09-09T20:20:00.000-07:002010-10-21T20:59:27.814-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqTjE9YLT51pKN6XqmW9_yeiPyQezCMiPm6XsRrNPMcSlMTrl5IBbFA-osmGz1nsFgqKYheFnz6iFZYl8pi99CV2Asmq2YanYSEEyiK_Oqp7lQFy71DWz_m8uJdllAPXXKEfZZDg/s1600/Picture6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqTjE9YLT51pKN6XqmW9_yeiPyQezCMiPm6XsRrNPMcSlMTrl5IBbFA-osmGz1nsFgqKYheFnz6iFZYl8pi99CV2Asmq2YanYSEEyiK_Oqp7lQFy71DWz_m8uJdllAPXXKEfZZDg/s1600/Picture6.png" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Still dripping from her recent baptism, this TSU student, Ameena is not just pursuing higher education but her Savior, Jesus Christ. There is just so much to celebrate!</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><br />
</div>ThinkWells (formerly Impact Houston)http://www.blogger.com/profile/00664189027844038084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19017274.post-30735620206543013792010-08-04T15:20:00.000-07:002010-08-04T15:20:27.344-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5FwuINae3PE9jJI8Hgnh8c7WD65-xp0ed9KncDS2RYwsX0Hn1rC_0hAvQgLh8KMoZgfW7dthHjw4eZRCs1U4udT-NaP6GwgMQ1AGe7wYOypGYTyC5D2DnOjqXXMnw9j2CnavwLQ/s1600/074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5FwuINae3PE9jJI8Hgnh8c7WD65-xp0ed9KncDS2RYwsX0Hn1rC_0hAvQgLh8KMoZgfW7dthHjw4eZRCs1U4udT-NaP6GwgMQ1AGe7wYOypGYTyC5D2DnOjqXXMnw9j2CnavwLQ/s320/074.JPG" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="en-US"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Impact Distribution Center Makes the News</span></span></b></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_jRnKAQZWTbzEqetEj-dGK4M9h3ckzpyxW4b3CLR19iZIGdMk8LwQpjGNvyW4ezivCdARHyvk7p_bOk1ODvLyuB0LjaX7ecVk403DcaJAtcCrtg6PgJ5OHgXOqYNONM_9t1XaoQ/s1600/11SPIRIT.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_jRnKAQZWTbzEqetEj-dGK4M9h3ckzpyxW4b3CLR19iZIGdMk8LwQpjGNvyW4ezivCdARHyvk7p_bOk1ODvLyuB0LjaX7ecVk403DcaJAtcCrtg6PgJ5OHgXOqYNONM_9t1XaoQ/s320/11SPIRIT.JPG" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: right; text-align: right;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-cyrillic-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-default-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-greek-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-latin-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-latinext-font-family: "Times New Roman";">by Christine Haas / 11 News<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: right; text-align: right;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-cyrillic-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-default-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-greek-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-latin-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-latinext-font-family: "Times New Roman";">khou.com<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: right; text-align: right;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-cyrillic-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-default-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-greek-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-latin-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-latinext-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Posted on July 20, 2010 at 5:37 PM<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-cyrillic-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-default-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-greek-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-latin-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-latinext-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The article and video begin like this:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-cyrillic-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-default-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-greek-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-latin-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-latinext-font-family: "Times New Roman";">HOUSTON -- “In a nameless two-story building, barely visible from the daily commute on I-10, Houstonians are making a difference in the lives of those in need.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-cyrillic-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-default-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-greek-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-latin-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-latinext-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The building houses donated food -- food that provides meals for hungry local families every day.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-cyrillic-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-default-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-greek-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-latin-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-latinext-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Anna Castro’s family of five is among those aided by the donations. Castro’s family gets their food in a 50-pound box – a month’s supply of groceries.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-cyrillic-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-default-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-greek-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-latin-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-latinext-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And they aren’t alone…..”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-cyrillic-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-default-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-greek-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-latin-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-latinext-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Impact Distribution Center is participating in a program to provide families with children extra food during difficult times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Close to a thousand have applied at Impact alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Until October, trucks will arrive at Impact three Fridays a month to serve a portion of applicants who will receive one 50-lb portion of foods one time each month.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To see the video go to:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #660033; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-cyrillic-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-default-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-greek-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-latin-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-latinext-font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://www.khou.com/home/Houston-Food-Bank-helps-local-families-find-their-next-meals-98875079.html<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-cyrillic-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-default-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-greek-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-latin-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-latinext-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Or, read the article entitled, “</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US;">Houston Food Bank helps local families find their next meals.”</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-cyrillic-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-default-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-greek-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-latin-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-latinext-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><br />
</div>ThinkWells (formerly Impact Houston)http://www.blogger.com/profile/00664189027844038084noreply@blogger.com0