Easter Sunday church participation.

MAN TIME

Hispanic Men's Retreat 2007

This past Easter weekend, enough men were free enough to spend the weekend together getting to know one another better, and hearing what God has to say about being a man from His word. Charlie and Mollie Middlebrook were kind enough to provide a place near Galveston for us to lodge. The plan was to do some fishing and play around at the beach (soccer, etc.), but the weather was a big surprise. 40 degree temps and rain just didn't match up to the things we had on our agenda. There were even table games and cards to take advantage of as well. However, all we seemed to do outside of the planned lessons and worship was cook, eat, and talk. We talked late into the early morning. Its not what we had in mind, but it turned out to be one of the best things we could have done. There were some guys there that really needed to make the connections that were made. Now, I don't want to take away from some of the powerful times we had in the presentations and discussions. There were some things that really hit home and encouraged us, but the hanging-out that occurred may have been were God moved the most. Thanks for your prayers for this retreat.

$41,000.00!!!!

Join us in praising God for the success of this year's Garage Sale that will benefit the operations of Impact. It takes a lot of cooperation to keep things running, and it takes a lot of cooperation to pull of such an immense project as our annual Garage Sale at Trader's Village. Thanks to all who contributed to this effort. Thank God for His provision.

Spring Break Pics!

No Break for Spring

Its Spring Break, but that means no resting at Impact. We are busy with many wonderful activities right now. We have been blessed with wonderful groups of students who have dedicated their brief moments away from studies to come be with US and serve in the downtown Houston area. This week, our second Spring Break group (a mix of students from Tech/LCU, ACU and SFA) is helping out wherever they can, but primarily giving the Literacy Program a boost with a mini-reading camp similar to a VBS program. They are splitting up to get as many things done as possible. Last week, the Pepperdine group spent a lot of time with people, getting to know and reach out to our neighbors and friends. Next week the Oklahoma group will be fully engaged with the rest of the church in preparing for the Garage Sale. All groups, however, are getting a good taste of what goes on here by going out to Liberty Island with Les Rose to sing with and encourage the handicapped and otherwise challenged residents there. They are involved with many campus improvement projects, like cleaning, painting, spreading gravel, and equipment installation. They lend a hand at the Distribution Center organizing the clothing area as well as prepping for the upcoming Garage Sale. Each group receives hands-on experience in the ministry here, while accomplishing special tasks that only special service groups have the time to attack. We hope that they leave feeling that they have made a difference, because they have! We hope also that they leave having had a special encounter with Christ and what He is calling them to do.

Garage Sale reminder!

Don’t forget the Impact Garage Sale out at Trader’s Village, March 24-25. Its an amazing experience seeing the biggest garage sale in the world, and seeing so many people collaborating to raise money for Houston’s downtown ministry.

Special Invitation!!!

from the Impact Homecoming Committee:
Come reunite to celebrate 20 years at Impact! Events include: tours, a "catch-up" dinner, breakfast and ballgames at the park, Impact ministries showcase, an international dinner, storytelling, a special Homecoming Sunday service, and more!
Friday, June 8, 9:00am - Sunday, June 10, 4:00pm
Impact Houston Church of Christ1704 Weber, Houston, TX View Map

Impact Represents

At the beginning of March, Impact was able to participate in the Washington on Washington Parade. Many businesses, schools, and churches close to Washington Avenue celebrated Washington's birthday with a parade and got out to support the community. Impact was represented by a float made and presented by Impact members. We try to be as present in the community in as many ways as possible.

Hispanic Youth to Mineola

Recently 18 of the Hispanic youth traveled to Mineola, Tx to participate in a Hispanic youth rally. This gave this section of our Impact youth group a special time to bond, and it opened their eyes to a growing number of Hispanic works within the body of Christ in Texas. Special activities like this not only increase the community of our young people locally, but it also grows their perspective and heart for the mission of the church globally. Special thanks to Miguel Castillo and Abby Arango for chaperoning, and special thanks to all who give to Impact. It is the combination of local servants and helpers-from-a-distance that make so many things possible for the glory of God. Recently 18 of the Hispanic youth traveled to Mineola, Tx to participate in a Hispanic youth rally. This gave this section of our Impact youth group a special time to bond, and it opened their eyes to a growing number of Hispanic works within the body of Christ in Texas. Special activities like this not only increase the community of our young people locally, but it also grows their perspective and heart for the mission of the church globally. Special thanks to Miguel Castillo and Abby Arango for chaperoning, and special thanks to all who give to Impact. It is the combination of local servants and helpers-from-a-distance that make so many things possible for the glory of God.

Greatest Joy and Greatest Need

This past Sunday as we took the Hispanic members of Impact to worship with the church in Kingwood, we had a chance to show some things that were going on at Impact. At the end of the presentation, I was asked, "What is your greatest joy working with Impact, and what is the greatest need that you see there?" My answer to the greatest joy was "The people.." and what God does in their lives. My answer to the second part, the greatest need I see, was to get those people that God has touched to be prepared to share what God has done with others. Of course, that is what we all need to do, and I back that answer, but I know that behind the question was another question, " What can I do to help?" There are many of you asking the same question, so here is a short list:

1. Pray!

2. Donate to the Garage Sale. (see earlier blog for details)

3. Support a child for the Summer Program.

4. Invite someone to the Impact Celebration Dinner.

5. Volunteer as a tutor for our literacy program, Lit Up.

"No Words, Just Action; Just Jesus…”
Violent, not because he has an evil heart. Violent, because he has an illness of not being able to control himself. Hands flying, feet kicking, and head shaking. How do you minister to him? Or do you get with the Eldership and ask them to tell him not to attend services here? But wait a minute… We are in the middle of the Communion devotion when the one who is leading us into those thoughts reflects on the sacrifice of our Lord and gets choked up and teary-eyed. The man who had been perceived violent, with his hands flying, feet kicking and head shaking walks up front, wearing shorts and SILENTLY… --What is he doing? He's going up front! He reaches out with his hand and gently pats the Brother (who is choked up) on his shoulders, then turns around and walks back to his seat. To the ordinary eye it just looked like a nice gesture, but to the spiritual eye, we saw Jesus! All of His love, all of His grace, all of His mercy wrapped up in the act of one man who was considered violent and out of control. No fear of standing up, no fear of what someone in the crowd might say, and no fear of stepping out: just Jesus teaching without saying a word. We continue to pray and with anticipation look forward to Jesus showing up in our services that He might teach us. -Les Rose

Michael Broussard Service, Ind. Hall, Feb. 7, 2007
Sometimes we are like the little boy who was overheard talking to himself as he strutted through the backyard, wearing his baseball cap and toting a ball & bat. "I’m the greatest hitter in the world," he announced. Then he tossed the ball into the air, swung at it, and missed. "Strike One!" he yelled. Undaunted, he picked up the ball and said again, "I’m the greatest hitter in the world!" He tossed the ball into the air. When it came down, he swung again and missed. "Strike two!" He cried.The boy then paused a moment to examine his bat & ball carefully. He spit on his hands and rubbed them together. He straightened his cap and said once more, "I’m the greatest hitter in the world!" Again he tossed the ball up in the air and swung at it. He missed. "Strike Three!" "Wow" the boy exclaimed, "I’m the greatest pitcher in the world."

Ron Sellers used this illustration as he spoke of Michael Broussard who passed away recently. Micheal was one of those special Impact members that maybe very few know about, but those who got to know him were greatly impacted by his servant heart and his positive spirit. He was an encouragement to his community volunteering on various activity committees at Independence Hall. "He was always there to help," said one of his friends at the assisted living facility. "Even though he had to cart around his own oxygen tank, he would never let me attempt to carry a card table when we were setting up for something." That is one of a lifetime of examples. No matter the burden he already had to carry, he was looking out for others.

My brother Micheal was part of my Sunday routine. He stayed in the same spot during the Sunday lunches, and it was just part of my rhythm to pass by Micheal, squeeze his shoulders and say "How's it going?" He always had a positive response and a warm smile. The oxygen tank he carried around didn't slow him down. The massive growth on his nose may have hindered his breathing, but it didn't hinder his desire to help. His physical and material situations were no match for his spiritual situation. He was a child of God who served in his community, chose to be apart of the Impact family, and grew and served alongside us here. We will miss his presence and we will miss his spirit, but we are grateful for his ability to show us how to see past what our first glance hits and focus on the blessing and opportunity thatis in the reality before us. Micheal Broussard did not strike out in life. He was an all-star to those who knew him.

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Kingwood Church's Impact

One of many Impact supporters, Kingwood Church of Christ is using the next few weeks to continue to celebrate and focus in on its mission efforts. Though they have several incredible works that they are very involved in, Impact has been on their heart from close to the beginning of the work in downtown Houston. Their biggest contribution has been in support of the bilingual minister position over the years. As they celebrate what God has been doing to spread the good news of His Son across the street and around the world, we celebrate them for thier faithfulness. They are constantly supplying clothes for the Distribution Center. They share in the joy of sereving lunches at Impact Sundays. They have a heart for the children and families, participating in the Christmas activities and presents, helping put together parties for the kids here, and raising their own youth to have the heart to serve at Impact as interns and volunteers. The list of their contributions as a church and as individuals goes on and on.

We really can't thank them enough for their prayers, help, and support. They play a great part in sustaining what we do at Impact, and much of what is done is never noticed, and usually that is how they want it. We want to thank them and show them due honor, but they would just deflect that honor to the One that truly provides all our needs. Thank you Kingwood for what you do. Thank you God for what you do through their efforts.

The thing is, I could say much of the very same and more about many other churches in the Houston area. It really is incredible how churches come together for Impact to make an impact in the lives of so many needy people. Thank you, thank you, thank you to all of you who give and give and give. May God bless you, and may He guide us as we continue to seek to serve Him. -All for His glory.

Impact, 20 Years!!

Sharing with our Lord in the heart of Houston these 20 years has been a journey of faith and joy. Our Father placed our hand in the hands of thousands whom He loves in the city. From that first gathering at Lee school in 1987 to the present, souls from very different life pathways have come together to honor the Lord and serve others. A love feast began that soon united people desperately needing God’s love with His people desperate to love.

A small group of Christians sought to walk where Jesus would walk. The Lord provided various sites to assemble in worship, study, and share God’s blessings like Lee School, the YMCA, rec. centers, University of Houston, Star of Hope, Salvation Army, two different structures on White Oak, an office building, a Washington Ave., Allen Parkway Village, and a warehouse on Weber St.

Bible studies were begun in homes, on the street, and around park benches. Door knocking began in inner city neighborhoods, the projects, and in missions. Bread and the bread of life were distributed freely. Children were loved. The poor were blessed. Races were united. Cups of water were offered in His name. The Good News was proclaimed. Precious souls were saved!

Our Father brought people together to love Him and one another. Sunday school, Tues. and Wed. night classes were added. Bible clubs sprung up. Youth and college groups began coming from churches and universities. Spring Break and Summer Campaigns brought blessings to those on the streets, in the shelters, and in neighborhoods. Expanded VBS including a reading program involved summer interns, Impact, and local and out-of-town volunteers. Thousands were touched through tender outreach to human need through food and clothing distribution. Prayer, God’s word, and Christian love were extended to all. An ex-offender program was initiated. Homeless outreach offered hot food, blankets, coats, shoes, sleeping bags, shower and laundry facilities along with generous portions of love. Preschoolers and their parents were received through a small day care that operated out of an apartment, a house, a park, the church, finally growing into its own facility next door, Small Steps Nurturing Center. Currently, children are served at this First Ward facility and at the new facility recently opened in 5th Ward.

In the meantime, a Christian Camp for boys and girls was established on Lake Travis in Central Texas. It continues to develop and make a difference for Christ in the lives of children.

Right here at home, the Youth Development Center began as an after school tutoring/mentoring program for middle school youth. It continues to nurture youth through an important phase of life and moves ever nearer a goal of becoming a special school with Christian values.

The Lord has also blessed us to send out and join hands in the planting of other urban churches. One of our young couples led the way in planting and growing the Fortress Church in Fort Worth. One of our high school interns went back home to Abilene with a dream which evolved into planting the New Life Church. New Life celebrated its 10th birthday last Sunday. Another of our special young couples transferred to Oregon to be part of a church planting team that started the Portland Urban Ministry Project. Then we had the privilege of sending off one of our young ministers to plant a church in the Bronx, NYC. We have been given the privilege of being a resource for the planting of a number of other congregations in places like Oklahoma, Colorado, and Alabama. We have also been privileged to have a part in the starting of new ministries in Spanish in the Houston area and beyond.

Thanks be to God for all the blessings of these 20 years. May each of us freely offer ourselves to Him toward His plans for the future. -Ron Sellers

Upcoming Garage Sale!
Already donors are calling in to receive more information concerning the annual Garage Sale that benefits the ministries and basic operations of Impact for the year. Keep MARCH 24 & 25 marked on your calendars and come out to Traders Village to volunteer or do some shopping! You can support this effort by donating quality items that will draw shoppers, OR volunteer your time in preparing for the big day. Starting the Wednesday before the weekend's sale, we need your help in sorting and organizing items for the sale. If you would like to donate items and arrange for someone to pick them up or know where to drop them off, please contact Felton Benton at 832-729-5222. If you would like to volunteer in any way, please call the office at 713-864-5667. More than anything, keep the Impact Garage Sale in your prayers, and let's see what God does through this event and through what He wants to accomplish through Impact.

Merry Christmas!

Charity is more than giving things to poor people. Charity is love, and that is what was shown at Impact in December. Sure, arranging the gift-giving between needy families, and families that wanted to be helpful was a taxing effort for the go-between ministers, Impact members and various volunteers, but it was well worth it to connect households through charity. Did the needy families ASK for help? Maybe in some instances, but rarely. Did the giving families and churches HAVE to give anything to these families? Not in the least. But there is something inside of us that enjoys giving to others, and that desires to make a difference or extend blessings to others. That "something" was put there by God, and these opportunities to give have been made possible through the dreams, passions, and determinations of His servants at Impact and various other churches in the Houston area. We plan on continuing in allowing families to continue to exercise their charity, just as we continue to minister to families and individuals who are in great need. That desire comes from God, and continues through the prayer and support of the many people who want to be a part of expressing charity: the grace that was first shown to us which overwhelms us to pass along to others. Please keep praying for Impact and for what God can do through you and us together for Him.

p.s. Let the blogger wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. My family is here to serve through the charity of the Kingwood Church of Christ. Thank God for them, and thank God for all of you who keep the work and ministries at Impact going.
Dios te bendiga,
Steven Wells and Family

Suit Up and Show Up, and God Will Do the Rest

Some days you don’t want to get up. Some days you just don’t want to face what you know is coming. Some days you just don’t know what to expect. Some days are like all the others, while others bring the unexpected. But you wake up and the day is here.

How do you see that day? Are you wondering where your next meal will come from? Maybe you have a good idea where you might find work, but you can’t seem to find enough change for the bus to get across town where the opportunity awaits, (if it still is available). Maybe you know that you will get what you need today, but the people you will probably see are just waiting to give you grief. Will you make it through the day without being abused? These are a few of the contemplations common in the “Wards” of downtown Houston, as well as many other places all around us.

Speaking with my buddy Darrell, I am always reminded of the kind of day it is going to be. Today is the Lord’s day. What a blessing just to be able to get up and breathe! But I’m not just gonna sit here and be glad to be alive. If this day was given to me by my Creator and God, then I know He has work for me to do. There’s a purpose for this day. Whether it turns out to be so similar to many other days, or whether it contains an unexpected turn, it is my job to face it. I need to be prepared for whatever He brings my way. This is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it.

But what if what today brings some horrible event? What if I’m faced with something I don’t feel like I can do? It doesn’t matter. God brought it to you. Your job in the morning is to “suit up and show up.” Outside of that, what are YOU going to do today really? Wake up with praise on your lips, suit up with the full armor of God in your morning time with Him. Go out into the world ready to serve, knowing that the strength you need for EVERYTHING will be given to you as He apportions it. Just suit up and show up, and God will do the rest. That is something worth getting up to see. That is something worth getting up to do.

“Thank you Lord, for Impact”

In the Spirit of the Holidays, we would like to express our thanks to God for all of His provision and blessing, especially the blessing of IMPACT. Here are what some members wanted to express:

"I am thankful for the Impact people that go outta their way to help me and others even when they don't deserve it" - Ashely Cooks

More “Thank You” notes to God...

The first grade girls on Wednesday nights are thankful for God, their family, friends, the entire 1st grade girls class, and Miss Ashely & Miss Chevone.

I am thankful for being God ‘s servant and praying he allows me to continue to spread his word to his kingdom. I am thankful for family and friends. -Chevone McKinney

I am thankful for the lessons I am learning from the Impact children. Some are wise beyond their years, and some just want to have fun. With that combination, ministry at Impact is an adventure!
-Laurie Templeton

I'm thankful for how God always provides. That can sound a bit trite and over-used, but I am continually reminded that during the ups and downs of ministry and what feels like a constant high-wire act of balancing limited resources, God always provides (sometimes through people like you) just what we need to accomplish what He has called us to do. -Patrick Lemmons

"I am thankful that Impact is a praying church, they will
never leave you without calling on God." - Barbara Garcia

I am thankful to work for a church that makes families a priority. I am thankful to work with men and women who love God and Jesus and are not ashamed of them. I am thankful for my wife and son. -Wesley J Fikes

Se compuesto mi vida. Impact ha cambiado mi vida. Soy muy bendecida. Hay mucho que contarme aqui. Es un privilegio estar aquí. –Gloria Ponce

I am thankful to be part of a ministry that loves and serves physically and mentally challenged people.
I am thankful that Impact will be celebrating a twenty year anniversary in January 2007. I am thankful God has provided for Impact for 20 years by way of His wonderfully generous followers.
I am thankful underserved children have a place to learn about Jesus.
I am thankful that God loves people.
-Paul Woodward


“Over 20 years I think of all the people who are now waiting for the rest of us in Heaven. There are many who are now with the Lord, who came to faith through the outreach at Impact. There is quite a group from Ind. Hall: Vera Dement, Mary Foster, Ann Haley, Faye Miget, Ray, Bobby Kearns, Texas Dabney, Big John O'Laughlin, Ron Brown, and Sandra Luce.

Many of our "Outdoorsmen" lived a short time on the earth, but have eternity to enjoy the Lord. Some names that come to mind are: Dick, Danny, Cowboy, Ron, John, Bobby, Vladimir (Gary Polsgrove), and Jim Hatley. Several of them we helped unite with loved ones here. They will bless us with a grand reunion in the hereafter.” -Ron Sellers

Making an Impact in Cuba
Impact Members help send Minister to train Ministers.


With the help of Impact members and other friends, bilingual minister Steven Wells and local minister and professor at TGCBI, Armando Alaniz were recently sent to Cuba. Not the easiest trip to arrange, God made it possible for these two men to enter the country under a religious visa to present an educational seminar to 33 ministers from congregations scattered throughout the country. Experiencing a socialist society, striking differences made lasting impressions. Always punctual and very disciplined, the Cuban people look out for one another, which is a great quality, even if it is out of a deep rooted sense of duty to the state. The students took full advantage of their opportunities to learn about communication skills and teaching principles that they could take home and teach to their respective congregations. Every opportunity to gather is seized because they know that their religious liberties have limitations. They are free to spread their message of hope to a lost world, which is a freedom that is not taken lightly. Pray for the work in Cuba, as God has raised up passionate leaders, and dedicated churches who are grateful for what they are given and eager to make an Impact for Christ.

Bountiful Harvest Shows What CAN Happen


The Angleton Church of Christ congregation showed that nothing is impossible with God’s help. Last year, they collected enough cans to take care of the Impact Distribution Center’s need for the entire year. The day before the last can ran out, Angleton topped their efforts during their “Mission Possible” campaign where our own Les Rose was a featured speaker. The second night, Angleton made a special presentation of 10,445 cans of food for Impact’s food distribution. We expect this to meet another year’s needs for the homeless and needy families in our area.
Les Rose is thankful for the amazing outpouring of generosity by churches like Angleton and others that donate resources, time, financial help, and prayer support to fuel the ministries of Impact.

Fall Festival Fun

On October 28th, we loaded up two buses and six vans with 140 princesses, Spidermen, bunny rabbits, and cute little monsters. The Fall Festival at Memorial Church of Christ was an absolute frightening sucess! Many thanks go to Fall Festival Co-chairs Patrice McKinney, Connie McCaskell, and their hosts of volunteers. We love you and we cannot wait until next year's Fall Festival. -Laurie Templeton

Just Gotta Take Out the "I" Factor


“I’m just an Easter Lilly, Swaying to and Fro, Spreading Joy and Sunshine, Everywhere I go.”

Darrell Washington remembers this little poem he learned for a program from when he was 5 years old. After spending a lifetime of trying to find a lifestyle suited to his own desires, his roller coaster of experiences found him crashed at the bottom of existence.
Not until he stumbled across Impact’s outdoorsman program did Darrell really begin to find something to cling to: Jesus. It was His voice that helped him to, instead, “let go.”
That is what keeps him going. Utter dependence on God. He comes up to Impact all week long to cook and clean in the kitchen. Yes, he’s there to serve, but he claims that he has to be there because he can’t survive on his own. Still haunted by his former life, he wakes up daily thankful for another day, and uses the entire time trying to keep the focus on God, not himself. In fact, he uses that same message to minister to those around him, reminding them to take out the “I” factor and live for God’s purposes. He’s quick to remind you of his constant struggles, but his enthusiasm for prayer and redirecting attention to God speaks powerfully for the way God is working in his heart. Whether it’s a childhood poem or an answered prayer, Darrell gets the message that this life is about glorifying the Father, and he remembers his purpose: “spreading God’s joy and sunshine everywhere he goes.”
That’s what Darrell does for me, at least, every time I see him. I’d thank him, but he’d just say, “No. Thank God!” -Steven Wells