When Johnnie walked in for Community Meal, a wave of peace washed over him; the same peace he remembered from Lubbock Impact as a child. Just days earlier, he had attended a funeral meal there for his uncle, and the familiar setting stirred memories of shared meals and Bible study from years ago. On this bitterly cold January night, those memories drew him back through the doors once more. 

As he smiled and shared his story, there was a quiet comfort in his eyes, and a deep joy in knowing that while the faces may have changed, the heart of the mission had not. Lubbock Impact was still meeting needs and sharing the love of Christ, just as it had when he was young. 

As Johnnie prepared to step back out into the cold, a volunteer asked if he could use some gloves, hand warmers, lotion, and a beanie. The bundle had been lovingly prepared by a church group months earlier each item tucked into a gallon Ziploc bag alongside handwritten prayers, saved for nights exactly like this, when the cold cuts deep to the bone. 

Johnnie chose a bag, and when he looked up, his eyes were filled with tears.
“I was about to leave here to go buy gloves and a hat for work tomorrow,” he said. “I didn’t really have the extra $20 for these items, and look, the Lord provided them.” 

Planning ahead is what allows us to meet the needs of today. For many families, that extra $20 is the difference between having gas to get to work, keeping up with a higher-than-usual electricity bill during cold weather, or putting food on the table. For households living below the poverty line, planning ahead can feel impossible when every day is about simply making it through. 

Sometimes, a simple pair of gloves for work is more than just warmth. It’s the encouragement someone needs to keep moving forward.