A Good Opportunity
by Chris Lemmons
Many years ago, Impact began a relationship with the Oxford Place Apartments. That relationship consists mostly of van routes, which pick up kids for various events throughout the school year and for church on Sundays. Leading up to the summer, the Impact youth team hosts a cookout and time of play for the kids to drum up interest in the summer programs. Also, the goal is to meet and start a dialogue with new parents and residents about what the unconditional love of Jesus looks like to us.
A new addition to this event was the idea to bring along leftover bread and produce from our normal Resource Center food distributions. Our rule for those wanting to pick out items was that kids had to go tell their parents to come get food, instead of the kids picking it out. This obviously gave us an opportunity to meet more people and tell them all the things that happen around Impact. Also, this began what is now a regular, once-a-month opportunity to bless the residents and use our leftovers in a more helpful way.
Another awesome thing that has come from this event was the realization that with all the people in need and with all the areas of Houston located in food deserts, what an opportunity there could be to establish new relationships with apartment communities. Please be in prayer for communities to present themselves and for receptive management. We thank God for all the things he is already doing at Impact and trust that this endeavor will be successful.
