What is Impact?

     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. 

     Impact is a place 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. 

     Impact is a place 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. 

     Impact is a place 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. 

     Impact is a place 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. 
    
     Impact is the place 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.


"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.  Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.  And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.  Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.  For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.'  Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?  And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?  And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?'  And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'
Matthew 25:31-40

Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to him, saying,  "Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.  Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it."
Luke 18:15-17

My journey to Impact...

Five years or so ago, I decided to stick around Fort Smith and attend the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith.  Partly for the campus ministry that I knew would grow, but also because it was free.  That spring our new campus minister Shane Hughes took us to a campus ministry conference at Oklahoma State University.  There I met my future boss and youth director Dennis, who told me all about interning at Impact during the summer.  My first summer in college I was forced to stay and take summer classes, which was dismal and boring.

Another year passed, and I knew I needed to something related to ministry just because I'd always considered doing some sort of ministry.  Spring Break that year, we went to Abilene on a Spring Break Campaign to work with the New Life Church in Abilene.  New Life is a church that is similar to Impact, and working with them only increased my excitement for the summer. I couldn't wait to get the summer started after that trip.

My first summer at Impact I worked with middle school, which made me hesitant at first knowing that middle schoolers were impossible.  We got to take the kids to New Mexico to work with a church, and to one of my favorite places, Camp of the Hills.  In the weeks we were in town, we spent time doing small groups, service projects, attending area wide youth events, and other fun things around town.  It was a rewarding and challenging summer, I had moments of joy when a kid would just be like Jesus standing in front of me.  Other times, I would have to break up a fight, or discover one of my kids was pregnant.

The past two summers, I have worked with our high school group at Impact.  Which is the group I will primarily working with full-time in the future.  In the summers, we take our kids to camps like Camp of the Hills, Wilderness Trek in Colorado, and to work with another inner city church in Tulsa.  We do many service projects and small groups throughout the weeks that we are in Houston.  Our high school is such a fun group to be with, and a group that serves and loves each other deeply, and I am blessed to be a part of it.

I am excited to continue working with my kids at Impact, and showing them more and more about Jesus and what it means to be a Christian in the world they live in.  In doing this I know that I will be the one who discovers Jesus probably more than they will.  I have seen and will continue to see Jesus in their eyes and in the hearts.

Grace and Peace,

John