A Gift of Space

Last week Mimi, Cindy, David and I were guests at a luncheon hosted by the Board of The Healing Place. The event was held in their new facilities at University Baptist Church. Many of you will remember that the organization got its beginning because we shared our Family Life Center with them several times a week. Their ministry outgrew our available space necessitating their move. The lunch was a way of thanking our congregation in general and Mimi, Cindy, and David, in particular for the efforts made in order for them to get this wonderful agency off the ground. We wish them well and are proud of what they have become and our part in helping that take place.

One of the important parts of our ministry that might get overlooked is how we have aided such helping agencies to get started. Our congregation has been a willing host to a number of groups. Just now I saw the students of one of our English as Second Language classes leaving the building. That group has known grown to two large classes and is making a significant difference in the lives of people new to our nation and to our area. Of course our feeding ministries continue. The “Feed My People” program provides 600-800 breakfasts a week to homeless people. We also host the Downtown truck for Mobile Loaves and Fishes. These and so many others are extensions of our ministry. Sometimes we refer to it as a ministry of space and it is a ministry indeed to be willing to share our facilities with others in order to make live better for God’s people in the Austin area.