February 2011

"Impact at age 24: What we did

right and what we did wrong."
Impact Houston Church of Christ
HOUSTON’S INNER-CITY

See Facebook: Impact Houston for

updates
Topics for Conference: Youth,
MINISTRY

Spanish Ministry, Distribution

Center, Para Church
Organizations, Homeless,
February 25-26, Recovery, Spring Break
Campaigns,
Benevolence, Fundraising,
Worship, Transportation, Staff
Burnout, Administration. Q&A
“We are pilgrims, all of us, not yet home, not always offered after each
knowing the way home, but journeying on, usually with session. Opportunities for
lightheartedness, even mirth as we travel. Sometimes attendees to overview the work in
storms affront us, threatening, even exacting great loss, their respective locations.
confusing us, wounding us. In those times we are not
NEWS

Housing: You are welcome to

lighthearted, but downcast. When not focused on the stay in our building. We will have
demands of the journey we look around us, at our world, a limited number of homes
observing, remembering, sharing with other our available for lodging. Call the
church office for these
observations. Who knows, someone may benefit by what opportunities: 713.864.5667
we see.” - from “Observations” by Charlie Middlebrook, p.3
See www.impacthouston.org for
Impact will be hosting the National Urban Ministry more information.
Conference February 25 and 26. We hope this will spring-
board into a renewal of the annual conference last held in Inside this issue:
2005. Since that time several missions have failed. We hope to
assess why those failures occurred. We hope also to find new  Urban Ministry Conference p.1
ministries that have begun in other areas. Our title is “24 Years
and Counting: What We Did Right and What We Did  Harvey Honored p. 2
Wrong.” Presenters will be staff with a combined experience
of over 200 years. All areas of our ministry will be discussed  In from the Cold p. 2
with ample time for questions and answers. We will begin on
Friday morning at 8:00 a.m. with registration followed for a  Charlie Middlebrook update p. 3

devotional period with presentations beginning at 9:00

a.m. We will furnish lunch and dinner with coffee and donuts  GARAGE SALE COMING UP p.4

in the mornings. Since we are “on site,” participants will be

able to view our facilities and get a better feel for how we do
what we do. No registration fee required, but we will be
developing an electronic mailing list for future
conferences. Our program ends at noon on Saturday following
another light lunch. Further time for discussions will be made
available as needed. If you are involved in urban ministry or are
being led to begin something, we urge you to join us. If we
Vintage Impact, Vintage Doug
Williams
have learned anything, we know that we are stronger when we
are walking with the others in the Lord. -Impact Ministers

Committed to helping hungry... homeless... hurting people every day.


1415 Constitution Ave.
Stafford, Tx tickets:$20
For online ticket purchases:
www.selahproductions.com
It is never to early to pray
about sponsoring a child or an
intern for a summer at Impact!
It has changed lives,
...It WILL change lives!
Opening its doors as a temporary
shelter during harsh weather, Impact
brings in many new faces who are
surprised how at-home they are
made to feel inside our doors.
Bringing them in is a blessing for
them as well as for us.
Committed to helping hungry... homeless... hurting people every day Page 2
W Honor Where Honor is Due
hat is great about Harvey Davis is the way he would-
respond to the title above. He is not slow in directing all honor
and praise to God, and that is what makes his role at Impact so
great. Not only does he usher worshippers to the throne room of
the Lord as he passionately leads a congregation in song, but he
calls church members, children, and leaders alike to honor the
King in all aspects of their lives. For years Harvey and his wife
Shirley have served at Impact as a worship leader, as an elder, as
a servant. Oh, but if only Impact could claim him as our own! Not
regrettably, Harvey is a servant of Christ first, and as such
blesses the kingdom by inspiring other congregations,
encouraging other leaders, and supporting worthy projects that
bring glory to the Father. Because of all this and more, a host of
gospel artists and singing groups will be honoring Harvey Davis
and Frank Melton jr. for their inspiration and leadership with a
benefit concert, “Go On & Sang” Feb. 19, 2010, 6:00pm at the
Stafford Civic Center in Stafford, TX. Come join us in
celebrating what God has done with this humble servant, and may
you be moved by Harvey’s example to live a richer life of giving
honor to Whom all honor is due.
“The first question the priest and the levite
asked was: ‘If I stop to help this man, what
will happen to me?’ But...the Good
Samaritan reversed the question: ‘If I do
not stop to help this man, what will happen
to him?’” -Martin Luther King, Jr.
In My Father’s House
For the second time in as many months, we are housing the homeless to escape
the freezing cold weather of south Texas. We house if the temperature will be
below freezing for four hours or more. That means we house infrequently in
Houston, but not this year. Three days in January and four days in February
will be a record for us. The men from our Recovery Program man the kitchen
(three meals per day) and assist in housing and overseeing the “guests”. We
house from 49 to 70 per night. Some stay all day because of the unusually
cold days. It just seems like something we should be doing, so we do.
-Doug Williams
 Page 3

“Darkness Cannot Drive Out Darkness”

My last three days of 2010 were spent camping in Bastrop State Park with12
Get on Facebook and make Impact
middle school boys. The kids were concerned about bears and snakes as we
Houston your Facebook “friend.”
headed into the “deep woods”. It was interesting watching the kids pitch their
tents, and with a little assistance, they finally had the campsite set up. After
playing some football and grilling hotdogs for dinner, the kids got to experience
real nighttime. Living in the city, they are always surrounded by light. But in the
woods when the sun goes down, “dark” takes on a whole new meaning. The
See more stories and photos at our
middle school boys that were so tough a few hours ago were now scared to walk
Blog: www.impactcorner.blogspot.com
to the restroom alone. It is really interesting when you think about it: These kids
“Darkness cannot
live in parts of the city that we won’t drive through without locking the doors.
drive out darkness;
They walk to school and to the store alone amongst gangs, bullies, and predators, only light can do that.
Hate cannot drive out
but in the woods where they’re actually safe, they become afraid. Eventually,
hate; only love can do
nighttime became their favorite time because it allowed them to play hide-and- that.” -MLK
seek in the dark with flashlights. We used this as an opportunity to teach them
Blazing ahead of
about the light of Jesus. At night, when we are in darkness, a flashlight is very
sponsor Eric and
bright. It attracts your attention to it. We explained to the boys how the flashlights fellow hiker, Candido,
were like the things in this world that attract our attention when we are living in Guillermo finds new
strength and
spiritual darkness: popularity, money, drugs and alcohol, etc… And just like when confidence on a
the sun comes up in the morning and the flashlights lose their attraction, when we camping trip taken by
Impact Middle school
are in the light of Jesus the things of the world lose their attraction also. youth members.

No one was ready to leave on our final day. Though worn out by the previous
day’s 8 mile hike, boys begged us to stay longer and asked when we were going to “We are not alone in this world.
We must not be. We cannot be.
come back. The night before they all ventured out of their tents and slept under the
Something very deep within us
stars - the darkness no longer scared them. Some of them talked about living in the reaches believingly for a Presence
forest when they grew older. It was so great to get them away from the city for a we know is there. Even when He
few days and out of their comfort zones. This trip and others like it bring these has no name nor form, human
beings grasp for God in the times
kids closer to God and closer to each other. The unity in the group is strengthened when being without him is
and it is something that we can build on for the future. Before we headed back to intolerable.” -Observations by Order books by
Houston we circled up, held hands, and thanked God for our trip, His beautiful Charlie Middlebrook, p. 23
Impact Authors via
creation, and to take us home safely. -Josef Bilnoski www.impacthouston.org our website!

When Charlie Middlebrook went into the hospital last month due to a severe stroke, fear and
concern swept over his family, friends, and everyone at Impact. Prayer soon took over as
passionate pleas went up to the Father. As the photo to the left documents, Impact ministers
and members went to visit and pray with Charlie’s family in the hospital waiting room. Other
families were hurting, so the group invited all around to pray for the different families and their
situations. Thousands prayed for Charlie’s healing and as of this writing he is walking and having
some success communicating as he continues with therapy. But what an amazing reminder of
the need and power of sharing concerns and faith in community! A family was comforted,
families were blessed, and throngs were able to participate in what God wanted to bring about.
We at Impact have learned this, and know that life in Christ is life is to be shared. We cry when
others are crying. We celebrate when others celebrate. We admonish one another in love and in
the Word. We spur one another along. We love one another with a love so special we are
compelled to share it with others. We seek those who are hurting and needy and give that love
away so that what we have will be planted in their souls as well. Just as several friends cheered
Impact Children's Minister, Laurie Templeton in the Houston Marathon (LEFT), we are here to
encourage one another along ...for another 24 years, if the Lord wills. -Steven Wells
 Touching hearts today... Non Profit Org.

U.S. Postage
Impact Houston Church of Christ
PAID

1704 Weber
Houston, TX 77007
Phone: 713-864-5667
Web: www.impacthouston.org
E-mail: office@impacthouston.org

Changing lives forever!

IMPACT GARAGE From the finance group….

Impact Houston Church of Christ

Your support keeps us running! Thank you for participating!

SALE!
Name(s): _______________________________________
Give the things you don't Address: ______________________________________
Phone: __________________ email: ____________________
use NEW FOUND PURPOSE!
____ I would like to support Impact with the enclosed donation.
Let them be part of the Impact
____ Please charge my credit card: # _______________ exp.: ______
Houston Garage Sale,
Signature: ___________________
benefiting Impact ministries
and being involved in I would like my donation to go toward:

transforming lives all over ____ General Fund ____ Youth Fund ____ Distribution Center
Houston.
____ Spanish Ministry ____Scholarship Program ____ Recovery House
Arrange to have your Comments: ___________________________________________
donations picked up. ________________________________________________
__________________________________ Thank You!
We are waiting for your calls!

Call Felton: (832)729-5222

Set up a scholarship! See www.impacthouston.org