A Ministry of Connection by Grace
One of the most beautiful things about Bags of Grace is how God makes connections—between volunteers, Neighbors, and even strangers—reminding us that we are all part of His greater plan. Time and time again, I’ve seen Him provide exactly what’s needed at just the right moment.
Backpacks: A Simple Ask, A Perfect Provision
Every time I prepare to go to Church Under the Bridge (CUB)—a church service hosted by Mission Possible under the I-35 overpass—I look around my house for anything extra I can take along with the Bags of Grace. This past week, I had a couple of extra backpacks, so I grabbed them.
At CUB, I noticed a man sitting alone at a table, his shoulders heavy with sadness. His name is Dean. I watched him for a while before walking over, offering him a Bag of Grace, and asking how I could help. He looked up at me with the saddest eyes and, in the softest voice, asked, “Do you have a backpack?” My heart swelled with gratitude—I did. I handed it to him, and the relief on his face was unmistakable. Then he opened his Bag of Grace.
Image blurred to respect Dean’s privacy.
Later, at the Charlie Center, I saw another Neighbor neighbor had asked me for a backpack. I told him I’d bring him one, and with one backpack left, I was looking forward to seeing him. I looked for him for two weeks but never found him again. But one day, I saw a man hunched over his belongings, completely focused on something. When I got closer, I realized he was struggling to fit everything he owned into a small nylon sack. I was able to give him the remaining backpack. His gratitude was overwhelming.
Ebony’s Story: A Divine Message
God has a way of weaving moments together. Ebony, one of our board members, recently saw a weary Neighbor standing on a street corner, holding a sign that read. "Is Jesus real?" She reached for a Bag of Grace in her car. As she picked it up to pass it through the window, she noticed something inside—a handwritten card that read, “Jesus loves you.” At that moment, she knew God had orchestrated the timing.
Michelle’s Story: More Than a Bag
Another one of our volunteers, Michelle, encountered a pregnant woman on the street with her partner. Concerned, she pulled over to talk. The woman, eight months pregnant, shared that she was in desperate need of a stroller and a breast pump. Later, Michelle went to Walmart to find those items. As she was being helped by a Walmart partner, she explained who the items were for and why she was purchasing them. That conversation became its own moment of ministry—the Walmart employee was deeply moved by what Michelle was doing. A simple act of caring for a Neighbor in need had touched another heart.
Connected Through Christ
Lately, the Lord has been pressing the theme of connectedness on my heart. In John 15, Jesus says, “I am the vine; you are the branches.” Bags of Grace is more than a ministry of provision—it’s a ministry of connection. The volunteers who serve, the Neighbors we meet, and even the strangers who witness an act of kindness are all connected through Him. It is because we are rooted in Christ that we are able to serve, to love, and to remind our Neighbors that they are not forgotten.
Every encounter, every bag, every small act of kindness is part of something much greater. And it’s all because of Him.
Will you join us?
Bags of Grace is about love, connection, and provision. Every bag, every act of kindness, and every conversation makes a difference.
Give – Donate to provide essentials.
Serve – Help us reach our Neighbors.
Pray – Lift up this ministry in prayer.
Together, we can share His love to more of our Neighbors.