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Tag: Sealy Christian Pantry (Page 1 of 4)

2025 ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL VOTERS’ MEETING

On Sunday, October 26, 2025, following worship (around 11:15/11:30am), LifeBridge will hold its annual Congregational Voters’ Meeting.

Information and agenda items will appear below as they become available (so check back often).


AGENDA

Call to Order

Opening Prayer

Approval of Minutes

Congregational Voters’ Meeting Minutes
October 20, 2024

Call to Order

President Vic Grisbee called the meeting to order. 

Opening Prayer

Pastor Scott Heitshusen opened the meeting with prayer.

Approval of Minutes

Jesus Sanchez made a motion to approve the June 2, 2024 Congregational Voters’ Meeting minutes.  Second by Giles Montgomery.  Motion passed.

Nominating Task Force Presentation and Elections

  • Current Election Information
    Jesus Sanchez presented the current nominees.
  • Current Nominees
    •  President:  Nominee:  Jesus “Zeus” Sanchez – 1 year left on term
    • Vice-President:  Nominee:  Stephen Deutsch
    • Treasurer:  Nominee:  Margie Ashorn
    • Elder Position 2:  Paul White – Incumbent
    • Elder Position 4:  Carl Sebesta – Incumbent
    • Elder Position 6:  David Walker – Incumbent
    • Elder Position 7:  Jason Wolfe – Incumbent
  • Nominations From the Floor
    Jesus Sanchez asked if there were any nominations from the floor.  There were none.  Wayne Heitshusen made a motion to accept all nominations as presented and approve by acclimation.  Second by Pastor Leland.  Motion passed.

Staff and Ministry Reports: 

Staff Reports

Submitted via Video.

David Walker, Head Elder presented the Head Elders Report via teleconference.

Angie Wolfe’s Outreach Update is attached.

Sealy Pregnancy Resource Center Update

Pat Penner gave an overview of 2024.  There have been 196 moms in 2024.  There have been 84% positive tests and 67.2% were abortion vulnerable.  26 babies have been born this year.  44 ultrasounds have been performed and a new ultrasound machine arrived.  The diaper bank was started and 1,311 packages of diapers have been distributed.  The Annual Christmas Party will be held on December 14.  35-40 volunteers will be needed.  110 children are attending.  The Prayer Garden is complete.  There are 734 plants and 6 trees in the Prayer Garden.  150 were lost but have been replaced.  The Kid Zone is complete.  One pending project is putting a fence around the Kid Zone and the Prayer Garden.

Sealy Christian Pantry Update

Sue Kristynik presented an update on pantry activities.  In 2023, the pantry transitioned from drive through distribution to in person check-in and qualification.  In 2024, the pantry extended hours, operating from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. every Wednesday.  An appointment system was also implemented for food pick up.  This was done to manage the traffic in the parking lot.  The pantry is on pace to feed over 12,000 families in 2024 compared to 8,000 in 2023.  They are averaging 225-250 families per week.  We will surpass over 1 million pounds of food distributed in 2024.  The pantry’s partnership with the Houston Food Bank continues to grow.  This summer, the pantry was selected to pilot a non-congregate feeding program which offered 5 breakfast/5 lunch/5 snacks to kids in the area.  School supplies were also given to the kids as part of this program.  Karing 4 Kids have filled the closets at each of the school campuses with emergency food for hungry kids.  Deliveries are being made to Silver Lakes and the Oaks.  2024 marks the year that our dream of a new pantry building has become a reality.  We broke ground in 2023.  The end of November is the target for the site to be complete.  The plan is to use December to ready the new site so we can be operational beginning on January 8. 

Board Reports

Treasurer:  Mary Abbott-Gray

The office remodel is complete.  There was $27,856 in designated funds and $10,760 was received in addition to the designated funds for a total of $38,616.    The rummage sale proceeds were $4,141.  Various items were purchased with these proceeds:  work table in the kitchen, shelves, 2 utility carts, desks, table truck, chair truck, additional tables and chairs, sofa tables, etc.  Mary presented the YTD Statement (attached).   Quarterly Giving was reviewed (attached).  The 2025 budget was presented (attached).  Vic Grisbee asked for a motion to accept the 2025 budget as presented.  Pastor Dale Leland made a motion to accept the 2025 budget as presented.  Second by Sieg Leland.  Vic Grisbee asked if there were any further questions.  There were none.  Motion passed.

President: Vic Grisbee

Gave the following update:

  • Crow’s nest is completed.
  • The parking lot is 95% complete.
  • Remodeling of the offices is complete.
  • Installed new air conditioning that included a mini-split in the kitchen.
  • Hired James White (1 day a week) for maintenance work.

Open Discussion

Wayne Heitshusen thanked Vic Grisbee for his year as president.

Motion to Adjourn

Giles Montgomery made a motion to adjourn.  Second by Carl Sebesta.  Motion passed.

The meeting was closed with the doxology.

Nominating Task Force Presentation & Elections

Current Election Information

Current Nominees (* = Incumbent)

  1. President NOMINEE: Jesus “Zeus” Sánchez*
  2. Vice-President (1-year term)
  3. Secretary: NOMINEE: Sherri Santoro*)
  4. Elder NOMINEE, Position 1: Wayne Heitshusen*
  5. Elder NOMINEE, Position 3: Giles Montgomery*
  6. Elder NOMINEE, Position 5: Brad Biss*
  7. Elder NOMINEE, Position 7: Dale Leland*

Nominations from the Floor

Staff & Ministry Reports

Pastor: The Rev. Scott Heitshusen

LifeBridge Worship Compare by Year
Monthly Worship at LifeBridge
Unique LifeBridge Worshippers Over Previous 12 Months
Synodical & Circuit Average Worshippers

Deaconess Becky Jungklaus

Worship: Hannah Gibson

Children: Stephanie Reed

Youth: Giles Montgomery

Outreach: Angie Wolfe (outgoing)

Sealy Pregnancy Resource Center – Update

Sealy Christian Food Pantry – Update

Board Reports

President: Zeus Sánchez

Head Elder: David Walker

Treasurer: Margie Ashorn

15%

One of LifeBridge’s Foundational Principles is “to give 15% or more of the Church’s income for the advancement of the Kingdom of God.”

The following is a summary of what LifeBridge has given away for this effort since 2015!

We praise God for the honor and privileged of helping and serving others!

Proposed 2025 Budget & YTD Statement

(See separate tabs at top.) You can download as a PDF here.

The Lord provides, but He give us the opportunity to join Him. Join in the blessings!

Open Discussion

Closing Prayer

Call to Adjourn

“Hearts for the Hungry” – Sealy Christian Pantry

Everyone is invited to the Sealy Christian Pantry’s “Hearts for the Hungry” event which will be held Thursday, September 25.

This is a Come & Go Event from 5:00-8:00 PM and will be held at Fancies @ Wolf Pack (211 W Front Street in Downtown Sealy). 

Hot and cold appetizers, beverages, and a dessert bar will be available. 

We would like to use this time with the community, friends, and family to celebrate the completion of our new Pantry. Without you, none of this would have been possible! Also, we would like to share an update of how we are helping those in need.

Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much!

If you have any questions, please call (979) 885-3866. 

Appreciation Dinner for the Sealy Christian Pantry

The Sealy Christian Pantry is moved out, but not forgotten!

LifeBridge is having an appreciation dinner for Pantry volunteers to thank them for all the wonderful work they do.

The dinner will be a BBQ pork and chicken dinner with sides and desserts and will take place at 5:00 PM on Saturday, March 1, 2025.

There will be a sign-up in the sanctuary to ensure we have enough food.

A free-will offering will be taken.

Come have some food and fellowship and show your appreciation for those who help those in our community eat every week!

If anyone would like to help, please contact Zeus or Mary.

2024 ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL VOTERS’ MEETING

On Sunday, October 20, 2024, following worship (around 11:15/11:30am), LifeBridge will hold its annual Congregational Voters’ Meeting.

Information and agenda items will appear below as they become available (so check back often).


AGENDA

Call to Order

Opening Prayer

Approval of Minutes

Congregational Voters’ Meeting Minutes
June 2, 2024

Call to Order

President Vic Grisbee called the meeting to order.

Opening Prayer

Pastor Scott Heitshusen opened the meeting with prayer.

Approval of Minutes

Minutes from the October 29, 2023, Congregational Voters’ Meeting were distributed.

Purpose of Meeting

The purpose of this meeting is to approve expansion of the parking lot to the West. The Sealy Pregnancy Resource Center needs to install a new fence. We need to move the parking lot roughly 53 feet to the West from where it stops now (see attached diagram). The dark line is the swale. We have two options: 

  1. drain the water or
  2. drive through it. 

Bids have been received.  A curb would be put on the left side to inhibit running into the Sealy Pregnancy Resource Center’s fence. The bid received was $24,552. The request for the congregation to approve is for $27,000 which includes contingencies as needed.

Mary Gray presented our current financial state.  On January 2023, LifeBridge had $142,000 in the bank.  Expenses since then are:

New Electronics (Computers, etc.)

$6,000

New Office Desks, Kitchen Shelves, Carts, etc.

$3,000

Four Going on Mission Trips

$3,655/ea.

New Ice Maker

$3,444

Freezer Repairs

$1,220

New Café A/C

$8,750

New Aerator for Septic

$900

Office Remodel/Sound Booth/Parking Lot

$34,419

Electrical Wiring for Sound Booth

$3,417

15% of our Offering

$78,971

We still owe on the Office Remodel

$18,720

May 31, 2024 — Money in the Bank

$160,000

The floor was opened for questions.

  • Is it cement? Yes
  • What is a swale? A swale is like a low water crossing.
  • How soon will the project start? A week or two.

Motion Made

Wayne Heitshusen made a motion to approve $27,000 for this project.

Second by David Walker.

Motion passed.

Motion Made

Giles Montgomery made a motion to approve the minutes from the October 29, 2023, Congregational Voters’ Meeting.

Second by Jason Wolfe. 

Motion passed.

Motion Made

Carl Sebesta made a motion to adjourn.

Second by Mary Gray.

Motion passed.

Meeting Adjourned

The meeting was closed with the Doxology.

Nominating Task Force Presentation & Elections

Current Election Information

Current Nominees

  1. President (NOMINEE: Jesus “Zeus” Sánchez1 year left on term)
  2. Vice-President: (NOMINEE: Stephen Deutsch)
  3. Treasurer: (NOMINEE: Margie Ashorn)
  4. Elder Position 2: Paul White (incumbent)
  5. Elder Position 4: Carl Sebesta (incumbent)
  6. Elder Position 6: David Walker (incumbent)
  7. Elder Position 7: Jason Wolfe (incumbent)

Nominations from the Floor

Staff & Ministry Reports

Pastor: The Rev. Scott Heitshusen

Deaconess Becky Jungklaus

Worship: Hannah Gibson

Children: Stephanie Reed

Youth: Giles Montgomery

Outreach: Angie Wolfe – Update

Harvest Hoedown

October 2023

Harvest Hoedown was a success! This was the third week in October. We had around 15 volunteers from NJHS and adults from our church and other churches helping at the stations. It ran smoothly that I remember.

Boo Bash

Boo Bash — the theme was Explore 365 We had a great group of volunteers that helped serve the 1000 people that came through the booth.

December 2023

Fantasy of Lights

Fantasy of Lights Float — Marcia Headed this up and did an incredible job decorating float and organizing it all.

Pregnancy Center, Christmas party activities

We provided games and crafts for the youth that attended the event. I believe they all enjoyed the activities.

May 2024

Trinity Ablaze In Kenya Mission Trip — Brenda, Shannon and I went on the trip. We were stationed in Nairobi. We got to visit the School of Hope and work in a vision clinic.

Africa Mission Trip

Team Nairobi, led by Dan Riemer, conducted a clinic at the Nairobi International Lutheran Church (NILC), Catherine Wangari’s home church. Four doctors from the Ministry of Health diagnosed each patient while 28 volunteers moved patients through the clinic and helped dispense glasses (reading and distance). Total attendance was 2094, highlighted by 213 salvations and 84 cataract referrals. The salvations were a direct result of the Holy Spirit working through Pastor Agnes and a team of 12 dedicated evangelists in Triage. The evangelists recorded vision problems, provided spiritual assistance, and prayed for special needs. What a blessing and privilege it is to partner with Kenyan doctors and local churches to be the hands and feet of Jesus. To God be the glory! Team members were Connie Kelly, Amy Kuehnle, Phyllis Tacquard, Angie Wolfe, Shannon Walker, Brenda Machala and Dan Riemer.

August 2024

Party in the Park -back to school event for youth. Partnering with First Baptist Church, First United Methodist Church, and Impact Student Ministries. Hosting activities, worship, and food. It was a great event!

Party in the Park

September 2024

Harvest Hoedown was a success! We did it early this year do to a conflict in my schedule. I believe it was the best yet. We also utilized the entire building and the 2187 side of the church parking lot.

We had 4 new games/rides this year. Drag racing, Mission Possible, Galilee Ragatta, and Sow seed. I saw a lot of new faces in the people that attended the event, and was told by several people that fun was had by all.

We had a large amount of our youth volunteers from the NJHS. They attended both shifts. The Lord answered prayers by sending adult volunteers! We had more then enough volunteers Saturday morning!

Thank you LifeBridge for putting on this event for our community!

Sealy Pregnancy Resource Center – Update

Sealy Christian Food Pantry – Update

Board Reports

President: Vic Grisbee

Head Elder: David Walker

Treasurer: Mary Abbott-Gray

15%

One of LifeBridge’s Foundational Principles is “to give 15% or more of the Church’s income for the advancement of the Kingdom of God.”

The following is a summary of what LifeBridge has given away for this effort since 2015!

We praise God for the honor and privileged of helping and serving others!

Proposed 2025 Budget & YTD Statement

(See separate tabs at top.) You can download as a PDF here.

The Lord provides, but He give us the opportunity to join Him. Join in the blessings!

Open Discussion

Closing Prayer

Call to Adjourn

Help Bless the Pantry’s Building!

Our new pantry is a significant event, one that would not be possible without God’s provisions and guidance when we first started, while we have been building, and then of course when we become operational and provide help to those in need.

Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.

Psalm 127:1a (esv)

Blessing this new space with scripture is “inviting” God’s presence into the new pantry. It will represent God being at the center of our new home. His protection, guidance, and peace during construction and beyond!

It is critical for us to lay a foundation of faith within the physical structure (with scriptures within the walls) to help provide love, kindness, and compassion when we move in and do His work in our community.

They say “home” is where the heart is; as Christians, our heart belongs to Jesus. And as we move into a new season and new home — let’s stay grounded in our faith and ALWAYS keep God central in all that we do — HE IS OUR SOLID FOUNDATION.

DATE:Wednesday, April 24, 2024
TIME:12:30 – 1:00 PM
LOCATION:New Pantry on Old San Felipe Road
BRING:Your favorite bible verses that you want to be “part of the foundation” of the Pantry. Markers/sharpies will be provided (unless you have a favorite you want to bring).

If You Are Unable to Attend

If you are unable to attend — but — want your scripture included, email Sue with your verse or verses and they will be added!

This is quite the milestone and it would be awesome for everyone that is available to come and be part of this. Most of you have probably not been inside and have only seen from the street — but come and see the goodness of the Lord and what He has done thus far!

PRAISE OUR AWESOME GOD!!!

Help Feed People for Thanksgiving!

The Sealy Christian Pantry is preparing for Thanksgiving and will be giving each family a Thanksgiving Holiday Box!

Give in the jar at church or directly through Venmo.

Food insecurity is a terrible thing and we know that people in our community are struggling. The Pantry is currently serving approximately 800-900 families monthly.

A donation jar will be at the back of the church through November. Anything and everything is appreciated!

Your financial support will be used to offset the purchase of turkeys, canned yams, cranberry, cornbread mix, etc.

The target cost is $8,500, which will feed around 400-450 families.

Thank you for helping those less fortunate enjoy the Thanksgiving Holiday by sharing your blessings with others!

God bless!

Contact Sue at 713/314-7355 with questions or for more information.

Sealy Christian Pantry Drive-Thru Fundraiser

Eat some great food and support the Sealy Christian Pantry at the same time at their drive-thru fundraiser!

Here are the details:

DATE:Sunday, November 5, 2023
TIME:11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
DRIVE-THRU PICK UP LOCATION:KC Hall #3313
1310 HWY 90W; Sealy
COST:$10/Plate (Desserts extra.)
CONTACT:Sue @ 713.314.7355
Patsy @ 979.571.5557

Help us, so we can help others. Proceeds are for our building fund for a new pantry to serve Sealy/Austin County.

Meal includes:

  • Pulled Pork Sandwich
  • Cole Slaw & Chips
  • BBQ Sause
  • Pickles
  • Onions
  • DESSERTS: Sold on the side.

Sealy Christian Pantry Social & Fundraiser

You are cordially invited to the “Come & Go” social event and fundraiser of the Sealy Christian Pantry!

Here are the details:

DATE:Thursday, October 26, 2023
TIME:“Come and Go” between 4:00 PM & 7:00 PM
LOCATION:San Felipe de Austin Historic Site
220 Second Street
San Felipe, TX 77473
CONTACT:Mary Emerson @ 713.724.3622

Hors D’oeuvres, Beer & Wine, Silent Auction, Raffle, & Donations.

Learn more about the Pantry’s Mission, future plans, and needs!

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