Intentional Interactions
When I signed up for Beach Reach, I thought I was simply volunteering for a short-term mission trip. I didn’t realize it would profoundly change the way I approach ministry—and how it would echo through my interactions at Feed My Sheep and beyond.
Beach Reach is an annual ministry that serves spring breakers on South Padre Island, offering free van rides and midnight pancakes to anyone who needs them. On the surface, it might look like organized chaos—a steady stream of intoxicated young adults, loud music, and late nights. But beneath that, it’s a place where gospel seeds are planted, lives are impacted, and faith is stretched.
The heart of Beach Reach lies in simple interactions. As volunteers, we had brief windows of time—often just 10 to 15 minutes—to connect with people riding in our vans. In those fleeting moments, we listened to their stories, offered prayer, and shared the hope of Jesus. Some conversations were lighthearted, others deeply personal. I heard about broken relationships, painful experiences with church, and struggles with faith. Many of these young people hadn’t felt safe sharing their stories before.
What struck me most was how open people were when they felt genuinely cared for. It reminded me that ministry isn’t about having all the right answers—it’s about showing up, listening, and pointing people to Jesus in small, authentic ways. This realization didn’t just shape my time at Beach Reach; it reshaped the way I see every interaction.
When I returned to Feed My Sheep, I noticed how much those lessons carried over. Just like the spring breakers I met in the vans, the people we meet everywhere are often carrying untold stories—of loss, hardship, or simply feeling unseen. And just like at Beach Reach, my role isn’t to fix their problems but to meet them where they are, listen with compassion, and offer a glimpse of hope.
One moment at Beach Reach stands out to me. I was speaking with a young woman who shared how her experience with church had left her deeply hurt and skeptical of Christians. Her honesty broke my heart, but it also opened the door for me to share about Jesus in a way that felt personal and real. That conversation has stayed with me, reminding me of the power of simply being present and creating safe spaces for others to share.
At Feed My Sheep, I’ve found similar moments. Whether I’m serving a meal, chatting in the resource center, or simply sitting alongside someone, I see the same opportunities to listen, connect, and reflect God’s love. The lessons I learned at Beach Reach have deepened my understanding of ministry—not as something confined to a single event but as a daily practice of meeting people where they are.
Like Beach Reach, Feed My Sheep has also taught me that ministry often looks different than we expect. It’s not always grand or dramatic. Sometimes it’s as simple as a van ride or a shared meal, a prayer or a conversation. But in those moments, God works in ways we can’t always see. That’s been my biggest takeaway for how I approach living each day: to love people well, to see them as individuals with unique stories, to share about Jesus whenever I can, and to trust God with the rest.
