Sharing Warmth in The Cold

Temple’s Warming Shelter

What can be an inconvenience for some of us can be dangerous to those without shelter. When temperatures drop to life-threatening levels, the city-funded warming shelter at Impact Temple Church becomes more than just a place to get out of the cold—it becomes a refuge, a community, and for some, the start of a new chapter in their lives.

I recently sat down with Pastor Roy of Impact to talk about how the shelter came to be, how it has evolved, and why it matters so much to our community.

Impact Temple started ten years ago with a clear mission: to be a church that is accessible to all people, including those experiencing economic hardship and homelessness. For Roy and his congregation, ministry isn’t about staying inside the church walls—it’s about stepping into the real needs of the community.

Their involvement with the warming shelter was never part of a strategy to start a new program—it was simply a response to the people they loved.

"We had church members who were homeless, and we had a building," Roy told me. "There was a need, and it was affecting people around us. People we knew, people we cared about. It was dangerously cold, so we put together a plan, got cots donated, and just started doing it."

For three years, Impact ran the shelter on their own, relying on volunteers and donations. But when the city of Temple started developing a strategic plan for addressing homelessness and mental health, they recognized that running a warming shelter should be part of their public responsibility.

That’s when partnerships started forming.

"By the time it was cold again, the city still didn’t have a solution in place," Roy explained. "So we approached them and said, ‘Hey, we can do this.’ And eventually, they issued us a small grant. Later, that partnership grew, allowing us to hire staff and run the shelter more consistently with trained, skilled people."

Physical and Emotional Warmth

The mission of the warming shelter goes beyond just providing heat and shelter—it’s about offering community, dignity and hospitality.

"We want people to experience goodness, not just safety," Roy emphasized.

Those facilitating operation of the warming shelter are compassionate, loving, and helpful. They desire to “love their neighbors” as Jesus taught.

In addition to a warm and welcoming place to sleep, guests also receive a hot dinner, (often provided by Feed My Sheep or Temple Christian Outreach,) access to showers, a safe place for their pets, (because for many, their dog or cat is their only family,) and breakfast in the morning.

This holistic approach is what makes the shelter more than just a service—it makes it a place of belonging.

Forming Friendships

While Impact never set out to use the shelter as a tool for evangelism, it naturally became a place where relationships formed, and some guests found their way into the church community.

Roy told me about one current member of Impact whose first encounter with the church was through the warming shelter.

"She and her dog needed a place to stay. That’s how she first came through our doors. Over time, she built relationships, became part of the church family, and about a year and a half ago, she was baptized. Today, she’s a beloved part of our congregation—this is her family."

Her story isn’t the only one. Many guests have found hope, stability, and even faith in Jesus, beginning just with someone caring enough to offer them warmth on a freezing night.

A Community Effort

The shelter isn’t just about Impact Church—it’s about a larger community coming together to care for the most vulnerable.

"I'm grateful to be part of a church that works so hard to make this happen," Roy said. "Our team, from Bill Scofield (Associate Pastor and Operations Director,) to the staff who run the shelter, put in an incredible amount of effort. I’m also grateful for our guests. It’s not easy to adjust to this kind of environment, but there’s a real sense of teamwork and community in the shelter. It’s what makes this work."

In addition to the grant from the City of Temple, the warming shelter at Impact runs on partnerships, volunteers, and support from the community. If you want to get involved, you can connect with Impact Temple on their website to find out the ways you can serve, and you can help spread the word about the warming shelter and other services by following Impact Temple on social media.

At the end of the day, this isn’t just about keeping people warm—it’s about reminding them they matter, a priority that Impact Temple shares with us at Feed My Sheep. When a freezing night could mean life or death, a little hospitality can make all the difference.