Lobby Encounter

Tabitha sat in the waiting area, gripping her purse tightly. Her heart pounded as she watched others come and go, her stomach churning with uncertainty. She had never asked for help before. The thought of doing so now made her feel exposed and vulnerable, but she knew she had no choice. Her family needed help.

She approached the window hesitantly and asked, "Do you happen to help with clothing for children? My stepson… he had to leave his mother’s home with almost nothing. He and my son are growing so fast, and we’re struggling." Ashure Ministry’s Services Intake Coordinator, Tamara, smiled warmly. "Of course, we can,” Tamara replied gently. Let’s get a few details, and we will get you set up.

As Tabitha provided her information, her eyes wandered to a basket filled with folded slips of paper. Above the basket there was a note that said, “Feel free to take one.” She reached inside and pulled one out. The words stopped her breath. Tearfully she asked, "May I keep this?" "Of course you can! What does it say?" Tamara asked gently.

Tabitha swallowed hard and read, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” (Matthew 6:25-27). “I needed this,” Tabitha said tearfully.

“We can also help your family with food, said Tamara. "You can? I had no idea. This is such a blessing," Tabitha replied. Tamara hesitated, then asked, "Would it be alright if I prayed with you?" Tabitha nodded, and as the prayer filled the small space between them, she exhaled, steadier now. As they finished and she turned to leave, she paused at the door saying, "Thank you for listening, and for reminding me that God’s got us."

At Ashure Ministry, we don’t just provide assistance—we walk alongside people in their hardest moments, reminding them they are never alone.