Page 60 - Summer 2019 - Lubbock Senior Link Magazine - Online Magazine

HONORING SENIORS

Photography by
Neeley Byrum

In

the Heart of the City

For the Heart of the City

by Jane Bromley

“If you want to see a person change, his heart has to change. If you want to

see a city change, focus on the heart.”

That is the philosophy of Justin Sunday evening at 5:30 Photography by
Stice, director of the Hope for anyone who wants to Neeley Byrum
Community, a ministry group attend. The ample clothes
located in the “Heart of Lubbock” closet, operated by a cadre
neighborhood on 20th and Avenue of capable volunteers, is
T. Situated in the old Asbury open on Sundays from
UMC Church building, it is across 4:00 to 5:00pm. Women’s
the street from Lubbock’s oldest Protective Services has
elementary school, Dupre, and a regular access to the
block from Lubbock High School. clothing as well. An
Justin believes it is the most diverse afterschool program
neighborhood in this city. The blend called “Elevate Hope”
of ethnicity is almost equally Anglo, offers the children of the
African-American and Hispanic. The community a safe place to
socio-economic levels range from come when school is out.
very low to very high. Texas Tech Approximately 40 to 45 neighborhood that they moved
professors and homeless people children, most of them from Dupre, their young family to the Heart of
share the location, along with a benefit from art, music, leadership Lubbock four years ago. The young
large number of Tech students. The development classes, and even pastor is convinced that the weekly
high percentage of rental property tutoring. The purpose of Elevate meal is one of the main reasons for
also houses many single-parent Hope is to inspire, encourage the fruit they are seeing. Not only is
and multigenerational families and affirm children in an effort poverty disheartening, but it tends
struggling to make ends meet. to prevent them from making the to isolate people, making them more
poor choices that often stem from susceptible to hopelessness and
At least five different ministries hopelessness. The smiles on their discouragement. However, when
occupy the space of the old building. faces confirm that the program is a person sits across a table over
Justin is the pastor of The Co-op making a difference. a meal, engaging in meaningful
Church which meets on Sunday conversation with people who
mornings. It is a church plant Justin and his wife Jamie, a nurse love him, he might start to believe
initiated by St. Luke’s UMC. practitioner at Lubbock Family again that he has worth and value.
The facility hosts a meal every Medicine, are so committed to the Many people in the community

60 Lubbock Senior Link