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July Ministry Spotlight - Galveston Urban Ministries - Transformation Happens Through Faithful Presence
- Amber Cole
- Jul 27
- 5 min read
This month, I have the privilege of introducing you to a ministry that reminds us of a simple but powerful truth: lasting change rarely happens through one big event. More often, it begins with people who simply keep showing up.
That is exactly what I experienced while serving alongside Galveston Urban Ministries.
Summer always seems like it should be a slower season. Without the structure of the school year, we imagine there will be more margin. Instead, those months quickly fill with camps, vacations, projects, and activities. Summer is certainly a busy season for Galveston Urban Ministries as well, though their investment in the community doesn't stop when summer ends.
According to their website, Galveston Urban Ministries (GUM) began in 2010 when God placed the city of Galveston on the hearts of Josh and Danielle Dorrell. They moved into the North Broadway neighborhood with a desire to know their neighbors and help bring about the changes those neighbors longed to see in the community they all loved.
Today, Galveston Urban Ministries exists to bring lasting community transformation to Galveston through holistic relationships rooted in faith, dignity, and collaboration. They believe real change happens when people are known, supported, and empowered. That mission is carried forward each day by a dedicated board, staff, volunteers, and Executive Director Brandon Williams.
I can assure you, real change is happening.
I had the opportunity to serve alongside GUM during one of their neighborhood block parties in June. On a rainy, hot, humid evening, we gathered at the Wright Cuney Recreation Center in the heart of Galveston with hearts ready to serve and connect. I arrived a little early and watched as a pickup truck pulled in carrying a large griddle and coolers while volunteers came walking down the street full of excitement and ready to work.
Because of the weather, the decision was made to set up beneath the covered basketball courts. Together we unloaded tables, prepared the popcorn and snow cone machines, fired up the grill, and got everything ready before heading into the surrounding apartment complex.
Then came one of my favorite parts of the evening.
We divided into small teams with GUM staff and interns to invite neighbors to the block party. The instructions were simple: three firm knocks—not aggressive, but loud enough to be heard. If someone answered, we introduced ourselves, let them know there was free food and activities at the park, and if children wanted to come, we walked with them back to join the fun.
It wasn't simply about inviting people to an event. It was another opportunity to build relationships.
Soon the park was filled with children playing basketball, families enjoying games, and neighbors gathering around hot dogs, popcorn, and snow cones. Volunteers from One Day Closer in Austin, Faithbridge Church in North Houston, KJIC, and many others spread throughout the park, not simply serving food, but spending time with people.
By the end of the evening, more than 150 neighbors had attended, and over 200 hot dogs had been served.
But one of the most impactful moments of the evening didn't happen over food or games.
It happened when two young boys got into a fight.
What impressed me wasn't simply how quickly the GUM staff responded. It was how they responded. They addressed the behavior firmly, but with remarkable kindness and dignity. Expectations were made clear, but so was love. As I watched, it became obvious these weren't volunteers interacting with strangers. These were trusted adults who knew these boys, knew their families, and had spent years investing in their lives.
In that moment, I caught a glimpse of what Galveston Urban Ministries is really about.
Yes, they host block parties. Yes, they coordinate volunteer teams, after-school programs, Bible studies, music initiatives, parenting classes, financial education, career fairs, and help families obtain vital documents. But underneath all of those programs is something much deeper: faithful relationships.
That became even clearer as I spent time talking with two young men serving that evening.
Bacillio, affectionately known throughout the neighborhood as "Boss," now serves on staff with GUM. Robert is serving this summer as an intern. Both grew up in the very neighborhood they now serve. Clayton Boyd, GUM's Missional Engagement Director, smiled as he told me that Boss could probably lead the entire evening himself. Both young men shared something that struck me deeply—they never imagined they would one day work for Galveston Urban Ministries.
As teenagers, GUM invested in them.
Today, they're investing in the next generation.
They know the children by name. They know their parents, grandparents, and extended families. They have earned trust that only comes through years of faithfully showing up.
As we walked children back to their apartments after the block party, Robert shared how GUM had continued shaping his own future. Through an internship opportunity, he was introduced to a family who welcomed him into their home, invited him to family gatherings, and connected him with relatives who shared about their military service. Those relationships sparked a desire in Robert to pursue military service himself, and today he is exploring which branch he hopes to join.
It was another reminder that transformation often begins with something as simple as someone choosing to invest in another person's life.
Before we wrapped up for the evening, volunteers and staff gathered with a youth group that had been serving alongside us. Clayton challenged them with thoughtful questions:
"What about today pushed you outside your comfort zone?"
"How does stepping outside your comfort zone help us share the Gospel and grow in our own faith?"
Listening to the students reflect on their experiences was encouraging. God hadn't only been working in the neighborhood that evening. He had also been shaping the hearts of those who came to serve.
As I watched neighborhood kids look up to Robert and Boss with admiration, I couldn't help but think about what God had done. Years ago, they were the children being invited to Bible studies, basketball games, and neighborhood events. Today, they're the ones inviting the next generation.
That's what Galveston Urban Ministries is really building.
They're not simply hosting events.
They're raising leaders.
They're strengthening families.
They're walking alongside neighbors.
And through faithful, everyday presence, they're helping transform a community one life at a time.
We are so thankful for our listeners and donors who make it possible for KJIC to come alongside ministries like Galveston Urban Ministries. Because of your generosity, we are able to share stories of hope, encourage others to become involved, and shine a light on the incredible ways God is working throughout our communities.
Thank you for being part of this ministry. Together, we're helping more people discover that transformation often begins with something beautifully simple—faithfully showing up.