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Sealy: A Town Infused with Faith
- Amber Cole
- May 22
- 6 min read
On Tuesday, May 20th, I embarked on a journey, fully trusting the Lord to direct my steps. I had been planning to spend the day in Sealy, with a few ideas in mind about where to visit and who to connect with. However, by that morning, I had yet to hear back from those I’d reached out to the week before, and the friend I was planning to meet for lunch had an urgent family matter come up. I considered rescheduling the day, but instead, I spent some time in prayer—asking the Lord to guide my steps and connect me with those in the community He wanted me to meet.
My goal was simple: to get to know Sealy, connect with the faith community, discover what God is doing in and through that city, and make sure they know they have a Christian Country radio station—broadcasting right from Sealy on KQLC—that wants to put down roots in their community.
And what a day it turned out to be!
I started by stopping at a true Sealy icon—Bill’s Country Market, established in 1932. I have never stepped into a more meticulously kept grocery store. I was in awe. Every item on every shelf was brought to the front with perfect label placement. The produce was fresh and beautifully presented. I spoke with the gentleman tending the shelves and expressed my amazement (I’m sure he thought I was a little overexcited—but who wouldn’t be thrilled by perfectly aligned canned veggies?). I wanted him to know his work was seen and appreciated. The wonderful ladies at the front of the store shared a bit about the market’s history and even gave me a few suggestions on where to connect within the community. What a fantastic first impression of Sealy!
Directly across from Bill’s was The Sealy News—my next stop on the journey. The Sealy News is one of our valued Business Impact Partners. That means they support KJIC, and in return, we help share information about their business through our website and on-air announcements. I was so grateful that Tressa, Virginia, and Royce took a few moments—right in the middle of a deadline day!—to meet with me and offer some helpful direction for the rest of my time in Sealy.
I left The Sealy News, drove just a few blocks, and spotted a charming little shop in the older part of town called The Good Samaritan. It seemed like the perfect place to stop—and it absolutely was. I was warmly greeted by a wonderful group of volunteers in the sweetest boutique-style resale shop, where KJIC was playing softly at the checkout counter (yes, my heart did a little happy dance!).
Barbara, Yvonne, and Margaret shared with me that The Good Samaritan is an outreach of the Sealy Ministerial Alliance—a coordinated effort of churches across Sealy working together in unity. The shop is completely run by volunteers from multiple congregations, and it sells donated items at affordable prices to the community. Every dollar raised goes right back into helping people in Sealy who need assistance with clothing, utilities, housing, and more.
They even have volunteer caseworkers who meet with clients in need and are currently planning an exciting expansion—converting an enclosed patio into office space to create a more private and comfortable setting for those meetings. The pride and passion these women had for the mission of The Good Samaritan was contagious and so inspiring. Their joy in serving their neighbors truly overflowed.
My next stop was the Sealy Chamber of Commerce—though I got there by way of City Hall and a friendly local title company, both of which helped point me in the right direction. The Chamber is housed in a recently renovated office that doesn’t yet have signage, turning my visit into a bit of a scavenger hunt. But for me, that just meant more opportunities to connect with kind, smiling faces throughout Sealy. Chelsea, the Chamber Executive Director, Kristiann, and Leslie (who also works at the local Methodist Church) were incredibly welcoming. Not only did they offer helpful recommendations of people to connect with, but they also went above and beyond—providing contact numbers, directions, and even reaching out to the mayor on my behalf to share my information.
It was during my conversation with Leslie that I realized why one of my questions kept leaving Sealy residents a bit perplexed. At each stop, I asked about ministries actively at work in the community or Christian-owned businesses in the area. While people were quick to point me toward local ministries, the request to connect with Christian-owned businesses often gave them pause and didn’t yield many responses. Leslie helped me understand why. Sealy has a wonderful small-town community feel that’s deeply rooted in faith—so much so that Christian business owners don’t necessarily stand out, because so many in Sealy are already connected to the faith community.
After I left the Chamber, it was time for lunch—and where do you go for a true Sealy lunch experience? Tony’s, of course! I had what may have been the best chicken fried steak I’ve ever tasted. The wait staff was all smiles, and I had the pleasure of connecting with a couple of ladies who were out to lunch after their Bible study at All Around Cowboy Church. Melissa shared some of what she loves about Sealy, and LaVeda told me she’s been listening to KJIC since Bob Vaughn first founded the ministry in Pasadena. She was so thankful when it came to Sealy and shared how KJIC has ministered to her over the years. She even affirmed that she sees our mission fulfilled through the music and programming—a sweet moment of encouragement and confirmation.
From Tony’s, I headed over to the Sealy Pregnancy Resource Center, where I had the pleasure of meeting Patricia Penner. She shared the story of how God opened the door for the PRC to be established right there in Sealy—a center supported by local churches working together. Hearing how the body of Christ came together to launch such an important ministry was incredibly inspiring. She also mentioned they have a beautiful ultrasound room but are in need of an ultrasound technician willing to volunteer just a half day each week.
I also had the opportunity to connect with Cynthia and Jennifer, the Grant Writer for the PRC—both of whom are faithful KJIC listeners. It was such a joy to meet them and hear how KJIC has been a part of their lives. I was able to leave a Rise and Shine coffee mug and a KJIC T-shirt to be included in gift bags for the moms they serve. I'm also excited to donate KJIC pens for their upcoming backpack drive, supporting students as they head back to school. It’s a blessing to be part of the tangible ways this ministry is loving and serving families in the Sealy community.
It was so special that each person I reached out to made time to meet with me—in the middle of their day, in the middle of what might feel like the “mundane” to them. Yet, I was given the gift of seeing the beauty in their everyday.
Throughout the day, I kept hearing about someone named Brian and a ministry called IMPACT Sealy. So I texted him to see if we could connect. His reply was simple and welcoming: “Hey Amber, I’ll be at Sealy JH from 1:30–3:00 PM if you’d like to stop by. You can find me in the stadium parking lot/back of the school in our teal blue ice cream trailer.”
And so I did!
Brian Martisek greeted me with a smile and a scoop—literally. He was handing out well-earned ice cream to students who had hit academic milestones on their end-of-semester tests. During a break in the action, he shared how IMPACT Sealy came to be: a faith-based space where students from all backgrounds and denominations come together for fun, connection, and fellowship. He also shared how what began as a tutoring and ice cream shop called Scoops and Scholars, and has since evolved into a traveling ice cream trailer—bringing joy and outreach directly to students and the community. Hearing Brian’s heart for the youth of Sealy and how local churches and businesses partner to make each IMPACT Sealy event possible was incredibly encouraging.
While Brian was serving up smiles and scoops, I received a lovely phone call from Mayor Carolyn Bilski. I was so touched to hear that she is a faithful KJIC listener! Her heart for Sealy and her excitement about KJIC’s mission and our efforts to connect with the community left me inspired. I’m looking forward to meeting her in person very soon.
My day wrapped up with a spontaneous stop into AL&M Building Supply, where I was thrilled to hear KJIC playing over the speakers. The friendly staff welcomed me warmly, and I couldn’t resist grabbing a photo with the enthusiastic team. It was the perfect ending to a day full of divine appointments and community connections.
Being a listener and supporter of KJIC has such a tangible impact—and I got to experience that firsthand on Tuesday. Our listeners fuel and encourage our mission: to provide comfort, encouragement, and spiritual strength to Christians globally, while also shining as a light for those who are lost. And our supporters further that mission by allowing the station to have a personal impact within the community as well as on the air.
Thank you!!