Our Mission
To provide an avenue through which those far from God can come to know the love of Christ.
our story
The challenge was simple, find a way for their lives to intentionally intersect with people who have no connection to church and who may never have heard the gospel. This was the sermon message of Dr. Ronnie Marriott, then pastor of First Baptist Church (FBC) in Temple, that planted the seed in Glenn and Deborah Lackey’s hearts to begin praying for God to show them how they could help lead new people to Christ and engage the church in the community.
Glenn’s 25-year career in the shoe business made him acutely aware of just how many children in the Temple area lacked properly fitting shoes. This, combined with Deborah’s experience as a television advertising executive and marketing skills and with much prayer, the First Blessing Ministry was born at First Baptist Temple.
The idea was straightforward, First Blessing would work with local schools to identify families in need of well-fitting shoes in the Temple area. Then FBC would host an event where church members could share a meal with those families and they would leave with a pair of new, properly fitted shoes and socks and a Bible. Not only would this event meet a very real need in the community, but it would also provide opportunities for members of FBC to engage in meaningful conversations with families that they might not encounter otherwise.
The inaugural First Blessing event was held at FBC Temple in 2014 where 300 children and their parents were reached. In 2021, First Blessing partnered with 43 congregations across Texas to serve more than 6000 children and saw over 200 people give their life to Christ during First Blessing events.
In 2024 First Blessing partnered with 55 churches across Texas with children partners touched with the love of Christ.
What god has Accomplished through first blessing In
the community
Grown from 1 First Blessing in 2014 to 43 locations across Texas in 2022, and 55 in 2024.
Blessed children with a meal, socks, shoes, bibles, and loving fellowship.
337 in 2014 at 1 location
550 in 2015 at 1 location
900 in 2016 at 3 locations
1,300 in 2017 at 4 locations
1,983 in 2018 at 12 locations
3,000 in 2019 at 20 locations
4,600 in 2020 at 23 locations
6,000+ in 2021 at 37 locations
6,300+ in 2022 at 43 locations
8,000 in 2023 at 49 locations
9,000 in 2024 at 55 locations
Our church partners blessed children and parents with over 7,000 hot meals.
Our church partners blessed children and parents with over 5,000 new bibles.
the church
Facilitated relational evangelism training at all partner churches.
Helped build outreach ministries in all participating churches.
Helped draw volunteer and guest families into closer relationships with God.
Provided countless opportunities for church members to share the love of Christ with their neighbors resulting in 500+ professions of faith.
Encouraged church members across multiple generations to serve together.
Presented an opportunity for the congregation to utilize all its gifts and talents.
what people are saying
“Every church in Texas should participate in First Blessing”
“A great outreach to the community”
“It has made us an even more giving church. There’s nothing like seeing little children get their first pair of new shoes. Trinity is a mission-minded church, and our people want to minister in our community. Volunteers are already asking me when we’ll start getting ready for the next First Blessing event. We’ve never had to worry about volunteers or money. We do it to share the gospel and be the light of Christ.”