A Sign of Love
Mary* pulled up curbside to pick up food—gray-haired, quiet, and deaf. When Grady mentioned she was deaf, he told Marc there probably wouldn't be much they could do. No prayer today, most likely. Just food, and kindness, and a wave goodbye.
But Marc Shields has served in kids' ministry for years, and somewhere along the way he picked up a little sign language. Not much. Just enough.
He walked up to her window and signed, "Good morning. Jesus loves you."
You would have thought it was Christmas morning.
Her face lit up in a way Marc won't forget. She was overwhelmed—not just surprised, but genuinely moved. Seen. In a moment that could have been transactional, something real happened.
She could read lips, so Marc told her—slowly and clearly—that those were just about all the signs he knew. She smiled and told him that if he spoke slowly and faced her, she could understand him just fine. So he asked if he could pray for her.
She said, "Yes, please”, without hesitation.
Marc prayed slowly, carefully, knowing she was watching his lips. She knew he was praying for her and for her family. When he finished, she held that gratitude like something precious.
That Sunday, she came to church. They happened to have an interpreter present, and she was able to fully participate in worship for the first time in who knows how long. She didn't stay long-term—but every time Marc sees her now, she is still encouraged. Still grateful. Still carrying something from that day.
That moment at the curb is a picture of what WARM is about.
Not just food. Not just efficiency. But the belief that every neighbor who comes through deserves to be seen, known, and cared for with dignity. That stability isn't only about a full pantry—it's about feeling like you belong to a community that notices you.
Sometimes all it takes is a few words in sign language to open a door. To turn a curbside pickup into a moment of prayer. To remind someone that they are not invisible—that they are loved, and that their neighbors show up for them.
That's what WARM's pastoral coaches do, every single week. Not because they have it all figured out, but because they believe that small acts of faithful presence multiply in ways we can't always see.
WARM is a place where God meets people in very personal ways. And sometimes, the most powerful thing we can offer is the simplest: Jesus loves you.
*Name changed to preserve client privacy and dignity