From Darkness to Hope: Ruben’s Story in Stony Point

(The picture of Ruben facilitating Table Talk shows more than a man leading a discussion—it shows the fruit of years of prayer, the power of consistency, and the goodness of God at work in Stony Point.)

When Feed the Need Missions first began exploring how to serve the Stony Point community in Bastrop County, we heard the same warnings again and again: “It’s too dangerous. The gangs won’t let anyone do good out there. Anyone who tries will be run off.” Stories of crime, violence, and fear seemed to surround the neighborhood.

In 2014, our team began to pray. We asked God to show us His plan and His timing. At the beginning of 2016, He answered. A small group of volunteers committed to launching a weekly site in Stony Point Park, right in the middle of a season when shootings and even bodies found in the area dominated local news.

So we prayed harder. Volunteers walked the streets, asking God for fertile ground, for protection, and for hearts that would be open. Slowly, God began to reveal what He was doing.

One of the moments that still gives us chills happened years later when a former gang member, who had come to Christ through our ministry at another site, said:

“You know why you don’t get run off out there in Stony Point? Because the local gang members know not to mess with you. God’s protection is over you.”

That reminder, straight from someone who knew, was a powerful testimony of the Lord’s hand at work.

God Raises Up Leaders from Within

Fast forward to today, and we see God answering prayers in even greater ways. One of those answers is Ruben. Ruben grew up in Stony Point. For years, friends like Ben and his wife, Debi, prayed faithfully for him and his brother. Today, Ruben is a lay pastor at Stony Point Church, and he serves alongside our team every week at the Feed the Need site.

What makes Ruben’s presence so powerful is not just his leadership—it’s his heart. He loves people. He longs for them to know God. He is eager to learn, and he has embraced our training, which emphasizes slowing down, listening well, and prioritizing relationships above all else. As he often says, “The burger is important, but the relationship matters more.”

Just last night, Ruben facilitated Table Talk with volunteers and guests gathered around picnic tables. The message was simple: “Come to me, all who are weary, and I will give you rest.” Afterward, during our debrief, Ruben was moved to tears. The Word had encouraged him personally to keep going, even when the burdens of work, ministry, family challenges, and community needs feel overwhelming.

Light in a Hard-to-Reach Place

Stony Point is still a hard community. Decades of struggle and generations of hardship have left scars. But through faithful weekly presence, God is transforming hearts.

Ruben is proof. Once on a destructive path, he now carries the hope of Jesus back into the very community that raised him. And he’s not alone—volunteers, neighbors, and disciples are rising up, choosing to press forward, and choosing to believe that light can overcome darkness.

How You Can Join Us

• Pray for Ruben, his wife, and kids, and for the strength to continue serving.
• Pray for Ben and Debi, whose years of faithful prayer helped sow the seeds.
• Pray for Stony Point—for healing, hope, and a new generation of disciples to rise from within.

What once was known only for fear and brokenness can become a community marked by hope, transformation, and the presence of Christ.