Live Thankfully Little Rock: A Reflection of Christ’s Redemptive Work

By Kimberly Cook, St. Andrew’s Little Rock

I could have never imagined just how great an impact a resale shop could have when I founded Live Thankfully Little Rock.

The journey began with a missions trip to Kenya, where I witnessed the Holy Spirit in new and fresh ways every day, meeting countless needs and equipping us to spread the gospel to those we encountered. It was an extraordinary experience, one that left me in awe of God’s provision. But when I returned home, I wrestled with a familiar challenge: So many of us had encountered the Lord in powerful ways overseas, but now, back in our daily routines, we struggled to keep that fire alive.

At the same time, I learned more about Immerse Arkansas, an incredible nonprofit responding to the crisis of homeless youth in Little Rock. I wanted to create a way for people to continue experiencing God’s grace through serving others right here at home. Encouraged by my children, I organized a garage sale at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church to raise funds for Immerse, and to my amazement, we raised $3,000. Seeing how many women in the community were eager to give, shop and support this dream, I knew this was only the beginning. I met with over 50 women to explore what this could become, and in April 2017, Live Thankfully officially opened its doors.

At St. Andrew’s, we are constantly reminded that our faith must be lived out in practical, compassionate ways. The AMiA, with its heart for church planting and Kingdom ministry, has been instrumental in shaping this conviction. My husband, Rt. Rev. Robert Cook, has devoted his life to serving in this mission, and his leadership has reinforced the belief that the Church is called to step into broken spaces with the love of Christ. Live Thankfully is an extension of that calling.

Today, Live Thankfully is a staple in the community and one of the leading resale shops in Little Rock. We have had the privilege of serving over 40,000 customers and have donated over $325,250 to support women, children and youth in crisis. Our shop does more than offer secondhand fashion—it creates opportunities for people to engage in something meaningful. Every purchase, every donation and every volunteer hour invested in Live Thankfully helps support Immerse Arkansas. It’s a cycle of generosity, where customers find joy in knowing their shopping directly impacts young lives in need. More importantly, it’s a picture of the gospel in action: taking what is cast aside and giving it new purpose, just as Christ does in our own lives.

St. Andrew’s has been a constant source of encouragement in this journey. The church’s commitment to Immerse Arkansas and to serving the vulnerable has reinforced that we are not in this mission alone. We are part of a greater movement, a partnership between the church, the shop and the ministry of Immerse, all working together to bring restoration to our community. It’s a reminder that when we step out in faith, God weaves together relationships and resources in ways we could never orchestrate on our own.

Live Thankfully exists because of this partnership—because St. Andrew’s introduced me to Immerse, because the AMiA has instilled in us a mission-minded faith and because the Body of Christ continues to rally around those in need. This is more than just a store; it is a reflection of the redemptive work of Jesus, a testament to what happens when the Church unites in love and purpose.

As I look ahead, my prayer is that Live Thankfully will continue to be a place where people encounter not only beautiful things but also the beauty of a mission that transforms lives. Through God’s grace, and with the support of our church family and ministry partners, we will keep walking this path—redefining secondhand shopping, redeeming what was cast aside and restoring hope where it is needed most.