Walk into the lobby before IMPACT classes on a Thursday night and you’ll be greeted by Gela’s big smile and friendly face. Gela has been part of IMPACT for almost five years now. This month she shared part of her story with Isabel from The Littleton Independent.
[Gela] Pearson built a new life when she discovered Love INC of Littleton five years ago, after leaving behind an emotionally taxing past that involved battling addiction.
After converting to Christianity, she adopted the name “Gela” from her birth name, “Angela,” — a decision mirroring biblical accounts of individuals changing their names upon embracing the faith, such as Saul, who changed his name to “Paul” in the Bible’s Book of Acts.
“Gela once told me, ‘If I can just show up to IMPACT class, I know it’ll change the rest of my day,’” [Cynthia] Dillon said.
At the outset of her IMPACT journey, Pearson said she wanted to hide from the world. However, attending class, connecting with friends and hugging Dillon brought a sense of acceptance that began to soften her guarded exterior.
Now, Pearson, with a smile and warm demeanor, sits at the welcome table as participants shuffle in to attend classes.
“I think the biggest thing for me with IMPACT is the ‘wow moments’ I get from other participants,” Pearson said. “They’ll be explaining something from their point of view, talking about their life experience and I just think, ‘Wow, I never would have even thought of that.’”
Read the full news article here
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Excerpt shared from article in The Littleton Independent, August 21, 2025