LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – Walking into United Supermarket on 130th and Indiana on a Tuesday morning, the sound of distinct rhythmic clinking can be heard from Mahjong tiles being shuffled across a table.
But for the local women gathered around it, the centuries-old Chinese game is just the backdrop. The real story is the deep bond, sisterhood, and faith that has formed between them.
What started as a weekly women’s Bible study has now evolved into a cherished community tradition. Now known affectionately as the “Mahj Squad,” the group has grown into a lifeline for its members.
“We learned there’s friends for a season, friends for a reason, and friends for life,” said Mahj Squad member Kristi Cole. “So maybe we just met, but we’re friends for life with all these ladies. It’s just a wonderful group of women.”
As the women mix the tiles, they share a sense of comfort and support each other through life’s ups and downs. That sense of fun even extends to a unique weekly tradition: handing out small trinkets and souvenirs to whoever wins at the table.
But the women agree that the real prize is the sisterhood.
“Women need women, and it’s good just to get together because not just playing Mahjong, but we help each other,” said member Brenda Wilson. “We’re very much like sisters. If something’s wrong with someone, everybody’s going through something. And we’re good prayer warriors. We are just really, you know, sisters in a way.”
Wilson says the ‘Mahj Squad’ was nothing short of an answered prayer. What began as a group of women who barely knew each other has transformed into a network of support that they can no longer imagine living without.
“God brought us all together to share our experiences, to share our personalities, to be prayer warriors for each other,” Wilson said. “To help each other go through the hard times, celebrate the great times, and to realize that we’re not alone. We’re all going through something.”
Everyone sitting at the table brings a completely different story. Cole is a retired teacher, while Wilson is currently battling stage-four cancer. Despite their different backgrounds and personal battles, they unite under this shared, weekly bond.
For Wilson, the Tuesday gatherings provide a powerful reason to keep pushing forward on her hardest days.
“Inspiring. Gets me out of bed, makes me put on clothes and makeup,” Wilson said. “And even on the hard days, I can come in here and be greeted with smiles.”
It is a sentiment shared by everyone at the table as they look forward to every Tuesday morning.
“Gives us something to look forward to on Tuesdays to be with the women we love, enjoy a game we play, and spread the love and spread our faith,” Cole said.
The Mahj Squad is just one of several Mahjong groups rising in popularity across town and the nation, proving that sometimes, a simple game can build a community that lasts a lifetime.
Copyright 2026 KCBD. All rights reserved.