I know I’ve told this story to lots of people but I’m not sure I
ever put it in print, so here goes. Shortly after I started Rev motors I had
someone from the congregation give me their mother’s car to sell. It was one of
those classic Buicks that was just good solid transportation.
The car had been out
for about a week and a Sunday rolled around when one of our SMC folks spotted
it and told me one of their clients at the pregnancy care center needed a car. It
seems this young lady had bought a car and was taken advantage of, paying way
more than the car was worth.
Then the car broke down and she found herself upside down,
owing more than the car would ever be worth but she still needed transportation.
And so the deal was done and the Buick was delivered to this young expecting
mom and I thought that was the happy end of the story.
Fast forward several months I get a call from the SMCer who
got the car to the young mom. But now this mom is in the hospital with the baby
she was expecting that is now here, but struggling. The divine appointment part
of this is I got the call as I was walking out of the Ronald Mcdonald house
which is right across the road from Akron Children’s Hospital which is where mom
and baby were.
I was asked to go
make a visit. I said I would be glad to but I’d need to be cleared as you can’t
just walk up on the NICU. So permission was asked but it was denied. The mom
just wasn’t sure she wanted a stranger who’s also a pastor to come see her. I
prayed a little bit. Then I called back to ask if I should still try to get up
on the floor and the response was the mom changed her mind.
She gave me permission to go up and I did. Walking in the
room was very awkward. As I didn’t know this young lady and I could tell her
baby was struggling. Her older sister was there and helped make some small talk.
I asked if I could hold the baby in the mom gingerly allowed me, but things
still felt disconnected.
Then it hit me -we
sold her the Buick! I gently asked how
the car was doing. Her eyes lit up and she smiled at me. She said “That is the
best car I’ve ever owned in my life! That is the car that I drove here with my
sick baby. I am so thankful to have reliable transportation like that- it was
such a wonderful gift. Thank you!”
I’ve got to tell you
the temperature in the room went up from there. We chatted about other things.
I prayed over her and her baby and then said goodbye. I walked out of that
hospital on a cloud. I could feel the Son shining all around me.
I know people
probably think it’s weird that we have used cars sitting in our church parking
lot. I’ve had other pastors sneer and
shake their heads when I talk about Rev Motors. One told me he can’t believe I
would reinforce the idea the preachers are just like used car salesman.
But guess what? I really don’t care-because Rev Motors is
turning hate and happiness-one ride at a time. By selling decent cars at
reasonable prices in the name of Jesus we can bless people in a powerful way.
If you have a car to sell, need a car to buy or feel like you want to join me
in learning to turn hate into happiness it would be great to have you come
along for the ride :)
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