We have never done anything like this before, but then again, we’ve never heard a story like the one we heard just a few days ago. Tricia & I go to Cross Timbers Community Church and one of the outreach ministries is called “Fix My Ride” – basically the church has tons of volunteers show up on a Saturday to fix cars of those who cannot afford to have their cars fixed (we fixed over 200 vehicles for the unemployed, single parents, handicapped, and elderly). One of the coordinators received an email from an older, handicapped, gentleman who desperately needed repairs on his car. He was unable to take his car to Fix My Ride that day, because it was at the same time as work he was doing for a prison ministry. This is the email she received:
“Thank you for getting back to me. I have a 1997 oldsmobile 88 6 cylinder a person here at the (transitional living) house seid I need wheel cylinders both sides rear,, hoses upper and lower shocksand struts, both sides, brake fluid, hose clamps brak shoes, alternator and or battery… I beleave I told you I use my car taking people around 70% of the time that are at the houses. Also I put coolent in for the air cond. And it came out, it must have a hole somewhere, last thing is my tires the back ones are nearly balled, all this fritens me because I am handicapped on cruches full time. I figered up my rent, car insh. And phone and I have 67 dollars of cash to use for gas for the hole month.”
The coordinator sent us his email with her thoughts saying, “We have spoken with him and he wants his car fixed so he can continue to use it to serve others… he takes people from the (transitional living) house to their appointments, etc. and ministers to people in the prison system.”
The house is a place where men in transition from incarceration to drug and/or alcohol addiction to divorce or family separation to any number of circumstances can live in a safe, God-centered, environment where they are required to seek employment while they are actively in recovery and learning more and more about the Lord.
When Tricia and I heard this story, we immediately felt like the Lord was calling us to help this man. In order to be good stewards, I contacted one of our lead pastors, the campus pastor at the campus where this man attends, and the President of the Transitional Housing Organization. All of these people said that this man is the real deal. He doesn’t care about anything other than serving others at the house and through prison ministry. We had the pleasure of talking to him on the phone and he has a servant’s heart like no other. He is permanently disabled and is on crutches from severe osteoarthritis in his spine. He also confided in us that his monthly income is only $674. After asking him if we could help get him a vehicle, he said that he has been praying two prayers – 1) that the Lord would provide him a safe mode of transportation, so he can continue shuttling residents of the home and visit the 5 prisons where he ministers to inmates and 2) that he would have the gas money to do it. He said “I guess God just answered the first prayer, and I trust he’ll take care of the other too.” J
The written word can’t express the humility of this man – I can say, that Tricia and I are humbled and brought to tears every time we think of and talk with him.
We are going to help him and would like you to consider helping too – We contacted our friends at Lightning Motorsports (www.lightningmotorsports.net) and they have offered to not only help find a car for him, but to also help contribute to the cost. The owner of the dealership informed us that there is a program through the state of Texas that helps underprivileged folks with old cars get into newer vehicles. The program – http://www.nctcog.org/trans/air/act/ will give him a $3000 voucher for his current vehicle to be used toward an ‘08 or newer car. So, this is where we are asking for YOUR help. Tricia and I were going to replace his current clunker with a little newer and more dependable clunker, but we thought if we reached out to others, we may actually be able to help him in a much greater way. With the Lord’s guidance and your help, we would love to find a way to get him in an ‘08 minivan so he can participate in the voucher program (it’s free money!). We’d also love to provide him with a gas card and possibly help with his insurance. We know this is a HUGE request, but if the Lord has led us to this, then we know He will provide the means to make this happen.
Will you please commit to pray for this man and the efforts to serve him as he serves others and our God? If the Lord leads you, will you consider contributing to this effort (no amount is too small!)? I am meeting with him tomorrow to get the paperwork completed for the state program, and we are trying to make a decision on which direction to go this weekend.
If you are interested in giving, would you be so kind as to let us know by Sunday – we’d like to present his car to him in the next week or two? Please contact me at david.lyons@ministersearch.com or (214)621-8165, or Tricia at tricialyons123@gmail.com or (972)948-3500 to let us know how you’d like to help.
Blessings to you!
In Him,
David & Tricia Lyons
