Car Clinic at our Church

[Sparrow]

This sounds like a fantastic way of doing ministry. Kudos!

[Cow Poke]

So, one of the people who came to Car Clinic yesterday was in Church this morning with their family. After Church, the husband (man, wife and small child) told us that they had been looking for a Church that actually practiced what they preached. They asked if they could make an appointment to talk about being baptized. I will be visiting in their home early next week. WHO KNOWS?!?!?!

[Sparko]

OK, the count is in! We serviced TWENTY SEVEN vehicles today, and learned a few things.

A) We worked from 9am to 4pm. Only 3 cars came in after 1pm. Next year we'll quit at 1pm, along with whoever is in line at that time. It was a LONG day!

2) We hit our target audience -- single moms, older people, and poor people. We didn't have anybody that seemed to be there "just for the free oil change coupon".

C) Something I didn't expect, but was a blessing -- several older people stopped by to have us look at their cars, then they stayed to talk. And stayed. And stayed. It only takes us about 5 to 10 minutes to service their vehicle, but one lady stayed for an hour. Our ladies were inside serving refreshments and just sitting around enjoying fellowship, and some of these older people just enjoyed sitting and talking. One older gentleman was a P-51 fighter pilot in WW2. Some of you know how I love P-51's so he was a delight!

At 4pm, as we were putting things away, 2 more cars came in, and we took care of them, then put things away. LONG day, but a real blessing.

Cool!

I met a 90 year old gentleman yesterday who was very interesting (and spry!). He was a marine in WW2 and was part of an advance force for the planned invasion of Japan, and was there just a couple of months before they decided to drop the bomb. He had some amazing stories!

[Cow Poke]

Sometimes we'd have 3 cars lined up at a time!

car clinic.JPG

[Cow Poke]

Charlie is one of my best buddies - he's always laying down on the job!

charlie 2.JPG

[Cow Poke]

OK, the count is in! We serviced TWENTY SEVEN vehicles today, and learned a few things.

A) We worked from 9am to 4pm. Only 3 cars came in after 1pm. Next year we'll quit at 1pm, along with whoever is in line at that time. It was a LONG day!

2) We hit our target audience -- single moms, older people, and poor people. We didn't have anybody that seemed to be there "just for the free oil change coupon".

C) Something I didn't expect, but was a blessing -- several older people stopped by to have us look at their cars, then they stayed to talk. And stayed. And stayed. It only takes us about 5 to 10 minutes to service their vehicle, but one lady stayed for an hour. Our ladies were inside serving refreshments and just sitting around enjoying fellowship, and some of these older people just enjoyed sitting and talking. One older gentleman was a P-51 fighter pilot in WW2. Some of you know how I love P-51's so he was a delight!

At 4pm, as we were putting things away, 2 more cars came in, and we took care of them, then put things away. LONG day, but a real blessing.

[Teallaura]

[lilpixieofterror]

Nice idea CP. I do help out a few people, at church, with their car repair stuff when I can.

[Cow Poke]

So, it's tomorrow from 9 AM to Noon. Looking forward to it, but I don't know if we'll have 2 cars or 20 or 200 or somewhere in between. While we (the guys) are servicing the cars, the women (sorry to be sexist, but that's the way it works out) will clean windshields, vacuum floor mats (if the drivers want them to) and serve coffee, tea, cookies and - during the lunch hour - hotdogs.

It will be interesting to see how many people show up to have their car serviced.

[DesertBerean]

We have a food ministry where we pack and distribute food each week. And a separate food pantry for members of the church along the principle of taking care of our own as well as the outside.

[Cow Poke]

It's FUN, eh?

[Sparko]

We do that, too! We just finished up a project cutting up a huge pin oak tree that fell during a storm. It was one of our elderly ladies, and she insisted we keep the firewood. I have enough for the winter, supposing we actually get a winter this year. One of our favorite projects recently was building a wheelchair ramp from the driveway to the back door of the home of one of our shut-ins. When they take him for a doctor visit or whatever, it's WAY easier to get him in and out.

sounds like you got most of it covered.

Our church has a "great day of service" each year where we volunteer around the community doing whatever is needed, like painting schools, clearing fields and cutting yards, repairing homes, cleaning parks, free medical clinics working with members who are doctors, nurses, or dentists, handing out groceries and clothes and stuff like that. and on a monthly basis we also do things like visit nursing homes and such.

[mossrose]

[Cow Poke]

Snow shovelling for the infirm!

Snow?

[mossrose]

Snow shovelling for the infirm!