wfn.org | Mechanics Ministry heals brokenness - in cars, that is

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG>]

June 23, 1999  News media contact: Tim Tanton*(615)742-5470*Nashville, Tenn.
10-71B{346}

A UMNS News Feature
By Clay Renick*

Shawn, a 23-year-old homeless mother, looks at her car. It won't start.

But instead of calling AAA or the neighborhood garage, she contacts a local
organization that helps the needy. The agency director in turn calls an
unlikely rescue team: a group of guys from the local United Methodist
church.

Shawn's prayers are answered when a volunteer shows up to help. He replaces
the starter cellinoid and repairs the battery cable. The motor starts.

Chalk up another success for the "Mechanics Ministry," a group of eight men
from Wesley United Methodist Church in Evans, Ga. For them, outreach work
usually means reaching under the hood of a car and having a real "laying on
of hands." The results, though, are heaven-sent for people like Shawn, who
otherwise might be hard pressed to pay for car repairs.

"Those are the type of people we want to help," said Woody Rogers, an
industrial mechanic who volunteers with the car ministry. 

"It's not something that keeps us busy every day," he said. "We try to do it
for people who can't otherwise afford it."

Scott Long, a retired Army officer and a member at Wesley, started the
ministry several years ago. "I'm not a very good mechanic myself," he
admitted. But he was inspired by an article in a magazine produced by the
Billy Graham Association, and he thought of men in his church.

"We're all kind of called to the ministry," Long said. "This would be a good
fit for some." 

He asked for volunteers who were interested in cars. They sponsored a "car
day" once a month for church members.

"We'd check them out," Rogers said. "Usually there were small problems."
Starters needed replacing. Alternators didn't work. Elderly people wondered
about noises under the hood.

"We try not to get into big repairs because we don't have a shop," Rogers
said.

The ministry developed a following among church members, who appreciated the
service. The volunteers began getting several calls a month.

"We supply the labor," Rogers explained. "We ask them to buy the parts." The
work is done on the member's free time. And some calls happen on the road.

The Mechanics Ministry eventually took its healing touch beyond the
congregation. Through the Interfaith Hospitality Network, the Wesley
volunteers help needy people with their car problems. 

The network in Augusta, Ga., is a collection of 13 churches that work
specifically with the growing homeless population in the region. The network
provides housing for up to 14 people.  Host congregations share the load for
one week out of every 13. 

Recently, Rogers got a call from the network asking for help. A homeless
family had a car with lights that wouldn't work.  

Rogers replaced a switch, found trouble in the fuses and sought counsel from
another church member with a car shop. Together, they fixed it.

"This ministry reaches out locally and reminds us that we each have gifts
that can be used in ways that we might not even consider a ministry," said
Randy Monk, associate pastor at Wesley.

"It's a good cause," said Rogers who is always urging mechanics in the
community to get involved. Major repairs would be difficult for anyone with
limited time and equipment, he acknowledged, but many people are able to
help with minor repairs.

"I went away with a nice feeling," said Ron Watford, one of the volunteers.
"It makes you feel good to see people who don't know what to do get some
advice and assistance."

 # # #

*Renick is a free-lance writer in Martinez, Ga.

______________
United Methodist News Service
http://www.umc.org/umns/
newsdesk@umcom.umc.org
(615)742-5472