Auto Mechanics and Evangelism
Meet Jeremy C Parks from “Mechanics on a Mission,” that has turned his gifts into a ministry that has given out 61 used cars to people in need, and repaired more than 200 cars as a unique ministry. He has incorporated his church and his community to provide cars to people in distress in the Hopkinsville, Tennessee area.
He has found people sleeping in their cars because they have broken down, or receives a referral of a needy person or family that needs reliable transportation.
Who can deny that this ministry isn’t the kind of person who has found and followed his calling in life? Most people never hear of these small ministries, and publicity is not his concern.
Websie: https://www.mechanicsonamission.com/
Strange enough, this is not the only example of this kind of much-needed ministry.
While some mechanics often bring fear of extensive repairs and price gouging, Joshua Chikumbindi is quite different. He is known in the community for being fair and having a heart for those in need. As a mechanic he said he often gets frustrated when some shops give people a huge bill. “If he didn’t need to pay bills, he’d never charge for it,” said St. Paul resident and customer, Cary Betts.
His one-man shop on Parker Road has been open since 2011. He can fix just about anything and his customers often have more faith in his ability to fix things than he does.
“People have brought tractors, weed eaters… stuff that’s not even in my field but they bring it to me to fix,” he said. “One time an old man wanted me to fix his tractor. When I finally agreed to try – within 30 minutes I heard his tractor puttering down the road,” he said laughing.
Customer referrals from churches, nonprofits and those in need of a break are common at his shop. First Baptist Wylie Missions Pastor, Jon Bailey, sends people to Joshua who have cars, but don’t have enough to pay for the full repair. “I look at them (pastors) and say, ‘You know the church doesn’t have to pay this because this is something that I can do,’” he said. “Sometimes churches pay a portion and customers pay a portion. I believe that is what the kingdom is about. Having a need doesn’t care about religion but community is a necessity to help.”
Check out https://fresnomission.org/what-we-do/mission-auto, where this group is training others how to earn a living, but find opportunities to bless others who are in need by living out the life of Christ in their community.
