God told someone to...GIVE ME A VAN!

For the past 5 years I’ve been part of a ministry team that has gone to the prison once a year to minister to the inmates at Vienna Correctional Center, a state prison in Illinois. At one time we were called the Emmaus Walk, but it’s now called the Great Banquet. After two years of going to the prison with the team, the Chaplain asked if any of the team wanted to volunteer to come back to the prison to minister to the men at their convience.

Well, I volunteered to come twice a month, every other Friday, to teach bible study and worship with the men. I did this for about a year and then felt the Lord leading me to go every Wednesday night and I have been doing this for the last two and a half years. Then the Lord put it on my heart to come every Wednesday night and one Saturday a month, and before I knew it I was asked by the Warden if I could perform weddings and I’ve been doing that for about a year. December 2003, the prison put me on contract for a minimum of 12 hours a week to minister to the men at Vienna and the first time offenders at a boot camp down the road in Dixon Springs, about 8 miles from Vienna.

In my travels over the past 4 – 5 years I’ve probably gone through 8 or 9 cars, honestly. My Social Work team at work will tell you, I’ve said it a thousand times that I refuse to buy a new car to go in debt. I’m trying to hard to pay down the bills I have already accumulated. Therefore when a car dies on me, I shout and praise the Lord because I know He’s going to give me something else better. Most of vehicles I purchase range from $400 to $1200. Cash and carry, and I drive till they die. I’ve been doing this for several years now. Now, my volunteering at the prison over the years has certainly taken it’s own toll, after all the prison is 110 miles one way.
(here comes the blessing)

One of the men on the prison team from Madisonville, Bro. Barry McGraw, that I’ve served with for 5 years, called me in January 2004 and asked me how the ministry was going at Vienna, and I told him…"great!". He then asked me if I were still driving that 2 door Ford Escort, (that got hit by an 18 wheeler a year ago and wedged into a guard rail…another story…: ) and I told him sure. I told him it’s got 280,000 miles and still running good. “Well”, he said, “the Lord put it on my heart to do one of two things for you”. Of course I said…”what’s that?” He told me that the Lord told him to help my ministry by either purchasing me a vehicle or helping me to purchase one. Of course my eyes watered, I was truly taken back, and I told him that I didn’t want to incur more indebtedness, and that I would rather he purchase the vehicle than he help me to get one because I don’t want payments. “Well” he said, “I’ve been trying to reach you for two weeks, but I’m gonna have some folk to start looking for you again”.

He said “Now if I buy it straight out, it want be brand new, but it’ll be a lot better than what you’re driving”. Of course I’m still just stunned and said, ok, thanks. Three days later he calls me back and says, “Preacher!, when you get home from the prison tonight, stop by Bogess Chevrolet in Madisonville and take a look at the van on their lot. It’s a 2000 Chrysler, Venture and tell me what you think. I got in town about 11:30 that night and stopped by the car lot. Gosh, it was beautiful. My friend called me back the next day and asked me if I liked it, and of course my response was YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, So, he told me what we needed to do to complete the transaction. And one week later, my friend called and said preacher when you get in town stop by Bogess Chevrolet, and lets finalize this thing.

When I got to town, my friend had already taken the liberty to stop by my insurance office and give them the information so it could added to our policy. They called earlier to confirm the right amount of coverage. Then he took a copy of the insurance card to the courthouse and had the vehicle transferred to my name. So when we met him at the dealership not only had my friend paid, (I took a peak and saw the checks on the dealers desk), $5300 for the van, but when he stopped by the court house to transfer the van, he also found out how much the taxes were and there laid another check on the desk for $367 for the taxes on the van. My friends, I didn’t even have to pay the taxes. I signed the papers, he gave me the keys and after we gave everyone a hug and a thank you, I drove off Bogess Chevrolet’s parking lot in my new 2000 van, all I could do was say, Thank you Jesus, thank you Jesus. What a mighty God we serve!!! And I still don’t have a payment. My friends, talk your faith. God is listening. Be Blessed…Rev.