The Decision to Surrender

The journey begins with a conviction to help a young woman in Missouri who recently found a job but lacked a vehicle to get there. Despite having a “full plate” and an initial impulse to ignore the request, the burden on the heart remained.

The turning point came during a reflection on the ultimate sacrifice of God the Father giving His only begotten Son. If God could give such a priceless gift for humanity, giving up a 2003 Toyota Highlander with 290,000 miles to help a sister in Christ was a small but necessary step of faith.

More Than Just a Machine

Though the car had little monetary value, it held deep sentimental worth. The vehicle had been a companion through years of ministry travel—stretching from Maine to Florida and out to California. Every corner of the car held a memory, from nights spent sleeping in the back while on the road to various stickers that told a story:

  • A sticker from the 2024 total solar eclipse.

  • Personalized stickers picked out by daughters, Haley and Heidi.

  • A Katy Trail State Park sticker commemorating a 230-mile bike-packing trip taken with an 11-year-old daughter.

The Mission of Giving

The purpose of sharing this story is not to seek “brownie points,” but to encourage others to examine their own lives. It highlights the “law of life for the universe”—the idea that we receive from God not to hoard material goods, but to pass them on to others.

The journey to deliver the car also opened doors for further ministry. Along the way, a stop was made to visit another woman, Leanne, who had been left “high and dry” by a contractor who took her money and abandoned her home project. This detour allowed for a professional assessment of the construction needs and the planning of a volunteer building trip for the coming April.

Conclusion

The video concludes with the car being successfully delivered to the young woman just in time for her to start her new job. It serves as a powerful reminder that true Christianity is found in the willingness to open one’s hand wide to the poor and the needy.