Unique Ways to Practice Generosity
With the cost of living rising over the last few years, we have often relied on the help of our community to help those in need, particularly with our past Food Drives. But there are so many other individuals who have stepped out in faith to provide support and encouragement to those who find themselves in difficult situations.
In this Missional Moment, we talk to Becky and Rob Armstrong about their new initiative, created to support people in our community get around.
We asked them a few questions about their own journey:
Can you tell us a little about Generosity Garage and how the idea came about?
Generosity Garage is a charity organization that we have recently started to provide reliable transportation for those in need. We recognize that with rising costs of everyday necessities like food and housing, the cost of transportation has also become out of reach for many people.
Rob has always had a passion for cars, and God had been stirring in us to find a unique way that we could practice generosity. While attending a Steven Curtis Chapman concert and reflecting on the adoption ministry that his wife had begun many years ago, Becky was struck with the idea to start this ministry to give away vehicles that would harness Rob’s connections in the automotive industry, and fuel both our desires to be generous. To get Becky excited about cars, we knew the idea had to have come from the Lord!
A few months prior to the concert, Rob had been able to come alongside some other families at Compass Point to help a family in need with a vehicle and found such joy in helping in this practical way for this single mom in need so we already had firsthand experience in seeing the difference that this could make in someone’s life. We had heard about other ‘car ministries’ existing in other areas but did some research and discovered that there wasn’t anything like this in our area, so we really felt called to take a step of faith and start this.
How does the Generosity Garage work and what impact do you hope it will make in the community?
In order to find the needs, we are working with churches and community organizations—who we call our advocates—these are people already in relationship with people who may have a need for a vehicle—whether it’s a single mom or a new immigrant, or a variety of other situations where a family has encountered difficult circumstances that makes purchasing a vehicle a little out of reach.
We are trusting that our advocates know the nominee well enough to understand that a person receiving a vehicle would then be able to maintain and insure it. Ultimately, we hope that people who receive vehicles will know that this is a small way we can care for them and reflect God’s love for them.
You can read “stories” on our website about how people have already been helped, it is truly amazing to see God provide for the needs.
Pictured above: Becky and Rob Armstrong
Pictured above: Compass Point attendee who has helped prepare the vehicles that we have donated so far at his automotive shop.
What are some ways that our CP community can support your initiative?
We are hoping that others will join us in the journey of generosity—we want to rally others to be part of this with us. We are looking for vehicle donations as well as financial donations. We are also looking for mechanics who can offer services at discounted costs.
We would be happy to have our church family spread the word about this by sharing our website www.generositygarage.org and following our Instagram and Facebook page.
Of course, we also value the prayers of our church family as we step out in faith to start this ministry.
Please pray:
- as we discern which nominees can receive vehicles
- that God would provide the vehicles as needs are presented
- that we would be able to attend charitable status as an organization
- that this provision would truly be able to help people in a practical way but would ultimately point them to Jesus.
Generosity Garage
Providing reliable transportation for those in need.