Volunteers change oil,
hope to change lives
Auto outreach is the latest
way Thompson Station
Church is 'touching'
community

By SUE McCLURE
Staff Writer

Published: Thursday, 06/30/05

THOMPSON'S STATION — The sign was intriguing enough to catch the eye of most passing motorists. It read "Free Oil Change, Because Jesus Changed Us."

The buzz of activity in the parking lot of Thompson Station Church, where three oil-changing bays were set up, was enough to convince many motorists to pull in and see what was happening.

"Are you having a garage sale?" one man asked. "If so, I'd like to buy those ramps."

"No sir," answered Stephen Witt, pastor for evangelism and discipleship at the church. "But we'll change your oil."

Witt and his helpers were met with stares of disbelief, then big smiles of gratitude as they steered SUVs, pickup trucks and four-door sedans onto steel ramps for a free oil and filter change, along with a 14-point check of fluids, tires and lights.

The unique outreach program — a part of the church's weekly G.R.O.W. (God Rewards Our Work) ministry — was a way to help residents in the community, Witt said.

"We want the community to know we're here, so we do something different every week," Witt said. "Last week, we had a free carwash. And we've helped clean up the nature trail at Heritage Elementary. And one week, we went into the subdivisions and prayed over each of the houses.

"This is an awesome community, full of kind people, and we want to back give to them," he said. But an oil change?

"It's something everyone needs," Witt explained. "We're hoping some single mothers might take advantage of it, but also anyone else who needs one.

"Sometimes you're just so busy, you can't find time for one," he added.

That's exactly why Ronda Lunceford, a child-care worker who lives in Spring Hill, was first in line for the free service.

"I'm overdue for an oil change, so this is my lucky day," she said. "This is a real blessing in disguise."

No disguise about it, according to Kyle Davis, 15, a church member who was helping out.

David White and Brent Jones of Thompson Station Church, foreground, change a car's oil during the church's free oil change ministry Monday.
PHOTOS BY SUE MCCLURE / STAFF

"The Lord wants us to outreach, so we do," he said.

His friend, Brian Easterday, 15, agreed.

"Changing oil is a good way to service people," he said as he tested a car's turn signals and headlights.

Inside the church, Easterday's mother, Sue Ellen, was busy with another aspect of the outreach ministry.

"I'm writing letters to people who have visited the church, saying we appreciated their visit and telling them what other things we have available to them," she said.

It's all a part of making a tangible difference, according to Duane Murray, executive pastor.

"We want to meet the community's needs," he said. "Our motto is 'Touching the world from Thompson Station.'

"And we want to physically touch the community," he said.

Well, those workers in the parking lot were certainly doing that — and they had the oil under their fingernails to prove it.

After the oil changes, each motorist was given a Bible, brochures about the church and a bright white magnet that read "I was changed at Thompson Station Church!"

Alix Solano of Spring Hill was quite amazed by it all.

"I didn't know if this was real," she said. "But this church is always doing for the community." •

If you go, Thompson Station Church is located on the corner of Highway 31 and Thompson Station Road. The church Web site is www.ThompsonStationChurch.org and the phone number is 615-791-8319.
article from the The Tennessean, Nashville TN Published: Thursday, 06/30/05
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testimony of a small group leader

New Life Gatherings have adjusted my thinking in lots of ways. For example: I never could fathom being anything other than a wannabe evangelist despite attending a seminar on evangelism 2 years ago. I had invited a few people to church and some came but it didn't dawn on me that my only successes were with people at work, mostly patients. Why was that? It finally clicked that these were people whom I had relationships with, commonly Doctor/Patient but nonetheless relationships which were predicated on trust and caring. Now I realize that in order to bring people into our New Life Gatherings I have to deliberately take the time to cultivate just that type of relationship with whomever I wish to invite. In my case, my current "Mission Field" is the work environment. I now work exclusively in the Hospital, on four floors, ten different wards and I interact with literally 100 different people each day, most of whom I will see at least once a day and three times per week. What must I do? Some of these things seem elementary but have never been particularly easy for an introvert like me and represent a "cost" in the Rick Warren vernacular.

1. I must take the trouble to learn their names! (Praying for them by name helps a lot!) 2. I must speak with them and find out something about them! (It's amazing how most people will react when you show some interest in them. People often will reveal something about themselves that exposes a want or need that Christ and small group ministry and fellowship will help to heal!) 3. I then must invite them! (Not really the hard part after the "relationship" has been established.)

Our current session of six meetings will gather again this Sunday. I wasn't worried that our turn over rate from study to study had been high as all of the members whom we lost were already attending church. We need to find those who are missing that relationship with Christ and Other Believers. Our steady group of 6 prayed for new people to come. A nurse and her two grown children each of whom had "grown away" from the Church came. What a Blessing! It doesn't take many new people to boost the enthusiasm! The Holy Spirit will feed these guests and turn them into New Life Gathering "members" who may later join our church or invite others. The actual "study material" is secondary to the sharing, fellowship, Word, and prayers.

I realize that all of this is really pretty elementary, but I thought I would share it with the notion of encouraging others to aim for relationships first and then let the evangelism flow. I am by no means an expert or a record breaker at doing either, but I am attempting to break out of old ways of thinking and past solitary habits that really don't help advance the Kingdom in the way Christ asks us to do.

Yours in Christ,

Fried Thomas