If you judged what form of communication God prefers based simply on the word counts of various genres in the Bible, STORIES would easily win. Narratives dominate the pages of scripture because they simultaneously inspire and instruct the human soul. We were made to both hear and tell stories. As Maya Angelou observed, "There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you."
So it is time for OnRamp to put forth much more effort into telling our story and the stories of those we partner with, serve, and learn from. Seventeen years as a pastor in a local church did not give me as many soul-stirring stories as just the last four years leading OnRamp! We are so fortunate to walk with a wide-range of people throughout the Brazos Valley, playing a small part in their greater story. It is our privilege to share these stories with you so that you can be inspired to hope, to give, and to serve.
One short example: Three years ago, OnRamp donated a Ford Focus to a single mom named Cheyna, a survivor of domestic abuse. While she worked full time, after rent, food, and diapers, there were no funds left to purchase a car. She literally biked to work everyday, with her toddlers strapped into the baby seat behind her. Inclement weather meant either expensive ride services or days missed and income lost. Cheyna ended up being one of the easiest client decisions we’ve ever made - it was an obvious and compelling need. Now, three years later, she has used the car we provided to complete her education, get a better paying job, build her savings, and buy her own home! She’s even saving for the next vehicle, with plans do donate this Focus to another waiting OnRamp client. In the midst of so many tragic stories in our world, Cheyna’s life is a reminder to us that God is still in the business of redeeming and transforming lives that seemed beyond hope.
If you would like to hear stories like Cheyna’s of hardship, joy, and hope, along with news about what God is doing in and through OnRamp, and even an occasional car-care tip, please subscribe to this blog by submitting your email below. We’ll keep the posts flowing as regularly as we can - with a goal of at least two a week. And feel free to submit blog post ideas as well as resources to share so that this blog can be as useful as possible.