Client 126: a Hero Among Us

If you live in Brazos County and have not yet met a young woman named Rainn, you are missing out. She graduated Salutatorian from her High School and just obtained her bachelors in Social Work from UTA. She’s completing her internship hours this month, and then will start a Business degree at TAMU. That’s quite an accomplishment for any college student, but is astounding when you hear what she overcame. Rainn was raised in foster care. She progressed through the program at Unlimited Potential. She’s raising her two young children on her own. And she’s doing it all without a vehicle. As a result, Rainn has to pull her kids in a wagon from home to the bus stop whenever she needs to go anywhere. Then she loads the wagon and kids on the bus so they can get to school, work, childcare, or the store. On a normal week, she spends up to ten hours pulling the wagon and ten hours riding the bus! Imagine what this inspiring woman can do with a vehicle of her own that should give her twenty hours a week of her life back! Fortunately, Rainn has an amazing advocate in Linda who served as her CASA for nine years. Linda nominated her to OnRamp and we enthusiastically gave her this 2010 Honda Accord last week. Now Rainn and her kids and brother have reliable transportation to smooth their path towards attaining their goals and living out their amazing God-given potential.

Jesus told us that the second greatest commandment is to, “love your neighbor as yourself.” That’s impossible to obey if we don’t open eyes to see our neighbors, like Rainn, who are in need. So much of modern life is economically segregated. We live, work, worship, and play with people who are similar in financial standing. As a result, we can go through a week without ever seeing a neighbor like her unless we just so happen to notice her pulling her kids towards the bus stop as we fly by in our SUV’s. One of the most important aspects of OnRamp’s ministry is to introduce all of us to heroic individuals like Rainn who so often go unseen. Now you know your neighbor! And you are richer for it.

As you consider your end-of-year giving, we invite you to support OnRamp’s efforts to provide reliable transportation and a full year of support and encouragement to our neighbors in need. They are heroes, and it is our joy to play a part in their God-ordained stories. Please help us serve more this coming year.

PS. The last picture is my dad and I after we finished cleaning and prepping this Accord for Rainn. I highly recommend finding a way to serve with your family. It’s the best!

Sharing Our Secret List: The Most Reliable Used Cars

FREE RESOURCE FOR EVERYONE: We are throwing caution to the wind and publicly sharing OnRamp's internal list of the best used vehicles to buy for reliability. This list is the result of careful accounting of every penny spent on every OnRamp vehicle (over 120 so far). This may perturb fans of certain brands we've omitted. Sorry, but these are the cars we've found last our clients the longest for the least cost of repairs. This list has saved our bacon many times. Feel free to reply with questions and please share this with anyone looking for a reliable used car.

Three important notes:

(1) This list is about older used vehicles, not new vehicles. We typically buy 8-12 year old vehicles in the $8-10k value range. If you are buying a newer vehicle, these trends may not apply.

(2) This list is about reliability, not about fun, looks, towing capacity, technology, etc. My car is not on this list because it takes a lot of work to keep on the road, but that's ok because I enjoy doing my own maintenance and prioritize fun over reliability. But I'm weird that way. Most people need absolute reliability above all else. So here's your guide.

(3) There are ALWAYS exceptions. Some Corollas die young. Some Audi's go forever. This list is not a promise of reliability. It's based on averages. YMMV.

Relationships are the Key

Please read this short article from Forbes which captures the heart of OnRamp so well. The key to helping people out of poverty is building relationships, not providing services. Unfortunately, most of us think about charity only through the grid of services. We give a person or family in need a box of food or rent for the month or even a new vehicle. That is a kind gift, but as the research shows, it rarely leads to transformative change if it is not accompanied by the far more important ingredient of relationships. This should not surprise those familiar with Jesus’ model of ministry. He didn’t just give services - food, healing, instruction. He gave Himself. He offered to become a kind leader, friend, and brother to those who came to Him. He gave His life, not just His charity, for those in need, and He calls us to do the same. So to be clear, the call of Jesus upon us towards the poor is not simply to open our pocketbooks and make a donation once a year, though monetary donations are certainly needed. His call is far harder. It is to open our hearts and lives to welcome them in as friends and brothers and sisters; to love them and do life with them for this is what brings genuine change. And while the article focuses on the change it brings for the poor, I would argue it brings just as essential a change to the rich! We who have plenty are in desperate need of relationships with the poor who can teach us that security and love are not found in our possessions or bank accounts. We need them to show us what deep faith in Jesus looks like, even when we have nothing to our name.

This is the philosophy behind everything OnRamp does. Many people mistakenly believe we are a charity that gives away cars. No, we are a charity that uses cars to build transformative relationships with our neighbors in need. That’s why every client gets a full year of free maintenance, up to and including totally replacing their OnRamp car if it wears out during that time. That twelve months warranty gives us opportunity to get to know them, love them, encourage them, and learn from them. We could serve far more people if our ministry ended the moment we hand someone the keys to a new car. But as the article and the Bible make clear, that would be short sighted. So we sacrifice breadth for depth and prioritize relationships over automobiles. The client in the picture above, Cheyna, is an example. Through relationships with OnRamp, her church, her advocates, and others, she has not only found stable transportation, she now owns a home, has a great job, and has bought a new vehicle after ours served her for over four years. She’s an incredible success… because of the power of relationships.

Hopefully this short philosophical soapbox has given you a sense of why we do what we do, and inspired you to find new ways to open your heart and your home to those in need. It can transform both them and you for the better!

Client 122: A CSISD & TAMU Rockstar

This inspiring client absolutely blew us away! In spring 2021, Vanessa was a senior at CSISD when her mom, her sole caregiver, died of Covid. That tragedy left Vanessa and her 13-year-old sister to navigate life on their own. Rather than surrender to grief, Vanessa stepped up to secure guardianship of her sister to raise her as her own. She then finished High School, the first in her family to do so. And she did so well that she was accepted into TAMU as a Regent Scholar on a full ride scholarship where she’s now in her 2nd year.

Unfortunately, the car that Vanessa inherited from her mom, which she and her sister relied upon to get to school, work, doctors appointments, and the store was hit by another driver and totaled. The entire insurance settlement went to pay off the debt that remained on her mom’s vehicle, leaving Vanessa with nothing to purchase a new car. Even more challenging, the Regent Scholarship rules stipulate that she cannot work more than a small number of hours per week or risk losing the scholarship and her chances at a degree. There was no hope to earn enough money to buy a car, but without a car, there was no way to get herself and her sister to school and essential appointments.

That’s when her former teacher, Grace, stepped in. Since Vanessa’s mom had passed, Grace had provided her and her sister multiple meals per week, helped them with laundry, and guided them through financial and legal challenges and questions. Grace was the kind of teacher we all idealize; one who goes far beyond the classroom to ensure her students have every opportunity to thrive. So without hesitation, Grace reached out to CSISD leadership, and when connected with us, nominated Vanessa for an OnRamp vehicle.

We debated her case for less than a second - how could we say ‘no’ to such an inspiring young woman! To make it even easier, a generous donor connected to the school district offered to cover $5000 of the car’s price. The pieces fell into place rapidly, allowing us to joyously give Vanessa this 2016 Mazda3 plus a full year of free maintenance support that should enable her and her sister to continue their educational journey and carve a stable and successful path forward in life. We cannot thank God enough for giving us the privilege of blessing this young woman who, according to CSISD leadership, is an absolute rockstar! We agree!

Tomorrow, November 29th, is Giving Tuesday, a globally recognized day of charitable giving. If Vanessa’s story has inspired you, we invite you to consider giving to OnRamp to help us continue to serve clients like her with the gift of reliable transportation. Your gifts enable us to not only donate a vehicle, but also a full year of maintenance so that our clients can continue to focus on their goals. We also provide ongoing encouragement, prayer, and connections to resources and churches to help our clients in all areas of life. We’ve been blessed to gift vehicles and support to 36 new client families so far in 2022 (124 since our inception 5 years ago), and would love your help to keep that momentum going! Simply visit our giving page HERE.

Client #120: Gloria a Dios Hermano!

What a privilege to bless my friend Samua and his wife, Grisel, and their three daughters with a new vehicle! Samua is a phenomenally gifted Worship Minister from Cuba who now serves at Grace Bible Church’s new Midtown Campus. He leads in both English and Spanish, creating an environment where people from diverse backgrounds can worship together. Sadly, Samua and Grisel have faced substantial challenges over the last year, including the death of Grisel’s mother in Cuba and the destruction of their home church in Havana due to a nearby gas leak. So much of their income has gone to supporting loved ones back in Cuba during these crises that none was left to afford a new vehicle when their 200,000+ mile minivan broke down. They needed help. Fortunately, our generous donors stepped up to help us raise over $10,000 to purchase this 2010 Toyota Camry with only 49,000 miles. I’m not exaggerating when I say that this car is practically new. It should last another 200,000! Now Samua and Grisel and their girls have reliable transportation to continue their journey, blessing many of us here in the BCS while also supporting many back in Cuba. This was a perfect illustration of the body of Christ serving one another in love!

Thank you to my good friend, Chris McGuffey, for nominating this stellar family to us. Fun to partner with you again! Story and pictures shared with client permission, who exclaimed when asked, “Gloria a Dios hermano!” Amen, Samua!

Redemption on Two Wheels

Our mission is to share Jesus’ love with our community by serving those in need of reliable transportation… whatever form of transportation that takes. A few weeks ago, that meant providing beautiful new bicycles to three young, local siblings who are on their own in the world. We’re keeping their identities and details of their stories private. What we can tell you is that all three ended up in this country alone and without support or documentation through absolutely no fault of their own. They made the best of their situation, completed school and got local jobs to support themselves. But they had to walk miles to work, rain or shine. When a local civic leader found out about their situation, she reached out to us for help. Fortunately, Aggieland Cycling stepped up to provide a steep discount on three bikes, locks, and headlights. And the best part is that they will fully support these bikes for life so that these hard-working young siblings can focus on their jobs and their futures.

In a similar vane, OnRamp was asked to help provide Drivers’ Ed for three local Afghan women rescued by the TAMU Borlaug Institute when their country fell to the Taliban. All three have college degrees and great jobs at TAMU, but they had never been behind the wheel of a car before! So OnRamp volunteers gave them basic lessons this summer. Then, when it was time to progress to formal Drivers’ Ed, a generous local family stepped in to pay for lessons for all three ladies. This will end up costing us approximately $3000. But that’s a small price to pay for the freedom these women will experience when they’re able to drive themselves wherever they want. That’s a freedom we take for granted, but that many women in this world lack, especially in countries like Afghanistan. We’re grateful to share the love of Christ in this very tangible way.

In Isaiah 43, the Lord says to Israel, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” To redeem means to pay a price to free someone from some form of bondage. In the ultimate sense, Jesus paid the price to free humans from the bondage of sin. We rightly celebrate that, but too often forget that God desires redemption from ALL forms of bondage, not just spiritual. And He calls us, His sons and daughters, to join Him in this work of setting men and women free from bondage in all its forms. This is what motivated the great William Wilberforce to fight against slavery in England and MLK to fight segregation in the US. Our spiritual redemption should motivate us to work for redemption in all ways for all people. Lack of transportation in a place like Texas is a form of bondage. Bondage to poverty. Bondage to unemployment. Bondage to hopelessness. The gift of transportation is freedom from all these things that hold so many back from reaching their God-given potential. So we strive to provide this gift of reliable transportation in any and all forms to as many people as we can. Will you join us in this mission?

2022 Annual Report - See What God Has Done!

We are mailing out our Annual Report this week to all the snail-mail addresses we have. But for many of you, we only have emails. So here it is in electronic form. We pray this will inspire and encourage you as you read about the amazing work God has done in our midst in 2022. Please help us keep this ministry going strong into the New Year!

3 More Clients, 3 More Stories

Our 118th client, “K,” comes to us through YoungLife. This generous and courageous young woman suffered incredible loss as a child, including near homelessness on multiple occasions. Yet she persevered in putting herself through Blinn and TAMU while serving with YoungLife. Her love for God and others has blessed so many people in her path. Unfortunately, she found herself trapped in a common catch-22. She needed more employment to be able to afford a vehicle, but she needed a vehicle in order to be able to get to more employment! She couldn’t make ends meet without help. So her YoungLife leader nominated her to OnRamp and we joyously shared God’s provision of a reliable car that should serve her well for years to come. Fun fact, she works in the childcare ministry of Incarnation Anglican, the church both I and her advocate call home!

Our 119th client, “E,” is an amazing young woman who stepped up to raise her two nieces, ages 4 and 2, who have suffered horrible abuse and trauma. She gracefully opened her life to these young girls and worked hard to create a space for them to feel safe and loved. “E” works 40 hours a week, but after rent, groceries, utilities, insurance, and other essentials, there was no money left for a vehicle. So Brittany, a Project Unity Parent Educator, nominated her to us. At the time of her application, “E” was expecting the birth of her own first child. Tragically, this baby boy passed away shortly after birth. We invite you to pray for “E” as she grieves and heals. OnRamp was honored to give this Toyota Yaris to this strong woman, along with connections to local parenting and counseling resources. Our love and service to our clients goes far beyond just a vehicle.

Finally, on to our bonus client of the month, “M”! This veteran and single mom received an SUV from OnRamp two years ago. However, we knew at the time that this particular vehicle might not last her the full five years we intend. When it did wear out, as we feared, we stepped in to partner with BVCares and gift her a much more reliable Corolla! Now this hard working mom has transportation she and her son can count on.

Thank you so much for giving faithfully to OnRamp. We could not have served these three deserving women without your help. Each of them now has not only a vehicle but the ongoing support, connections, and prayer of our entire OnRamp team helping them achieve long-term goals and experience the peace God desires for them. We are so grateful for your help!

Client 117: One Donation, Four Generations

Why did GiGi, our 117th client, need a car from OnRamp?

“With a reliable vehicle I will be able to get to and from my doctor appointments without having to ask around for a ride or miss my appointment because people cannot take off. I will be able to get my grandson to his cystic fibrosis appointments [in Houston] while his mom is working or stay at the hospital with him. I will be able to get my school age grandkids to and from school without them having to walk in the rain or cold this winter. I will be able to travel to my oldest granddaughter’s basketball games and go watch her cheer. I will be able to get back to church and get back on my duties. I will be able to help my aunt who [lives] next door to me who doesn't drive anymore get to her appointments. I will be able to travel to Dallas to see my 79 year old father who has dementia who I haven't seen in 2 years because my transportation is not reliable.”

Born and raised in Bryan, this mom to 2, grandmother to 7, and caregiver to two other young infants has persevered through multiple heart attacks to continue to care for everyone around her. But the breakdown of her 250,000 mile Trailblazer threatened not only her independence, but also her ability to provide necessary transportation for her grandkids and neighbors.

Enter Grace Bible Church’s Youth Impact program. Lauren, the Aggie leader assigned to Gigi’s grandkids, took the opportunity to get to know her well over the last year. In Lauren’s own words, “GiGi has radically changed my life and the way that I view hospitality, serving others, and what it looks like to sacrifice your life for the sake of people that you love. She loves people more than anyone I know and is the biggest servant.”

When the Trailblazer finally died, Lauren nominated GiGi to OnRamp, and we were privileged to gift her a 2009 Pontiac Vibe, which is actually just a rebadged Toyota Corolla in hatchback form! She immediately named it “Silver Bullet.” Now she is free to get herself and others to life-saving doctor appointments, get her grandkids to and from school, and participate in their extracurricular activities and church events.

Hopefully GiGi’s story demonstrates how a reliable vehicle makes a transformative impact on multiple generations in a family. Yes, Gigi now has opportunity for a better life. But so do her seven grandchildren and two bonus infants. So does her grandson with cystic fibrosis. So does her aunt. And so does her elderly father. Four generations are deeply blessed through a single reliable car. This is the power OnRamp offers to families in the Brazos Valley.

If you want to make a transformative impact in this community while sharing the love of Christ with your neighbors, please consider making a year-end or monthly gift to OnRamp. Due to inflation, our average vehicle cost is $8,000, plus $2,000 to fully maintain the vehicle free-of-charge for each client for their first year with us. That $10,000 investment per client is high, but can make a generational impact worth ten times as much. If you’d like to help us bless more families like GiGi’s please click here to give.

Please Let us Wash your Car!

Friends of OnRamp, if you’re in BCS and have a bit of free time tomorrow morning, Saturday, October 1, we’d love to have you come out to our annual CarWash Fundraiser anytime between 9am and noon. We’ll be at the A&M Church of Christ on the northbound Highway 6 feeder road just north of the new Academy. Not only will you get a stellar car wash, we’ll also do a quick tire check and air up your tires if needed, and you’ll get to play a game from inside your car where you could win a $50 HEB gas card! KORA will be there with their prize wheel so you can grab free swag, too. Huge thanks to Megan Bock Realty and Christian Brothers Automotive for underwriting this event.

Please share this invitation with others. This event will be a great chance for new followers to learn more about OnRamp and the clients we serve.

Former clients, please come and let us know when you arrive. We have a special gift for the first ten former clients who come (free gas cards!)

We are still looking for a few more VOLUNTEERS. Please email me at blakej@onramptx.org if you can help wash cars or check tires 8:45 to 10:30 or 10:30 to 12:15 (or the whole time if you’re in a really generous mood!) Also, if anyone has long garden hoses and/or long electrical extension cords, please let me know. We’re looking for a few more. Just email me at the address above.

Finally, if you can’t make it but still want to help with the fundraiser, please click here: donorbox.org/onramp-carwash-2022

Two New Clients, a Lighthouse, and a Carwash

We have so much to share in this week’s update! Our 115th and 116th clients received vehicles, our Vehicle Team Lead, Jeremy Smith, won a huge national award for his service to OnRamp, and our annual Carwash is THIS WEEKEND. So let’s jump in!

Client D with our team member, Bettye, giving her a Bible. Picture blurred to preserve client’s privacy.

Our 115th client, “D” received this Toyota Corolla through your generous donations. This godly woman constantly cares for family and friends. She was up till almost midnight the evening before the donation washing loads of clothing at a laundromat for a disabled elderly relative who depends on her. She helps several community members receive the care they need by ensuring they make their medical appointments and have food to eat. When her previous vehicle broke down, she was sent to OnRamp for help. Unfortunately, it was well beyond repair. So we simply gave her a new one! This Corolla will help her get to her own physical therapy appointments and the grocery store, as well as continue to care for her elderly family and neighbors. Fun fact, her advocate, Francine, is actually a former OnRamp client, too! She has known D for twenty years and wanted her to experience the freedom that comes from the gift of a reliable car. And finally, D heard that OnRamp often gives clients a new Bible when we give them a car (if we have them in stock and if the client would like one). She wanted one, but we were out. Grace Bible Church came to the rescue with two boxes of new Bibles, and our team enthusiastically took her one for herself and one for her daughter!

Our 116th client, “T” is a member of a wonderful local church that has poured into his life for years while he has struggled through medical disability due to a very bad back injury twelve years ago that left him partially paralyzed. He had to sell his car to help pay medical bills. Once he was back on his feet, he had to walk, bike, or rely on the church when transportation was needed. Sadly, the local bus doesn’t run on weekends, meaning he couldn’t get to church unless the church sent a ride. He felt like a prisoner in his own home. But all that changed through your generosity! With the funds many of you donated, we bought T this excellent Toyota Yaris. It’s perfect transportation for him: efficient, surprisingly roomy, and it only had 54,000 miles. It should last him a decade. Thank you so much for helping us give FREEDOM to both D and T!

Now on to an award. We are so proud of our very own Jeremy Smith, general manager at Christian Brothers Automotive in Bryan and College Station, who out of all the employees at all the Christian Brothers Automotive locations in the country, won the 2022 Lighthouse Award! This is a huge deal. One employee in their entire organization wins this annual award for being a light to their community through selfless service that goes beyond the job. Jeremy won due to the countless hours he has donated outside of work to build and oversee our Vehicle Team, repair our clients' cars, and build an incredible vehicle tracking database. Well done, my friend!

Finally, our annual Carwash is THIS SATURDAY, 9am to noon at the A&M Church of Christ. We would LOVE to have all of you come support our ministry and get your car washed. We’ll have expert detailers running the show, games to play, and prizes to win. If you’d like to volunteer to help us wash cars, please email me ASAP at blakej@onramptx.org and I’ll add you to our volunteer list. If you can’t make the event but want to donate to our cause, please see the picture below with donation QR code or click HERE.

Client 114: meeting a toddler's medical needs

Our 114th client, a single mom called “Mama T” by her advocates at Elizabeth House Maternity Home, is an inspiration to our team. When Mama T was pregnant and in need of help, she reached out to Elizabeth House who took her in, housed her, loved her, coached her, and helped her get on her feet. They continued to help when her son was diagnosed with significant medical needs that required WEEKLY trips to specialists in Temple. But without a vehicle of her own, this young mom struggled to make these out-of-town appointments, get to work, the store, daycare, and church. A challenging journey was made even harder. But she never gave up. According to her advocate, she works incredibly hard at her full-time job, so hard in fact that she received a raise the same day we interviewed her! She not only completed all of Elizabeth House’s training programs, but also completed the Brazos Valley Food Bank Growth program, built a significant rainy-day savings fund, and found an apartment of her own. We did not hesitate to accept this determined young mom into our program and provide her with this pretty red Toyota Corolla, a perfect vehicle to shuttle her toddler to-and-from Temple every week, and hold down her job as she continues to work towards her goals. Well done, Mama T and Elizabeth House!!

Let me use this example to encourage anyone who can to donate to OnRamp to help us bless others like this brave woman. As always happens late in the year, our funds are running low. We are currently in jeopardy of having to pause new vehicle purchases, meaning we cannot accept new clients into our program. With used vehicle prices at record highs, we need to raise $10,000 for every person like Mama T whom we help. I know that’s a lot, but I hope you see the transformational impact your generosity has in the life of a family we serve. We’ve not only put Mama T on a new trajectory, but we’ve ensured that her eight-month-old son continues to get the crucial medical care in Temple he needs to thrive for the rest of his life. This investment in reliable transportation leads to better health that will pay dividends for decades to come in this young boy’s life. Furthermore, for all who want to support Pro Life causes, now that Roe-v-Wade has been overturned, this is the next opportunity before us - to sacrificially give to support the brave women who commit to raise their children even if they have to do it alone. Let’s make sure they know they’re not alone in this journey! Please give to help us continue to bless inspirational women like Mama T. Just visit www.onramptx.org/give

Finally, please come out to our Carwash fundraiser at A&M Church of Christ on Oct 1 anytime from 9 to noon. Thanks!

Clients 112 & 113 - the scope of who we help

For this week’s story, I want to share two recent OnRamp clients who, together, demonstrate the breadth of worthy individuals we are privileged to serve. While the majority of our clients are single moms raising young children, we also donate vehicles to individuals facing extreme health challenges, such as Russell, our 112th client, and individuals who go far beyond their 9-to-5 job to serve their community selflessly, such as “E,” our 113th client.

Russell has been on dialysis since 1996… yes, 26 years of treatment! His advocate, Sherry at US Renal Care, says that among his greatest strengths are determination and perseverance. Absolutely! How else could he endure two-and-a-half decades of weekly dialysis! Since he didn’t have a vehicle, this sometimes required walking 6 miles round trip to make appointments. His determination is legendary. Sherry goes on to say that Russell is also compassionate, and looks out for other dialysis patients who he can support emotionally in their trials. He is faithful with his limited finances, but unable to get a job due to lack of transportation. So last week, OnRamp donated this Honda Civic to Russell to give him the opportunity for employment and community engagement. Russell was overwhelmed. He told us that the car represented one word: “Freedom.” He could finally live his life with the freedom to leave the house that so many of us take for granted.

Client “E,” whose identity we’re keeping private, is an absolute inspiration. I had the privilege of interviewing her and knew within five minutes that she was getting a car! She works a full-time job during the day, plus part time at night to make ends meet. And when she’s not working she volunteers with a local Community Center to help families work through mental health struggles. She also volunteers with her church, Skybreak, as well as area youth ministries. This woman gives and gives without hesitation! Lack of a vehicle made all this service that much harder. So last week, OnRamp gave “E” a Toyota Corolla to empower her future and enable her to bless countless families and kids in our community who depend on her assistance. What a win for our community and for the family of God!

For those of you who donate to OnRamp, please keep it up! We’ve actually already given vehicles to our first 115 clients. I’m just behind on sharing all these stories! But we are quickly running out of funds due to the ever-increasing cost of reliable cars. If you can donate to help the next folks like Russell and “E,” please visit https://www.onramptx.org/give.

Finally, we are excited to announce our second annual CarWash event, Saturday October 1st from 9-12 at A&M Church of Christ! Come get a free carwash and donate to OnRamp if you can to help us buy more vehicles to give to local families in need. 98.3 KORA, Alegria and The Beat will be broadcasting live, and you can spin the KORA prize wheel for free merchandise. HUGE thanks to Megan Bock - Real Estate Broker Associate for stepping up as the primary underwriter for this event! WE NEED CARWASH VOLUNTEERS - if you can help wash cars from 9-10:30 or 10:30-noon that day, please email me at blakej@onramptx.org. Your help will raise awareness and funds for a great cause, and we hope to have lots of former clients out to get a wash, so you can serve these wonderful families as well. We'd love to have LOTS of college students and/or organizations help us too.

Client #111: an actual miracle

This story has left me speechless, when few things do. I don’t know how to share the gravity and power of it. It’s just too sacred. But I will try. OnRamp’s 111th client is a single mom named Diana and her adult son with autism, Leland. Leland talks to Jesus… and Jesus talks to him. I am quite sure of it. The full story of how Leland came to receive this gift and how God has used his gift is not mine to tell. I will simply say that I believe it is true and it has humbled me.

The first thing you should know is that Diana is an inspiration. When she’s not working to support her family, she is taking Leland to specialist appointments, volunteering at her church or at assisted living facilities, and caring for her father in Caldwell. She gives all she has to serve God and others. But life became far more difficult when she found herself without a reliable vehicle, and unable to afford a replacement. For a time she borrowed a car, but it broke down, stranding her and Leland in the middle of a busy street. She needed help... so Jesus had a talk with Leland. He sent Leland to Jay Meador, the director of the Brazos Valley Financial Fitness Center. Diana was enrolled in Jay’s Financial Fitness program, but they were not scheduled to meet for some time. Jesus had other plans and fortuitously arranged an unplanned meeting that resulted in Diana’s nomination to OnRamp. We accepted her without reservation… and then we realized that Jesus had already provided the vehicle. A few weeks before, a generous family in town gave OnRamp a very low mileage 2011 Toyota Camry… for free. Do you know how often we are given a car that nice for nothing? Hardly ever! But obviously Jesus had a plan. The new title arrived exactly at the right time to sign it over to Diana. I told Jay that she and Leland were driving away in one of the nicest cars we’ve ever gifted.

So what to make of all this? I am not the kind of guy given to flights of fancy. I am an engineer through and through, skeptical by nature and hungry for evidence. But I believe a young man named Leland sees and talks with Jesus here in our own town. I am so grateful I got to meet Leland and play a small part in the story Jesus is writing in his life.

I will leave you with this: Leland says that everyday, no matter the circumstance, Jesus shows up to him robed in light, smiling from ear to ear. I look forward to seeing that for myself one day. Maranatha.

Story and pictures shared with Diana and Leland’s permission.

Straight Talk on Mental Health

Psalm 69:2-3 I have sunk in deep mire, and there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and a flood overflows me. I am weary with my crying; my throat is parched; My eyes fail while I wait for my God.

Our Brazos Valley community suffered at least three suicides this last week (those are just the ones reported). One would be too many, but three in a week is a tragedy and a wake up call that we need to talk much more frequently and openly about mental health. So let me go first. I have suffered from clinical depression for the last six years. SSRI medication, counseling, and a career change have all helped manage my condition, but this burden doesn’t go quietly into the night. It lingers, always ready to reassert itself if I don’t continually pursue community and medical help. Sadly, when I first fell into depression I felt ashamed because I had grown up believing the lie that strong men and faithful Christians don’t get depressed. After all, didn’t we grow up singing,

I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart

Where? Down in my heart! Where? Down in my heart!

I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart

Down in my heart to stay

And I'm so happy, So very happy…

Fortunately, God has used wise counselors and friends to refute that lie in my life, and I wish to do the same for you. Yes, the Holy Spirit can give joy to Christians who follow Jesus. But David’s words in Psalm 69 above prove that even faithful Christians can suffer with clinical depression and anxiety. Solomon, Isaiah, John the Baptist, and many other men and women of scripture suffered the same. Depression, anxiety, bi-polarity, suicidal ideation… none of these are a mark of shame. They are a result of humanity’s brokenness. As our bodies are frail and vulnerable, so are our minds. We would not berate a person diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. So why do we berate a person suffering from a mental health disorder?

So let’s get practical. What can we do if we’re struggling with depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, or another mental health challenge, or if we know someone who is?

1. Give grace. This struggle is not proof of failure, spiritual immaturity, or guilt. While some suffer because they’ve made destructive choices (e.g. abuse of alcohol or drugs), many suffer through no fault of their own just like so many of the faithful suffered in the Bible through no fault of their own.

2. Get professional help. Thank God for wise counselors and therapists! We would be fools not to take advantage of their expertise (see Proverbs 11:14). Please reach out to your health care provider to find a local counselor or therapist who can help you or your loved one. If you don’t have insurance, MHMR can provide free help during their Open Access days Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8:30am-11:30am, first come first serve. And if you are ever in a crisis moment, call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988.

3. Confide in a community. Anxiety and depression grow in the dark. Bring them into the light with a trusted friend, mentor, family member, or church leader. We need to be honest, open, and vulnerable with one another or we’ll never get better (see Ecclesiastes 4:9-10).

4. Take care of your body. Our minds, bodies, and spirits are inseparably united so that what hurts one part of us hurts all parts of us. In most cases, mental health struggles are linked to physiological ailments in our bodies. In my case, I needed an SSRI medication to stabilize my brain’s biochemistry. Others need anti-anxiety medications, anti-psychotics, or treatments for an underlying disease, or even just changes to their diet, exercise or sleep routines. Schedule an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible to identify potential medical issues.

5. Learn. There are many great books about mental health, spiritual health, healing, and recovery. Three of the best in my own life have been “The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook” by Bourne, “Walking on Water When You Feel Like You're Drowning” by Nelson and Leavitt, and “Choose and Choose Again” by Kevin Butcher. The latter is not specifically about mental health, but more about God’s outrageous love for all of us who are struggling.

Welcoming Peyton Somervill to the World...

Our OnRamp staff family has grown! Our Care Director, Cassidy Somervill, gave birth to Peyton Grace Somervill on Tuesday morning. We are praising the Lord for a safe, healthy baby girl to join Cassidy, Jordan, and Kacey.

For all our clients and advocates, Cassidy will be on maternity leave for the next two months. During that time, our Operations Director, Stephanie Mason, will shoulder her responsibilities and serve as the point person for OnRamp’s clients and advocates. We can’t thank Stephanie enough for helping during this time so that Cassidy can focus on Peyton. We do ask for patience and grace as we try to manage an unprecedented number of vehicle donation requests with a reduced staff. As of this morning, there are 27 nomination forms in our queue from just the last two months! Not long ago, that was the total number of clients we would serve in a whole year. And just for reference, if we accept all of them, this slate of clients will cost us $270,000 to put in vehicles at current market rates! In just two months! So if you’ve ever thought about giving to OnRamp, now is a great time.

Finally, time to get a bit preachy, if you will permit me. I am so thankful that our dynamite board of directors granted Cassidy paid maternity leave for the next two months. I confess that at first I was a bit worried about the financial cost of this offer. But then as she often does, our wise Board Chair, Catherine Cole, gently reminded me that if we are truly a pro-life, pro-women, pro-family organization, it would be hypocritical not to grant paid maternity leave to our staff. She’s right. In our opinion, any business or organization that desires to promote a pro-family, pro-life culture really should offer paid maternity leave if at all possible, with length depending on what the business/org can afford, but the more, the better. Better yet, consider paid family leave so that both spouses can bond with their new child during those first crucial months. We believe this should extend to both full and part time workers since it is often part-timers who most need the margin to cover bills. Yes, it will cost you just as it costs us, but it is a very small price to pay to help children enter life on a firm foundation. We hope other businesses and orgs will join us so that paid parental leave eventually becomes the norm in our community!