God keeps his promises: the ring provides a vehicle for friends in mexico

God keeps his promises: the ring provides a vehicle for friends in mexico

by ernie ballard

"God keeps his promises." it is a message that has been preached countless times in churches all over the world. but how many Christians actually put their faith in God meeting their needs? sometimes it is difficult to sit back and let God work out issues in our lives, but that is exactly what happened a few months ago for a close friend of the ring.

last fall, the less than one year-old ring community church set out to help one of its friends in monclova, mexico. after hearing that santa, the ring's mexico mission contact, might be in need of a vehicle, the elders and members of the church set out to meet that need. little did they know but God's plan for the vehicle was already being put into motion.

josh causey, pastor for the ring, recalled a time when he was visiting a church in mexico and another church in texas had met one of their needs by donating a new suburban to them. causey presented the church body with the idea of purchasing a vehicle that would be given to santa.

"i hoped one day to be part of a church where when God says this is what you need to do, they respond," josh recalled.

after further developing the idea, a fundraiser was planned. the "pimp santa's ride" fundraiser was held after church one sunday in october. the event was a pot-luck dinner, where people had the opportunity to give money to go toward the purchase of a vehicle for santa. more than $6,000 was raised that evening.

a suburban was purchased and for a few sundays it was parked outside the door of the ring for members to have a chance to see the blessing they were about to provide for santa. after a few improvements, including adding an lsu license plate on the front, the suburban was ready to be delivered.

the kids group at the ring made signs and assisted with the send off to mexico. the entire process was kept secret from santa so that it would be a surprise for her, but when the vehicle was delivered, a whole other side of the story was about to be unveiled.

"the whole time we were planning all this stuff, God was doing something in her heart at the same time," causey said.

two years ago in monclova, santa realized she was in need of a vehicle. she prayed about the possible purchase. after getting a job and working for a year, the opportunity was presented for her to buy a car.

however, after only one month, God told her to give it back. she was enjoying her car, so she was not sure about giving it up. it was at that time that God made her a special promise. he told her that a vehicle would be provided for her at no cost. he would provide it, and she would not have to pay anything.

the next day, she received her pay check, and it was less money than what she had gotten paid before and was not enough to pay car note. she realized that it was God talking to her again and decided to give the car up.

"i wonder if i would have had the courage to give the car back," causey said. "there are a lot of things where God is leading me to let go and to hear the story of someone being obedient for God to fulfill his promise is everything to me."

she began to take the bus, a taxi or walk everywhere she went. anytime she was struggling with the decision, God would remind her that he would take care of it.

when God promised santa that he would provide for her, she purchased a purple flower keychain to remind herself of his promise. she has carried it around ever since.

in december, a few people from the ring traveled to mexico to deliver the vehicle.

"on dec. 27, the louisiana guys were coming. i was hoping they'd bring a trailer to carry food and supplies, and they showed up in a suburban," santa recalled. "i was surprised to get a suburban, but it was god's promise. if you wait on the lord, everything will work out perfectly."

the whole time God was promising a vehicle to santa, he was working in the hearts of people at the ring to have that need met.

santa reminds us, "He can give you not only what you want, but what you need and He is perfect."