Example of beyond-the-walls love

Today, ordinary people who worship together at Central Assembly, gathered to change vehicle oil for single moms, widows, and wives of deployed military men. We engage in this ministry once a month. But something happened today that amazed me! Out of the 14 cars we changed oil in, one of them had bumper stickers all over the car that many people would consider off the wall at the very least. Words like Sex, Love, Drugs, Pagan all adorned her car. To set the stage, it was a very cold day for southern Missouri at 32 degrees and snow flurries. Hey, we change the oil outside, not in a heated garage! So when this car arrived to the oil change station, after draining the oil and changing the filter, the team leader said to one of the volunteers, "Stick your finger in this new oil when I pour it into the engine." The volunteer thought the team leader was crazy. But when the volunteer had oil on his finger, the team leader told him to annoint the car and he was going to pray. I stood within hearing distance while writing down information on another car. Wow! He began to pray with simple faith and said things like, "Heavenly Father, every time this single mom gets in this car and any of her friends gets in this car - remind them of your love and your presence." He kept praying fervently and seriously, invoking God to impact her life. Unbelievable! Here stood a group of men around this car, shivering in the cold, some wishing they were home in front of the fireplace - praying for God's amazing intervention in the life of this precious single mom. With love like that, people will be eternally drawn to Jesus Christ!