God’s Garage is a Cinderella story for the struggles many women face when dealing with car issues. Providing more than transportation to single mothers, widows, and wives of deployed military, God’s Garage is ministering through its mission of helping these women by restoring faith and providing opportunities for the road ahead to make life a little easier with a fresh start.
Pastor Chris Williams spearheads this incredible 501 (c) 3 Non-Profit garage that runs solely on donations and staffed by volunteers from all walks of life providing their set of skills to make this a garage heaven you want to spend time in.
Photo: Courtesy of God’s Garage
Like the light at the end of a tunnel, Pastor Williams came to the conclusion that God’s Garage was his calling from God to make this venture he started 15 years ago into a reality for many to benefit from. “What if God wants us to do this garage full time,” shared Williams.
What first started out as a gathering called “Hot Rods & Harleys,” which met at his home in Atascocita, TX to work on cars for those in need grew by leaps and bounds. “When we moved to Montgomery, the house we bought, was bought not so much for the house, as it was for a place to build a shop to continue that journey,” shared Williams.
Williams came to the realization that he couldn’t keep doing this out of his home and needed more space, but how to make that happen without the funds was the problem. He wondered if this was the path he should continue on. His epiphany came one night as he was driving home in the rain and came across a mother and her child walking alongside the road. “I pulled over to offer them a ride and was surprised to see that I knew them from church, and taught her daughter in my class. I asked what had happened and found out that their vehicle had been in the shop for months,” shared Williams on his website. It was in this moment he knew what he had to do.
Photo: Courtesy of God’s Garage
Today God’s Garage has been able to move into a new building in Conroe, TX to continue to repair the cars donated and give them away to those in need. Here are just a few things people had to say about God’s Garage:
- This place is the definition of being the hands and feet of Jesus. Thank u for all u R doing – Rachelle
- This is such an amazing ministry! They have already helped my sister!! Thank you, God’s Garage and all your volunteers! – Aaron
- Such an inspiration when you thought everything has fail…God Is Good. – Shenna
Williams shares that, to date, 21 cars have been donated and anticipates 50 to 60 cars alone to be donated by the end of the year. “With a holistic approach taken, the program not only provides the women with a free car, but they teach them how to take care of the car, how to talk to a mechanic, and teach them how to start a new budget to move forward from there,” shared Williams.
Volunteers range in age from 16 to 80-year-olds with backgrounds in areas such as the Air Force, Army, Navy, former Police Officers, mobile mechanics, and business owners. There are about 20 mechanics, 15 volunteers on a cook team that feeds the volunteers, and a vetting team that reviews the applications. Monetary donations are one of the greatest needs as there is a waiting list to have repairs done or get a new car.
Photo: Courtesy of God’s Garage
The momentum of God’s Garage is starting to gain notoriety among news stations not only in Texas but in places such as Georgia and Michigan, shared Williams.
“It’s His (God’s) garage and that it be his will and blessing to the people,” states Williams. With a great team at the helm of this organization, William hopes to build on its successful formula and partner with others to open locations in various cities. There is a second location slated for Pasadena, TX.
Currently, they partner with Kwik Kar Lube and Tune of Lake Conroe, and Pennzoil to continue this great work shares their website. “I want people to feel our love, God’s love and to show them that others actually care about them,” shared Williams. “We pray for them as we work on each car.”
If anyone is interested in partnering, volunteering, or donating to God’s Garage just visit their website at godsgaragecar.com or find them on their Facebook page. If you know a single mother, widow, or wife of a deployed military in need of a car they can apply online.
On September 1st and 2nd, they are holding their “First Annual Charity BBQ Cook-Off” to raise funds. For more information visit their website.
