For those of you who have been asking, Skipstone did recently get a new bus! I have to take the time share some of the details of how God did this. To put it simply, God showed off in a big way!
We made the decision to sell the shorter of our two buses as soon as school was out and replace it with a larger bus. Almost immediately God directed a church in south Georgia to buy the shorter bus and trade us two vans. As we searched for the replacement bus, we came across this beautiful coach down in Naples, Florida that was owned by a Christian tour and charter company. It has been very well taken care of and was offered to us at an extremely good price. We researched it thoroughly and decided that it would meet the needs of the ministry while saving us several thousand dollars a year in insurance, fuel, and driver costs versus owning two buses.
Then came the catch.... we literally had about 48 hours to sell our second bus and make a deal on the new coach. I called everyone I knew that might be interested in buying the old bus, but had no takers. Finally, with only a few hours left to put the deal together, a local ministry made us an offer on the old bus. A benefactor had pledged the funds for them to purchase a bus several months ago, and our bus was exactly what they were looking for. I couldn't believe it.... God was up to something big AGAIN!
Before I got over the excitement of what was happening, I got the dreaded phone call.... the ministry's benefactor had backed out for personal financial reasons, essentially bringing the deal to a halt. I called the guys in Naples and told them that it looked like things weren't going to work out for us to purchase the coach in light of the circumstances. To my surprise, they extended our deadline for making a decision from Friday evening to Monday morning.
I must admit that I am often a slow learner. I've seen God work in so many amazing ways in the past that I couldn't chronicle all of them. Yet here I was again, doubting that anything could happen over the weekend to bring this all together. At the same time, I felt very strongly that this was the coach for us, and the local ministry was convinced that it was God's will for them to have our old bus.
Coincidentally (divinely really!), the local ministry was holding their annual board of directors meeting on the weekend that all of this was going on. It was a major growing experience for that group of people... sensing God's direction, but trying to understand his sovereignty and trust his provision. At the same time, we were learning those same things, and I could sense that this wasn't over just yet.
On Saturday morning, I received a phone call from the director of the local ministry. He was very emotional as he shared with me what transpired in the 12 hours since we had talked the night before. One of his brand new board members, who was attending her first meeting with the ministry, felt that God gave her very clear direction that she was to supply the financial resources for the purchase of the bus. There was a problem (at least that's what everyone thought) though.... she would not have the money available until late in June. Since we had to make a commitment by Monday, that wasn't really gong to work.
As the director and the new board member shared how God was working, another board member became very emotional and shared with total amazement that God had given him direction that he was to be a tool in the hands of God to purchase our bus that day, but that the provision would ultimately come some other way. He wasn't going to say anything to the rest of the board members because he didn't really understand how that would be possible. As soon as he heard what the new board member had to say, he knew that God was affirming what he felt that he was supposed to do.
Are you still with me? Does this do anything for you? Can you see how vitally important it is for us to listen for "the whisper" of God to our hearts? If any one of the people involved in this craziness had failed to hear God, the deal was over. Instead, everyone had the privilege of having front row seats to God showing off, that is, showing Himself mightily again.
We met in my office on Sunday afternoon and the did the paperwork. It was the sweetest automobile sale transaction that I've ever been a part of. We all prayed and thanked God for his sovereignty and for blessing both ministries with what they needed in the area of transportation. We prayed that we would be good stewards of everything that God has entrusted to us, and we thanked God for what He taught us all through something as insignificant as a couple of buses!
When is the last time you heard "the whisper" of God? Don't miss out on what God has planned for you because you aren't listening to His voice!
Whatever It Takes,
Chip
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