Car Care Ministry Keeps Green Country Drivers On The Road

Chris Howell, NewsOn6.com

TULSA, OK -- More and more Green Country drivers are back on the road with the help of the volunteer mechanics at Southern Hill Baptist Church car care clinic. 

Lonnie Vaughan started the clinic 8 years ago and says it has been growing every year.

"It was a unique need that we discovered in the community," Lonnie said.  "Minor auto repair. We saw how important it was to people, transportation and it just went from there.'

Lonnie credits his grandfather with instilling a love of helping one's neighbor in him, and he now not only runs the clinic on the third Saturday of each month in the Southern Hills parking lot, but actively seeks other churches looking to copy his unique ministry.

"We definitely need more people to help us," said Lonnie.  "What I really like about it is you see the immediate effect of what you're doing for folks."

For people like Judith Gill, who has been driving her car around without brakes, Lonnie and the other volunteers are a Godsend.

"You're really taking a chance when you're driving a car that doesn't have much brakes to it," Gill admits.  "They are doing a very good service for folks that have limited income, and I just think it's great that they want to share their time and efforts to do that."

Efforts like those of Lonnie and the others at the monthly clinic might even save a life.

"It's a much better feeling to know you have some brakes, and can stop the car anytime," said Gill.

Southern Hills Baptist Church is located at 5590 S Lewis Ave in Tulsa.