Auto Mission gives at-risk youths a second chance, repairing cars, repairing lives.

MAKING REPAIRS:
Auto Mission Rebuilds Engines, Troubled Lives

By Laura Frase
Texas Baptist new Journal Communications Intern

Terry Legan (center) works with young men to rebuild a car motor. Legan's Auto Mission helps young men in legal trouble rebuild their lives. (Photos by Angela Best)

RICHLAND HILLS, TEXAS—Terry Legan believes no car should end up in a junkyard. Neither should a young life. Both are salvageable.

With this in mind, Legan began Auto Mission as an outlet for troubled boys because “all teenage guys are interested in cars and girls, … and I don’t know much about girls.”

Like the cars brought to his shop, the boys need special attention.

More than 500 young men have completed community service hours at Auto Mission after they were sentenced by Texas Youth Services, Texas Youth Commission or the Community Learning Center for alcohol or drug abuse or various other charges.

The ministry “introduces the boys to the gospel and how to make right choices and decisions in life,” Legan said. “And they learn basic auto mechanics.”

He works with groups of young men to repair and rebuild cars. While they work on rusted and dirty parts, Legan talks with them about cars, racing, setting priorities and God.

“Even junk cars can be restored and brought back to life,” he said. “Through Christ, broken lives can be restored and made new again.”

Auto Mission helps young men learn to rebuild car engines — and troubled lives.

Legan serves as a Baptist General Convention of Texas LifeCall Missionary. This program, which helps volunteers find a place to serve, is undergirded by the Mary Hill Davis Offering for Texas Missions.

Auto Mission stays alive through donations from individuals who express a desire to help teens.

People in the community donate all the cars and snacks for the young men. When the boys finish a repair project, they return the favor to the community by giving the car to a local charitable organization.

“Some cars are donated to Open Arms Home and to Community Enrichment Center,” Legan said. “We also are working on a handicapped van that will go to a pastor.”

Along with teaching the boys about helping others, Legan teaches them the similarity between life and cars. He helps change their lives like he rebuilds cars—by cleaning and repairing one piece at a time.

Legan has watched young men give up drugs. They’ve stopped drinking alcohol. They’ve started making better life decisions. Most importantly to him, he’s seen young people give their lives to Christ.

“If you don’t take care of your car, it will break down,” he said.

“Cars take routine maintenance and care. Lives take routine maintenance and care. This is where God comes in.”

About the mission
Auto Mission teaches at-risk youths about life while teaching them auto repair. Mission's office is located at 1901 Airport Freeway, Bedford, Texas 76021.

For more information, call director Terry Legan at (817) 283-6205.

Copyright 2006 Baptist Standard News Journal