Project Hope provides transportation

"It really is hope," said Bretton Pikey, recipient of a vehicle furnished by the social ministry Project Hope.

Project Hope, which stands for Helping Other People Excel, works in seven Southeast Missouri counties with more than 700 trained mentors working with more than 150 families from 70 congregations to move people from the pew to active mentoring using the team mentoring approach taught by Project Hope.

Denis Rigdon is the Project Hope CEO appointed to a five-member national low-income car ownership committee that will formulate recommendations for the association, standardize practices, promote opportunities for program stability and expansion and advocate for provision of good fleet vehicles to people who need reliable transportation.

Pikey, a 25-year-old tanning salon manager, got into a jam that began with tripping over a telephone cord and breaking her foot. That led to the loss of her job, bills piling up, depression and dropping out of school. She and her boyfriend, Scott, were living hand to mouth already. The cars were repossessed.

"Scott's mother, Pauline, lent us a vehicle we both shared. It was a 1995 Buick Riviera. It had 200,000 miles. It ran OK for a while, but it began to randomly break down," Pikey said.

More importantly, Pauline planted "a seed," according to Pikey. "She was always a good witness. She always carried herself in a very Christian way," she said. "She always suggested that we should focus on the Lord. But I was stubborn."

Pikey then discovered she was pregnant. When the couple moved to Cape Girardeau from Sikeston, she was far enough along in her pregnancy that she had to continue to make trips to Sikeston for doctor visits.

The Riviera was being pushed to the limit.

The seed planted by Pauline began to sprout and Pikey found herself shopping for churches. "I was raised a Lutheran. I was a Trinity kid," Pikey said. But she'd gotten away from the church. "I felt uneasy all the time and was trying to find something to make me feel safe. I'd been pulled to go to Lynwood Baptist many times. But it was so big. Overwhelming," she said.

With encouragement from a friend, Kathi Fish, Pikey found herself at Lynwood and after three or four times she went forward to get saved. Soon after her daughter, Alexis, 8, went forward.

Fish said, "Bretton is very thankful to God to be building a new circle of friends striving for the same thing -- a peaceful, rewarding life."

Instead of feeling constantly stressed and never content, Pikey got involved in Lynwood Baptist's single mom's group and began giving her testimony almost weekly. She and her boyfriend got married.

The Riviera continued to randomly break down. A deacon at Lynwood Baptist recommended Pikey to Project Hope. "The Riviera broke down on the way to the appointment at Project Hope. I had to walk there from Cape Central," she said.

The appointment began with an interview with Rigdon, who said, "What are you having troubles with?"

"By the end of the day I left with a 1996 Buick Skylark, insured, and with a tank of gas too," Pikey said. "My husband couldn't believe it and even though I had hope they would help me I didn't think it could happen that fast."

Rigdon's mission at Project Hope is to get people who are struggling connected with those who have life skills.

"The only way they get through it is through people showing them a way out. A lot of them are single moms."

Empowering them with transportation is only a facet of Project Hope's ministry, but often transportation is the obstacle blocking their way to employment, taking care of their families and independence.

Right now the Skylark, the first car Pikey has really been proud of owning in a long time, has been in the shop getting a new engine. The first one they installed was inoperable. But Project Hope has supplied Pikey with an interim vehicle to get around with.

Needs change. Problems come and go. But Pikey has support that meets her needs. "At times I don't know where it's going to come from, but God gives you what you need."

"Never have I been a part of something so strong," Pikey said.

The mission of Project Hope is to facilitate a partnership between every congregation or community organization and low-income individuals or families as they transition to dignity and independence under God. For more information, call 651-0551.

cpagano@semissiourian.com

335-6611, extension 133