EVERYTHING IS GOD'S BUSINESS
by
Maryann Miller

 

That is the sense one gets in visiting with John and Trish Fennell and their son, John, Jr. at The Finish Line in Winnsboro. I went there recently to interview them about their automotive service business, but they were more inclined to talk about the upcoming "Band Aid" concert in Winnsboro, as well as all the ways that God has worked in their lives.

The couple had a religious conversion about nine years ago and that's when they turned their lives over to God and tried to discern what they were supposed to do. "We were kind of a mess," John says with a laugh. "I was working for all the wrong reasons and Trish and I were having some rocky times. So I started praying and asking God what I was supposed to do, and one day, clear as a bell, I heard Him say, 'go to Winnsboro. And I thought, is He crazy?'"

At the time, the family lived in the Dallas area and John had his own shop, "John's Tires" that offered 24 hour roadside service. But John also had a grandmother who lived in Winnsboro, so he was familiar with the town and the area. Because Trish was still working, John came first with their son, and their daughter, Jessica, who the oldest child, stayed with Trish. "I wasn't sure if moving here was a good idea," Trish said. "So I started to pray about it and asked God to give me some kind of sign that I should be here."

She laughed and exchanged a look with John, "So one weekend while I was visiting, my car broke down. It was strange. The transmission totally went out, and I had not had a hint of trouble with that car before." She laughed again. "I guess that was my sign."

The first four years they were in the area, they worked at Teen Mania, which is an Evangelical Christian mission organization located in Garden Valley, about nine miles west of Lindale. Its programs include the Battle Cry Campaign and "Acquire the Fire" events, described by some as "a mix of pep rally, rock concert and church service." These events are held in over 30 cities across the United States and Canada each year. Among other programs, the ministry organizes domestic and overseas mission trips, and operates a one-year-long residential program on its campus, the Honor Academy, marketed to high school graduates. John was the Director of the Fleet at Teen Mania, and Trish was hired on as a bus driver.

John, Jr. who was in public school just prior to the family going to Teen Mania, said that he thought his future was going to totally revolve around football. He played football. Loved football. And had dreams of an NFL career someday. "But God had other plans," he said.

"I'd already been saved before we came here," he continued. "But a while after we moved here, I went to youth camp and that's when I really got set on fire for the Lord. I came back and told my coach I didn't want to play football anymore, and I told my folks I wanted to be home schooled."

John Sr. laughed. "I graduated dumber than a sack of hammers," he said. "Trish was a little better than me in school. But the kids were straight A students and I wondered how on earth we were going to teach them anything."

Well, maybe some lessons don't come from books.

John Jr., has no regrets about giving up football. "Honestly, even if I'd stayed in public school I wouldn't have been able to play very long. I've messed up both knees pretty good, so they wouldn't have taken the strain.And I would have never had the opportunity to go on the mission trips we've taken to Africa and Mexico."

Looking back at the sequence of events that brought them to Winnsboro, then led them to Teen Mania, and finally here to the new business, the couple could see that things happened for a reason. "We were meant to come here and get involved with Teen Mania," Trish said. "And homeschooling the kids allowed us the freedom to travel with them when we needed to take groups of interns to events in other states."

Opening The Finish Line, which is next to Hansen's Collision Service on Highway 37 south of Winnsboro, was another "God thing" for the family. "I don't fully know why yet," John said. "But we will know in time."

The Finish Line offers full service oil changes, major automotive repair, alignments, tires, and brake jobs. The only thing they don't do is any kind of transmission work. Young John, who is nineteen, said he grew up working with his dad on cars, so coming into the newest family enterprise was a natural. He has been Hunter Alignment Certified, so he pretty much handles that end of the business, although he is trained to do most any car service.

"We love the business," John Sr. said. "And it is completely different from when I was in business before because the aspect of business has taken on a new complexion with us. It's not about business and making money. Not that we don't need to make money, but we try to bless people when we do the service. And it really is a big thing to people to know where they can go to get fair and honest service."

Working with young people to help them stay on the straight path is still very important to the couple, and the whole family. John Jr. and Jessica are both as enthused as their parents about the upcoming "Band Aid" as well as all the other ministry the family is involved in. "This is definitely what burns in our hearts," John said. "The tire sales and all the rest of what we do here at the shop to pay the bills is one thing-"

"But the people who come in that we can bless, that is the other thing," Trish finished. "And they bless us as much."

To contact The Finish Line, call 903-629-3815