Towing in God's Love

The golden rays of the sun aren’t piercing the sky most Sunday mornings when Rob Moomaw and the Towing Ministry Team start their volunteer operations. Most Saddleback Corona Campus attendees aren’t even aware of the team’s efforts. However, without their predawn, behind-the-scenes efforts and dedicated hard work, services at the campus would not happen.

Currently, the Corona campus meets on the sprawling campus of Santiago High School. Without a permanent home, much of the equipment required for services has to be stored offsite. The Towing Ministry is responsible for bringing the trailers, packed with the necessary gear, from their storage location. The Towing Team sets up and makes sure the trailers are gone before people arrive. The process must be reversed when services are complete so the campus is left pristine for Monday morning classes.

When Rob and his wife, Julie, were searching for a church home they visited Saddleback Corona and were impressed with the sermons and the people. However they longed for a church where the sermons were live, not watched on a big screen. They hopped around to different area churches, but never found the perfect, comfortable fit for the family. They found themselves watching Saddleback services online and praying about returning to the Corona campus. Their prayers were answered when Julie nudged Rob to start attending Saddleback Corona services and eventually the couple made the church their home.

In the services, Rob listened intently to Pastor Rick’s teachings. Rob and Julie felt God was clarifying something new in them, to be more involved in the church instead of just attending Sunday services. Rob and Julie enjoyed the church community and soon joined Men’s and Women’s bible study groups.

After about three months, and with the encouragement of the men in his bible study. “I felt God tugging on my heart to serve.” He had attended church for a good part of his life but never considered serving in a ministry. Rob discovered God is always working, always moving. It’s what he does and who he is. And when God tells you to move, you move. When he shows you the path, start walking.

Rob began searching for a ministry when he noticed Pastor Rob Fultz spent a lot of time on the weekends worrying about who could help tow the equipment trailers back and forth from the campus. Rob knew how to pull a trailer, preferred working in the background and didn’t mind the physical requirements of the job. He reasoned the pastor’s time should be focused on the people. So Rob sent an email volunteering to lead the Towing Ministry. Almost immediately, Rob received the reply, “You’ve got it.”

Fortunately there were already a few dedicated participants in the towing ministry. Knowing that the weekend towing duties were quite involved Rob knew it was important to obtain other volunteers to help with vacations, holidays or just prevent burnout. Rob recruited at a Ministry Fair and fortunately volunteers came forward to fill the openings. Rob really appreciates the great group of dedicated men who not only do a fantastic job towing but can also handle electrical repairs, brakes and other mechanical systems. “As a result,” Rob explains, “we’ve never had to take a trailer to the repair shop. We have an excellent group of guys who put a lot into making this ministry a success.”

“It isn’t a very glorious ministry,” Rob admits, “but it is very important and it has to be done. It's hard work but it comes with a great deal of satisfaction.” Rob recently won a Giant Killer award at Saddleback Advanced Leadership Training. The Giant Killer awards are given to people serving in ministry that have demonstrated outstanding leadership. Rob embodies award through his faithful pursuit of God’s call and following wherever he leads. “If we really want all the blessings God has for us, we must become servants to him,” Rob says. “After all, it is really not about me.”

Rob feels the more he serves, his spiritual maturity grows along with developing stronger relationships with other people in the church. Serving helps him to feel closer to God. “Giving a part of my time and energy back to Christ has shown me God is working in my life. It all came together for me when I started to serve: God’s love and how it becomes a part of you, it makes you whole. I feel good about what I am doing because of that.”

Rob encourages everyone to get involved in serving others. “There are many opportunities at Saddleback. Seek out something that complements who God made you to be.” Even if it is a small task behind the scenes, there is always an opportunity to show love by serving others.

Click HERE to explore serving opportunities at Saddleback Church.