Retiring from the construction industry gave Bill Denman of Independence the freedom to enjoy taking their classic 1938 Ford coupe to local car shows with his wife Mary. They also got involved with Missouri Disaster Relief through the Blue River-Kansas City Baptist Association and traveled on mission trips for 18 years.
Bill believed God spoke to him about how he could do even more. “It was as if he was talking to me straight out,” he says. Denman felt the Lord was telling him he should sell his shiny classic show car and use the money to buy a Bobcat skid steer loader to use for disaster relief and other projects.
He considered praying about it, but the Lord said, “What good is it doing you to have that customized 1938 Ford coupe sitting in your garage all the time? I want you to sell it and buy a Bobcat to use to serve my people,” according to “Baptist Press.”
At a car show, a man asked Denman if he had a 1938 Ford coupe. He said he did, and the man came over to his house to look at it. Denman sold it to him for $25,000. He then went to an equipment dealer and asked about buying a skid steer. There was one for sale with an extra bucket and some other accessories. The price? $25,000. Denman wrote a check.
He’s now has gone on more than 90 mission trips doing disaster relief, helping build churches and repairing storm-damaged homes. When asked why, Denman said, “When we are saved, we are in a stage between salvation and heaven and it’s called sanctification,” he said. “There are two commandments we are to do during this time: Love God and the second, love your neighbor. When our neighbors need help, we need to do this. Doing this we are becoming what God wants us to be.”
Denman is 84 now but hasn’t slowed down. Last year he was honored as volunteer of the year at the Blue River-Kansas City Association pastor and wives banquet. He knows of at least three people who have prayed to receive Christ during the mission trips. He also remains involved in his church, River’s Edge Fellowship Church in Kansas City.
–Alan Goforth | Metro Voice