Sterling Motorcars’ Community C.A.R.E. Program Donates Vehicles to Economically Challenged Members of First Baptist Church of Glenarden

By Maria Lopez-Bernstein and Raoul Dennis // Photography By Raoul Dennis

Updated: May 1 // 1:30 p.m.

She could not stop crying.

From the moment First Baptist Church of Glenarden Pastor John K. Jenkins and Sterling Motorcars Community C.A.R.E. Brand Manager Felix Bighem announced that April Lanier and her family should accompany them outside to see her new car, Lanier began crying with joy.

But it wasn’t until her son, Vakarri Haskins, 9, explained what he thought of getting the new car that Lanier fully grabbed him and sobbed unashamedly.

“It’s just tells you that God is a miracle. He gives you the things that we need. He’s a blessing to all of us,” Vakarri said.

With those words April Lanier gave in to the love she felt for her son – who knew God in the way she hoped he would especially on this day. She hugged him so tightly; he may have grown another quarter inch right then.

The family, April and her two children Vakarri and Thomaya, 7, had been given a 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid as part of a new initiative by Sterling to connect with the community. The company gave away four cars to four families – one car at each of the four services held on Sunday.

“I’m overjoyed. I didn’t see this coming. I just thought that I was coming to church. God is good. God is real. You can’t tell me He’s not real,” Lanier says.

“I’m excited about a partnership between the church and the community, particularly the business,” Pastor Jenkins says. “I celebrate Sterling Motorcars for coming alongside the church. I wish more companies would do that to help empower the church to do what it does. So, Sterling has done a great thing. And it uplifts the hearts of the recipients. It will be a blessing to their families and their lives in an incredible way.”

First Baptist is an anchor institution in the county with regard to aiding the community surrounding it: The church has 120 ministries.

“Our church has 120 ministries serving every conceivable need that people can have, from A – Z,” Jenkins says. “Any kind of need you may have we have a ministry to serve that need and we are proud of that.”

When asked about the motivation that Sterling had in developing the program, Felix Bighem, himself a pastor at Mt. Pleasant in Herndon, Va., replied simply: “Just giving. That’s it. People don’t always honestly give from their heart. That’s something that we wanted to do,” he says matter-of-factly in a clear bass voice.

The Lanier family surrounded by love and support by FBCG Pastor John Jenkins (right) and Felix Bighem of Sterling Motorcars.

Bighem says the effort was a collective internal decision at Sterling but that the church decided who the recipients would be.

Pastor Jenkins said the decision was arrived upon by focusing on single parents who are faithful servant members of the church who, demonstrated by their actions, had a true need for reliable transportation.

The families who received vehicles were Javelle Teate and family at the 8 a.m. service; Marilyn Lacy and family at the 10 a.m. service; April Lanier and family at the noon service and Thelma Jeannie Grace and family at the 6 p.m. service.

The cars given away included a 2013 Toyota Prius v Five, 2009 Buick Enclave CXL AWD, 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid and a 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid Titanium.

But the name and type of vehicle may not be the most important thing to young families like April Lanier.

April Lanier with the Keys to her new car.

“This car has lifted a burden. Let me tell you – when you get in that secret place, you get in that closet, God rewards you,” Lanier says. “Prayer still works. Don’t ever give up on prayer. I didn’t tell anybody about transportation. I just came to church to get a word and God answered a prayer that has been on my heart for awhile.”

Little Thomaya Haskins, wearing light-purple framed shades as if she were ready to take the wheel herself, took the whole afternoon in stride.

“I like this new car,” she said.

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How It Came About

Raising children, while honorable, is never easy, especially in today’s tumultuous times; and raising them as a single parent increases the amount of parental stress. Single parents know all too well the complexities and the daily struggles of just trying to get by from day to day. Support is often lacking.

While working hard to make ends meet often without a partner’s income or support, single parents ensure their children get to school, have their homework and studies done, tutor them. They dodge the clock to keep parent-teacher conferences. Many spend evenings and weekends at their child’s dance recitals, piano lessons, baseball practice. They coach from the sidelines at the soccer match; and cheer the ones on the football grid, while silently praying for no injuries. They referee battling siblings; and nurse their sick babies back to health.

Many go beyond their home to help out neighbors and volunteer in their communities.

And even after all of this and more is done, many bring their children to the House of the Lord, for prayer, reflection, fellowship and to hear the Word of God. They instill faith in their children, the importance of balance between the material and the spiritual.

Exhausted and with little time left in their day, they often overlook their own needs; and many simply can’t afford to make the complexities any lighter. That’s where Sterling Motorcars has stepped in.

Sterling Motorcars founder and former CEO Thomas Moorehead, right, with the new CEO, Paul White / CREDIT: STERLING MOTORCARS

Four unsuspecting single parents were surprised April 26 when they received a quality pre-owned vehicle from Sterling Motorcars during one of four services held at the First Baptist Church of Glenarden (FBCG). These individuals selflessly serve others by giving their time, efforts and talent while delicately balancing their role as a parent.

Those chosen to receive a free vehicle include a widower raising eight children between the ages of 8 to 15, a parent whose car was demolished in a car accident and another parent who relies on public transportation.

Senior Pastor John K. Jenkins, Sr. of First Baptist Church of Glenarden said, “We are grateful to Thomas Moorehead, Paul White and the entire Sterling Motorcars Community C.A.R.E. team for this incredible blessing to members of our church.” Jenkins went further stating, “Our church focuses on serving the needs of our community and members. We are thrilled to be able to partner with Sterling Motorcars to provide four single parents with safe and reliable vehicles.”

The Sterling Motorcars’ Community Commitment, Assurance, Reliability and Excellence Program (C.A.R.E) is new, and is being launched by new President and CEO, Paul White.

While most dealers pay for this type of community outreach, Sterling Motorcars is organic and coming from within the walls of their dealership to create initiatives for the community via faith-based organizations, schools and local organizations. Members of First Baptist Church of Glenarden are the first recipients to receive donated vehicles from the program.

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