it be processes, staff, or other things. “We go by GEAR. It stands for Grow, Evaluate, Adjust, Repeat.” About six years ago, Chad was personally challenged with what he considered a crazy idea. He felt the need to help an executive pastor at his church, Scott White, raise money, about $50,000 to help less fortunate members of the community. “We went to lunch and I offered to give him $5,000,” says Chad. “He told me, ‘I don’t want your money, I want you to go with me on a mission trip to Indonesia.’ I thought he was crazy, and replied, ‘There are those that go and those that send.’” “He was very insistent, so I told him I’d pray about it. He told me to agree to go, and to pray that if I wasn’t supposed to go, God would close the door. When I called my wife Rachael about this crazy idea, she agreed with Scott!,” laughs Chad. Needless to say, Chad went to Indonesia and it changed his life. “I went to Medon, Indonesia, which takes 36 hours to get there. Once I arrived I was reacquainted with two single ladies who grew up in our church, who liter- ally had sacrifi ced their lives – marriage, the comforts of home, and more – and had been there for 16 years working in missions. I thought, if they can sacrifi ce that, then the least I can do is give one week of my life a year to help them.”

Counselman, third row third from left, with one of his missions group. This led to four more trips to Indonesia each year

after, until two years ago. The Director of Missions job at his church was becoming vacant when that person went into full-time missions. “I felt led to fi ll that role, and now every Tuesday I work at Redemption Church

AUTOMOTIVE RECYCLING • July-August 2018

43