When a Church Rallies Around Its Pastors: Two Vehicles in One Week

In late June 2026, Rivergate Foundation spent a weekend in Raleigh with Antioch Raleigh, hosting an Own Your Own Night and meeting with leaders in the church about becoming Strategic Partners. Over dinner with those leaders, two needs surfaced: Ben Wickel, the church's lead pastor, and Chris Jolly, its executive pastor, both needed new vehicles.

Two pastors, two vehicles, one dinner

Rivergate invites church leaders to become Strategic Partners, helping care for the pastors, missionaries, and staff of their own church, from education for their children to retirement.

The Wickels, a family of six, had relied on one minivan to carry their family and the daily work of their ministry. After years of service it was near the end of its life, with repairs coming more often and costing more each time. They had reached the point of worrying about driving it, unsure whether it would break down.

The Jollys, a family of five, had cared for their Kia for years, but repairs were becoming frequent and expensive. With three growing children, they needed an SUV or van that fit their family.

The leaders at the table knew where they wanted to start. Their pastors needed vehicles, they said, and they wanted to get both families moving. Rivergate explained how the Jubilee Fund works: launch a campaign for each family, and make it happen.

Both campaigns fully funded in one week

Both Jubilee Fund campaigns launched shortly after the weekend and were shared with the Antioch Raleigh community. Within one week, both were fully funded: 36 people gave to the Wickels' campaign, and 32 gave to the Jollys'. Vehicle campaigns are capped at $25,000, and each need was met. The Jolly's now drive an SUV.

Antioch Raleigh rallied around its pastors, and did it in a week. We believe the generosity of the church is not lacking, here or anywhere. When a need is made known, people are ready to show up, come alongside, and see what God can do. It starts when needs are brought forward, and people hear what is happening in the lives of the staff and missionaries in their own church.

In their own words

The Wickel and Jolly families wanted to say this to everyone who gave:

“Dear Family, Julie and I are absolutely blown away by your generosity! We are deeply honored, grateful for, and blessed by such an extravagant gift. Thank you so much for loving our family in this very tangible way; it means more to us than words can express!

Love Ben and Julie!

On behalf of our family, thank you so much to all who gave generous towards our Jubilee Fund. When we learned our old car had reached the end of its life sooner than expected, we began praying with our kids asking God to provide a car for our family. And He has shown His gracious faithfulness to us through our church family’s radical generosity. We are humbled by this undeserved gift. This is a testimony for our family that will be continually shared! We are humbled, honored, and joyful to count ourselves among you all. Thank you again for loving our family so well and making a way for us to continue to have longevity in this road of ministry.

The Jolly family”

Why the Jubilee Fund exists

The Jubilee Fund exists for exactly this kind of moment: when a family who has given their lives to this work faces something no one planned for. Your gift meant this family never had to make a single financial decision in the middle of what they were carrying. That is what this is for.

As Rivergate Foundation grows, we are building a permanent infrastructure of support for Christian missionaries and church staff, one that holds steady when the unexpected comes. Your participation in this campaign is part of building something that will serve many families like this one for years to come.

Learn more about the Jubilee Fund.