Volunteers spread the Gospel during Talladega race
weekend
weekend
God and race car driving.
You can't get much more Southern than that--and volunteers
at Alabama Raceway Ministries appreciate the unique opportunity that racing
gives them to share their faith with fans at Talladega Superspeedway.
at Alabama Raceway Ministries appreciate the unique opportunity that racing
gives them to share their faith with fans at Talladega Superspeedway.
This weekend, while thousands cheer on their favorite
drivers during a weekend that culminates with NASCAR's GEICO 500 race on Sunday
afternoon, others will reach out to those fans with their message of faith by
providing race information, cultivating friendships and creative worship opportunities.
drivers during a weekend that culminates with NASCAR's GEICO 500 race on Sunday
afternoon, others will reach out to those fans with their message of faith by
providing race information, cultivating friendships and creative worship opportunities.
According to Jenny Ellison, a chaplain and member of ARM's
leadership team, the weekend at Talladega is always a rewarding one.
leadership team, the weekend at Talladega is always a rewarding one.
She said that her group operates eight different mini stry
sites--six inside the racetrack, two on private camping areas adjacent to the
track--which provide the different services and engage race fans and track
personnel "in friendly, non-confrontational ways."
sites--six inside the racetrack, two on private camping areas adjacent to the
track--which provide the different services and engage race fans and track
personnel "in friendly, non-confrontational ways."
"Most people come to us for directions, or they get
lost," Ellison said. "At our site, we have a phone charging station
so a lot of people come by for that."
lost," Ellison said. "At our site, we have a phone charging station
so a lot of people come by for that."
She and her crew pass out brochures about the race,
imprinted with the Christian "plan of salvation"; over the years, she
said that many people have responded to their message.
imprinted with the Christian "plan of salvation"; over the years, she
said that many people have responded to their message.
"People don't know you care until you show them you
care. You can't get in their faces," she said. "I've had the
privilege of seeing people saved while working at the park. Seventy five people
were saved at the last race."
care. You can't get in their faces," she said. "I've had the
privilege of seeing people saved while working at the park. Seventy five people
were saved at the last race."
That possibility for ministry is what fueled the founders of
the national Raceway Ministries organization.
the national Raceway Ministries organization.
It began in 1975, when an early organizer went to a race at
Daytona International Speedway in Florida and said, "Somebody ought to be
doing something!"
Daytona International Speedway in Florida and said, "Somebody ought to be
doing something!"
The organization works today across the country at NASCAR and
smaller racetracks, with the mission statement: "Raceway Ministries seeks
to advance the name of Jesus Christ by creating natural opportunities to
demonstrate God's love and cultivate relationships between Christians and
non-Christians so the Holy Spirit can do His work."
smaller racetracks, with the mission statement: "Raceway Ministries seeks
to advance the name of Jesus Christ by creating natural opportunities to
demonstrate God's love and cultivate relationships between Christians and
non-Christians so the Holy Spirit can do His work."
Ellison grew up next to the now-defunct Dixie Speedway in
Midfield and remembers many nights of going to bed with her windows opening,
"listening to the sound of the track."
Midfield and remembers many nights of going to bed with her windows opening,
"listening to the sound of the track."
She'd never been to Talladega, however, and as an adult
didn't consider herself a NASCAR fan until she was asked to help with ARM 17
years ago.
didn't consider herself a NASCAR fan until she was asked to help with ARM 17
years ago.
"I went from knowing almost nothing about racing to
become one of the most obnoxious racing fans you've ever met," she lauhed.
"My husband doesn't care for racing, so I try to teach him about it."
become one of the most obnoxious racing fans you've ever met," she lauhed.
"My husband doesn't care for racing, so I try to teach him about it."
Once she fell in love with the sport, Ellison quickly found
her favorite driver.
her favorite driver.
"I loved Mark Martin, because was a Christian driver
and he made that known," she said. "He took care of his employees,
and was great to his fans."
and he made that known," she said. "He took care of his employees,
and was great to his fans."
After Martin retired, Ellison became a Tony Stewart fan.
"He retired, then I began to follow Carl Edwards. And
he just retired," she said. "So now I'm holding on, and waiting to
pick out a new favorite."
he just retired," she said. "So now I'm holding on, and waiting to
pick out a new favorite."
Ellison said she understands firsthand that often what motivates
NASCAR fans is that loyalty to a certain driver and team. She said, in fact,
that it's a wonderful way to connect with people at Talladega.
NASCAR fans is that loyalty to a certain driver and team. She said, in fact,
that it's a wonderful way to connect with people at Talladega.
The first time she worked with Raceway Ministries at the
Alabama track, a fellow volunteer advised her to "ask how they're favorite
driver was doing."
Alabama track, a fellow volunteer advised her to "ask how they're favorite
driver was doing."
"Fans are very loyal, and they support their
driver," Ellison said. "They may not want to talk about anything
else, but if you ask them about their driver they'll start talking."
driver," Ellison said. "They may not want to talk about anything
else, but if you ask them about their driver they'll start talking."
Between 250 and 300 volunteers will work through Raceway
Ministries this weekend and connect with thousands of fans, vendors, emergency
workers and other racetrack personnel.
Ministries this weekend and connect with thousands of fans, vendors, emergency
workers and other racetrack personnel.
The highlight of the ministry is the Sunday morning worship
opportunities, which are held at different sites and for a variety of different
groups--from children, to vendors, to infield guests.
opportunities, which are held at different sites and for a variety of different
groups--from children, to vendors, to infield guests.
"At 9 oclock on Sunday morning, we drop what we're
doing and have the worship services," Ellison said. "We have a good
turnout, and may have 100 or 200 at the main site."
doing and have the worship services," Ellison said. "We have a good
turnout, and may have 100 or 200 at the main site."
Talladega, she said, is special. It's a mecca for race car
fans, and provides a setting like no other on the NASCAR circuit.
fans, and provides a setting like no other on the NASCAR circuit.
"You can't imagine 40 cars driving at 200 mph,"
she said. "That's what appeals to me. The speed and the sound of the
track."
she said. "That's what appeals to me. The speed and the sound of the
track."
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