[Up] [Rev. Don] [Tara Stoehr]
Rev. Don Spreads the Word to
Racers
Have you ever went to see
your pastor or minister someplace where it's so loud, that even
screaming, you have a hard time hearing each other, where everyone is
sweat and grease stained, the air is full of dust, heavy with the
fumes of race fuel and greasy cheeseburgers?
It's not your usual church.
Well, it's not your usual ministry. The congregation may be a little
different, and the pews more often aluminum seats or stacks of old
tires in a hauler than polished oak benches. But then, God is where
you find Him.
Welcome to the Racing With
Jesus Ministry, the racer's church since 1980, overseen by the affable
Rev. Don Rivers.
The Racing With Jesus
Ministry was started in 1980 by the Rev. Pat Evans in response to
requests from NASCAR drivers whose racing schedule obviously left
little time for church. Even if you race on a Saturday, like many of
the Nationwide drivers, for the chance at a last minute word or
affirmation, you can't exactly race out of the pits and run to the
nearest church.
I recently had a chance to
talk to the Rev. Don on his way to Bristol to find out a little bit
more about this unique parish. It's one that has seen its ups and
downs, probably the lowest when founder Evans died in 2005. As Rev.
Don recounted, grief wasn't enough for the ministry, there was a
possibility the whole thing could end right there in a battle of
legalese. As Don suggested, "Perhaps God had other plans."
Today, it's stronger than
ever, and growing to race ministries nationwide, including a new
affiliation with World Racing that encompasses World Of Outlaws. You
know my opinion though, in Pennsylvania, they're going to need a
pretty thick prayer rug to beat the Posse, but that's another story.
Along with the good stories
of racers becoming closer to Christ, in a sport like this, is tragedy.
As Rev. Don recalled, one racer seemed almost purpose driven to stay
away from Christ and Rev. Don and what he represented. But when his
son was in an accident and close to death, it was Rev. Don's Racing
With Jesus Ministry car that he willingly got into for the ride to the
hospital.
"Sometimes it's a
step-by-step process. At times like this, God calls on us to help
piece it back together," Rev. Don said.
A lot of what he does, as he
explained, has no real agenda other than going to where it's
happening.
There also can be a little
humor in this work.
"There was this one real
rough character that was always at the track and never came around for
services," Rev. Don said. "I was going through the pits one day and
when there was no one around he pulled me aside and said, 'I don't
normally have much use for your stuff, but I've been behind the
haulers listening to you and some of it's starting to make sense.'
"I knew he might not be
sitting in the front row, but it's one step at a time."
To find out more about the
Racing With Jesus Ministry, go to
www.rwjm.com.
You also can e-mail the Rev.
Don at
don@rwjm.com.
If you're a minister thinking
that you would like to help out, don't be shy, e-mail the reverend to
find out more. God is everywhere, just everyone may not be in church.
Remember, if you don't have
dirt on ya, it wasn't a race.
- Questions, comments, tips
or story ideas can be sent to Jay Tabor at
onehundred10octane@yahoo.com |
