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A Historical Sketch of Texas Alliance Raceway Ministries |
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2001 - 2004 |
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TxARM in 2002 |
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As 2002 began, TxARM entered its 6th year of work. Texas Motor Speedway, Boyd Raceway, Cowtown Speedway, Kennedale Speedway Park and 281 Speedway--all these have become venues for the exciting work of sharing Christ with race fans as well as competitors and track employees. By the end of the September NASCAR Craftsman Truck and IRL race events, 3 people at Texas Motor Speedway had trusted Jesus as Savior, and Christ was shared with tens of thousands of other race fans. |
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TxARM in 2003 |
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2003 started with Volunteer Orientation in February, and a large number of new volunteers for the work that would take place during the new season. In addition, for the first time, chaplain training was part of the orientation, and about 15 people were introduced to the how-to's of chaplain work at raceways. The March NASCAR event brought many fans to the ministry tent as Tarrant Baptist Association brought its Ministry Resource Trailer to the TxARM site, with inflatable climbing walls and mazes for children. In addition, music concerts, horse shoe tournaments, Pinewood Derby Racing, Sunday morning chapel services, and other activities provided plenty of opportunity for the 140 or so volunteers to share the Lord. The June NASCAR Truck/IRL weekend brought 45 volunteers to Texas Motor Speedway to share the Lord with race fans with similar activities. A unique opportunity to minister came about on Saturday night following the IRL racing, as a motorcycle ran into a van on the parking lots of the speedway, taking the lives of the two adults on the motorcycle. TxARM chaplains and volunteers were dispatched to the scene where they helped with crowd control and provided counseling for the folks in the van, and then TxARM chaplains were requested to help with post-incident de-briefing for TMS employees and EMS personnel. The October NASCAR Truck/IRL event brought another 50 or so volunteers to work with TxARM, and all of the typical minsitry activities were implemented, along with an expanded golf cart courtesy patrol and handicapped transportation effort. Throughout the entire season at Texas Motor Speedway, 160 volunteers were enlisted from churches all over Texas and beyond, and over 34,500 tracts and New Testaments were distributed.
Ministry at the local, weekly raceways continued to be strong, too. TxARM groups at 281 Speedway, Boyd Raceway and Kennedale Speedway Park continued faithfully to share the Lord, and work began at the Devil's Bowl in Mesquite, Grayson County Speedway near Sherman, and Thunder Hill Raceway in Kyle.
The season ended with the Volunteer Appreciation Banquet, which was attended by about 100 folks. A meal, provided by Texas Motor Speedway, a summary slide show presentation, certificates for all the volunteers, a message by Dr. John Babler, and door prizes characterized the evening, which was enjoyed by everyone. As TxARM completed 7 years of ministry work, 54 people have made professions of Christ at the raceways through the years, and TxARM has influenced the start of Raceway Ministries groups in Kansas City, Chicago, Watkins Glen in New York, Las Vegas, Phoenix and Indianapolis. |
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TxARM in 2004 |
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The 2004 season of ministry for TxARM began with 100 people in attendance at Volunteer Orientation in February. It was an exciting time, with many new volunteers present to hear an inspiring and challenging message from Randall Easter, pastor of First Baptist Church of Briar. The first race event at Texas Motor Speedway took place March 27 - April 4 as the IROC series came to town along with the NASCAR Busch Series and Nextel Cup Series, as well as the World of Outlaws. TxARM volunteers from all over Texas as well as from Oklahoma and Arkansas--82 in all--assisted in the effort that resulted in 4 professions of faith. In the midst of all the activity, TxARM expanded it's handicapped transportation ministry, giving 122 rides for handicapped individuals and their family/friends; responded with chaplains to over 100 instances of injury or illness; hosted a children's carnival that entertained over 250 children and family members; involved 100 participants in Pinewood Derby racing; involved 50 children and their families in a "Cardboard Box" race; involved 20 folks in the Horse Shoe tournament on Saturday; provided worship for 165 in the camp ground prior to Sunday's Nextel Cup race; distributed over 13,325 pieces of literature bearing the gospel message; performed 1 wedding ceremony; and provided the invocation for the Sunday NASCAR Nextel Cup Series race. Special guests to the ministry event included Dwight Sisk of Timothy Cup Racing (from Alabama) to provide leadership for the Pinewood Derby racing, and Ken Stuckey, pastor of the Evangelical Free Church in Paradise, Califironia, who signed books for children--books of which he is the author--and preached the message for Sunday morning's camp ground chapel service.
of thousands of other race fans.
In June of 2004, TxARM's "Raceway Ministries at Texas Motor Speedway" served the needs of Texas Motor Speedway with 52 volunteers, who came from all over the state of Texas as well as from out of state. Numerous ministry activities took place, although on a smaller scale than what characterized the spring NASCAR event. June 10-12, the Indy Racing League came to town, along with the ROMCO Super Late Model Series and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Four people participated in the horse shoe tournament that took place on Saturday morning, and a gospel witness was shared with them as they played their games and as they were awarded trophies. Also on Saturday morning, a children's carnival attracted around 50 people--moms, dads and kids. In addition, RMTMS provided handicapped transportation, distributed coffee and lemonade to TMS employees, and distributed 8,550 pieces of literature, each piece bearing the message of the gospel.
In October, TxARM's "RMTMS" provided ministry for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and IRL season finale event. TxARM volunteers for the Fall event numbered 61, and throughout the week of ministry, volunteers provided 300 man-hours on golf cars, giving 83 rides for handicapped or disabled race fans. In addition, 90 fans were assisted through the work of TxARM chaplains, 300 fans were assisted at TMS information booths, 12,200 New Testaments and tracts were distributed, 200 attended a concert that featured testimonies by NASCAR chaplains and Truck Series competitors, 65 attended Sunday morning chapel service, and 1 person accepted Jesus as Savior. Soon after the October event, TxARM conducted the 2004 Volunteer Appreciation banquet, which attracted 95 folks.
In November, TxARM also participated in a Disaster Response exercise at TMS, which was conducted in cooperation with the FBI and the office of Homeland Security. Fifteen volunteers assisted in the effort which was designed to put to the test the TMS Mass Critical Incident response plan of which TxARM is a part.
For the entire year of 2004, TxARM registered 138 volunteers, logged 904 man hours on golf cars, provided handicapped transportation for 433 fans, assisted 190 fans through chaplaincy work, assisted 550 fans at the information booths, distributed 34,391 New Testaments and pieces of gospel literature, had 230 folks attend Sunday morning chapel services, involved 600 children in children's activities, provided invocations for 8 races at TMS, and led 5 people to Christ on the property at TMS. |
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Return to Home Page |
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Return to First "History" Page |
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