May is here - with Hemelgarn Racing!

WOW…. OK, so I get a call on Thursday afternoon from the team manager at Vision racing. He said he was told (that day) that he could not add any more personnel and that he has to “make due” with the people they have on staff for the 500…… (he had signed me three weeks ago) that means… I’m out at Vision (for the month of May)!

So, obviously, God did not need me there this month! (I will still be doing the Bible study with them at the track throughout the month) I prayed and made a few phone calls….. Hemelgarn called me back and said that people there had been “praying” that I would work for them! Wow.. I had a meeting with their team manager on Saturday and they hired me that day. I start on Tuesday!

So…. God is always more that faithful….. Pray that I will be an effective witness to those guys!

Root for Buddy Lazier #91 on 5/24!!!!!! Thanks for your support and prayers!

We are not in Kansas anymore!

Great day today! Lots of interactive prayer with the teams and drivers. Two chapels and a mass! Jessica Willey sang for us at both chapel services. What a wonder gift of song God has blessed her with! Thanks Jessica!

I hooked up with the hospitality worker that said he was "too far gone". He did not want to talk about it. I assured him that I (or we) am available whenever he is ready. He said, "I knew that even before we talked". Praise God! That is the type of presence ministry that needs to be evident!

Thanks to all for your support and prayers! I return home tomorrow!

Update from Kansas!

The first couple days have been good here in Kansas. We are currently looking out for tornado's (literally) as a storm is passing through! Peoples lives are full of storms. Some require weather alerts while others require just an umbrella. There are people in this community that are hurting. That are going through storms of life. Pray that we can help them weather those storms!

Made some great connections with many of the team guys the last couple of days. We have talked about everything from how the team is doing to funerals to planning baptisms in May! Pray that these conversations are God led and God honoring.

We have 2 chapels and 2 races tomorrow. Pray these go well and that God is in control of all! In my devotions this morning I read in 2 Timothy 4:2 , that we are to Preach the Word. In season and out of season; correct rebuke and encourage - with great patience and careful instruction. Pray that I do that. I encourage you to do the same. Everyday!

Long Beach Sunday, Sunday Sunday!!!!!!

It was a long day that began with the alarm going off at 4:30 to get to the track and get set up for the 7:00 AM Chapel! We had American Idol contestant, Brandon Gill, to sing for us today! His worship was heartfelt and we thank him and his wife for sharing their gift with us. We were a bit rushed in pryaing with the Indy Lights guys this morning since the green flag dropped at the same time we started our second Chapel! The mass was delayed due to a drivers meeting and the second Chapel was cut short due to a press conference! The Indy Car prayer on the grid was even a bit rushed and confusing. This was just a lesson that God's timing is perfect and does not necesarily match up with our agenda!

The local Long Beach Salvation Army brought 6 guys and 2 trucks to take the food today! I helped them load the trucks and we ended shoulder to shoulder in prayer! We asked God to bless their efforts and that this food would be used to further the Kingdom of Christ!

The day ended with dinner with Dan and Linda Baker. They are wonderful Christian people that are former board members of the IRL Minstry. They offered me great encouragement this evening during our discussions and prayed for me and the IRL Minsitry (as they always do). Thanks Dan and Linda! Thanks to all who prayed. leave Friday for Kansas. Keep Praying!

Long Beach Update!

Made it safely to Long Beach! This is quite a venue.... A very diverse atmosphere and culture. We're not in Indiana any more!

The local Salvation Army will be taking the food form this weekend! I connected with many of the Indy Car and Indy Lights guys today! We are trying to arrange 2 baptisms in May for a ocuple of guys from the Vision study! Pray those arrangements go well.

It is not our job to push the God's timing. Today was an example of that. I did talk with the hospitality worker I mentioned in previous blogs. He was not ready to discuss God's grace. Keep praying....

I did meet a Christian lady on the plane coming out here that has been through some recent trials in here life that she shared with me. I offered words of encouragement that God gave me. Would you join me in praying for her? Pray she will find God's direction in her life.

Keep praying!!!!

St. Pete Food Donation & Long Beach!!!

4281 pounds!!!!!!!!!! That's how much food was donated from the St. Pete race to the America's Second Harvest of Tampa Bay organization!!

Pray for the trip to Long Beach. Pray that the "seeds that were planted" with the "crew care packs" that were distributed at St. Pete will be watered!! Pray for opportunites to share Christ thi weekend!!!

God Bless!

St. Pete Pics!!!!!!!!

"CREW CARE PACKS" - God's Word DELIVERED!



"CREW CARE PACKS" EVERYWHERE!!!!!


PRAYING "ON THE GRID"

"FEEDING AMERICA" GUYS!

INDY LIGHTS CHAPEL!!!

St. Pete God Report!

We had a great race day! The chapel service went well!! We had country recording artist, Michelle Murray (http://www.myspace.com/michellemurraycom) lead us in worship. Thanks Michelle!

Neat prayer time on the grid for both the Indy Lights and Indy Car race! (pics to come... stay tuned!) Many of the Indy Lights drivers prayed and were excited that prayer was offered! Had some very God orchestrated prayer time with individuals as I was working my way through the grid to pray with the teams! These requested prayer times with individuals are absolutely precious.... God is amazing... The teams were very receptive to prayer on the grid. Some teams were actually excited when I approached the car! Praise God!

It was also very nice to have my wife along with me on this trip! She is a blessing from God!

Next race is Long Beach in two weeks..... Keep praying that God will work thru the crew care packs as people open them and read God's word. Pray also that we will be attentive to those who are searching.. As always, thanks for praying. May the Lord bless you and keep you!

Prayer, Chapel, Bags, Injuries, & Hope

OK... wow... what a busy couple of days in St. Pete! We handed out the rest of the crew care packs (600 total)! We actually ran out before everyone got one. I just prayed that God would just "take care of that" what ever "that" means. We have already had reports of how the contents are being used! One crew member told me that his children went thru the bag and were "fighting" over the contents. The compromise was the older child is now reading to the younger children from the Bible that was in the packs!!!!!! It is unimaginable how far these might reach souls for God's kingdom!

I met with the Feeding America http://feedingamerica.org (formally Second Harvest) people from Tampa. They are picking up the food this weekend and we are trying to establish a national partnership with them for all the tracks! Had a great time of prayer with these brothers that God would use every bit of this food to show his love to the less fortunate.

Chapel today for the Indy Lights series was held at the Tech semi in the garage area. We had a great turnout for the 9:00 AM service! We had great prayer time on the grid prior to today's race. There are many new teams and drivers this year. Most all wanted to pray. I was rejected by two drivers. We are still there, still present, still praying.

One of the IRL crew members was injured today in the garage area. After his brief stay at the infield care center, I transported him back to his garage. I had a neat time of prayer with him for his injuries.

Lastly, I was hanging up flyers for our Sunday Chapel services in the hospitality area today. One of the guys I met last year said to me, " there is no hope for me, I am too far gone". I replied that nobody is too far gone. That Christ will forgive the worst of sins. He said when he stands before God, that God will say "not this one". I told him that that is exactly why Jesus died on that cross for your sins. I said that if you trust Jesus, then He will say to God, "no, this one is OK, he is covered by my blood......... He did not say a word.... I gave him a couple of devotionals I had for him to read. I also told him, at the proper time, I wanted to talk further about his concerns. He agreed. Please pray. Please.

Tomorrow there are two races, a chapel and a catholic mass. There will be countless opportunities to exhibit Christ's love. Pray I do that.

This why I am here. To share Christ. Nothing else. Pray.

Over 500 crew care packs handed out today at St. Pete!

Wow.. The day began when the alarm went off at 3:00AM to catch an early morning flight out of Indy to St. Pete. At 10:00PM we got to our hotel room! It was a great day!!! Bob, me, Deatra, and Harriett (an IRLM helper) handed out backpacks full of God's word to crew members, officials, drivers, and hospitality workers! Some rejected the packs, but the majority were REALLY excited to get a free gift..... most did not know that inside that bag is truly a free gift.... God's grace through faith in Christ!

Some opened them up right away and looked at all the contents. Some asked who paid for them. Some were just thankful that we were giving them a gift.

Now its time to pray! Pray that the seeds get watered. That the soil will be fertile. That they will open the bags and read. That God will open their eyes..... Pray... Thanks to all.... more from the track tomorrow!

Front Wing Presented to ICCC

It was a great day at Indian Creek again today! The IRL Ministry presented Gary Johnson and the staff of ICCC a front Indy Car wing in appreciation for "The Creek's" support of me and the Indy Racing League Ministry.

Thanks to all of you for your support and prayers! The motor coach is on its way to St.Pete now! I will be flying down on Thursday, April 2nd. The crew care packs will be distributed on that Thursday and Friday. Pray they will be well received. Pray God will move! Pray!

Is This a Hobby?

So, I was off site at a company today for my "full time" engineering job with JDSU...... We got to talking about racing and the IRL Ministry. These guys said "so you don't get paid for the time you spend traveling to all the races?" I told them my expenses are covered, but I do not get paid. They commented that that was "some hobby".... In response, I simply said, "it's more than a hobby".

That comment hit me hard...... Friends, is Christianity "just a hobby" for you? We are serving the Almighty God of the universe. We are giving praise to Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world. Our God knows and understands our every thought. We have been commanded by Christ Himself to go unto the world to spread the Good News.

It's more than a "hobby" to me....... how bout you?

WOW!!! - 100 boxes packed

THANK YOU ALL and THANKS BE TO GOD! We, members of Indian Creek Christian Church, and friends of the IRL Ministry, packed over 580 crew care packs in to 100 boxes today! In addition, every box was prayed over, that God would use they packs to reveal the Good News of the Gospel of Christ to the Indy Racing League crew members and officials. The boxes are already in the IRL Ministry trailer and ready for the trip to St. Petersburg for the April 5th race. These care packs will be distributed on April 2nd when the guys are working on their cars! Pray they will be well received and God would work in a might and powerful way!

Thanks again for all your prayers, help and support!

God working at the Vision Study!

We finished the Joe Gibbs book "Racing to Win" today in our study. After lots of good discussion, we got on the topic of baptism. We talked thru what baptism means and the example Jesus set for us. Bottom line..... There are 2 or 3 guys that are considering being baptized! Praise God!

We need to be there. We need to encourage. We need to go. We need to follow where Jesus is leading. Without hesitation....... Go.... spread the Good News!

IRL Ministry Crew Care Pack - Packing Party March 15th!

Shipments are coming in, almost daily, to my garage that is now being used as a "Christian Warehouse" of sorts.... God has been unbelievable through this entire process in providing for this project. I want to thank Him, first of all, for sending all of you and the different businesses that have donated items and money for this project. Thanks be to God! And thank all of you! Below is the flyer that will be placed in each pack acknowledging the different companie's involvement.


We are having the packing party at Indian Creek Christian Church on Sunday, March 15th at 12:30 in the Family Life Center. Pizza will be provided! We are going to pack all 600 backpacks with the Bibles, etc. and pray over them before we box them up for the trip to St. Pete on April 5th for the first IRL race!

Please pray that these Crew Care Packs with be received well. I hope to see you all there!

God Provides!

So....... just a simple suggestion by my pastor about adding the book "The Man in the Mirror" to the crew care packs turned into seeing God work in just a few short days! Last week a few e-mails were sent and three days later Kingdom Racing donated 600 books and EMI Records donated 600 CD's !!!!! WOW!!!!!! It was unbelievable!

This week was also the "last" offering during our Sunday School class. In addition to another $500 donation, the offering was $550!!!! Based on that number, WE HAVE ALL COSTS COVERED FOR THIS PROJECT!!!!

Thanks to the classes at Indian Creek Christian Church, thanks to Kingdom Racing, thanks to EMI, but most of all, thanks be to God! God provides. Let God work. Blessings!

Vision Study, Crew Care Packs, & Makin' Plans

The custom IRL Ministry backpacks arrived today! The contents of the bags are coming together! The devotionals and tool box decals are here! Arrangements have been made to pick up the water from Aqua Systems (www.ilovemywater.com). Thanks Mike! The packing party is set for 3/15/09 at 12:30PM in Atrium A at Indian Creek Christian Church (www.thecreek.org).

I have been busy making travel arrangements for the year. All my hotels are booked! I am still working with Greenwood Travel (www.greenwoodtravel.com) on all my flights! Thanks Ian!

The study at Vision went well today. We discussed how and why Jesus choose his disciples. These guys were ordinary people entrusted with the mission to spread the news of Christ. We are very similar to the disciples. As Christ followers, we are to do what Jesus commanded in Matthew 28:19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Go!!!!!!!!!!!! God Bless!!

Chinese Church in Greenwood

I had to opportunity to preach today at the Chinese Church that meets at the Community Church of Greenwood (Indiana). These people are so genuine and reverent. There passion for Christ and humility are something I can learn from! Thanks for the opportunity to share Christ!

Crew Care Pack Update!!!!!!

We are up to $1750! Praise the Lord! So below is the status…….

$1500 – 600 BIBLES – PAID IN FULL!
$554 – 1000 TRI Fold Inserts – ½ PAID IN FULL!
$954 – 600 back packs – well…. not so paid… : (
$0 – 500 devotionals – PAID IN FULL - DONATED - Our Daily Bread
$0- 600 tool box decals – PAID IN FULL - DONATED - Business Art & DeSigns
...waiting to see if we can pay for the backpacks before we order any fillers like water, jerky, etc.

Thanks to ALL who have donated from Mark Miller and Steve Totten's class at "The Creek"! (www.thecreek.org)

IRL Ministry Donations

This year has been especially tough financially on everyone, including the IRL Ministry. In these tough economic times, everyone is cutting back on their spending and giving. Those cut backs have affected the IRL Ministry for 2009. We are looking at major changes to how the IRL Ministry functions if donations are not received. These changes may include selling the motorcoach an cutting back on Chaplains expenses. If we do not have a motorcoach, we will not be able to tow the trailer which contains all of our sound system for Chapel services, golf carts, and scooters for track transportation.

If God is urging you to give in this area, please follow that leading. You may contact me or Bob Hills at bhills@indyracing.com or go to the IRL Ministry website at www.irlministry.com.

Thanks for your continued support!