Pre-Race Prayer ... with Purpose

- David Martin -

 

Providing the invocation before a race is a great privilege, not to be taken lightly.  Its purpose is not for entertainment and cheers, but to invoke the blessings of God and an opportunity to lift up Christ before all men.  As chaplains, our aim should be to gain an audience with a holy and righteous God and entreat His divine attention.

 

As the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, Jesus provided them (and us) with a model to approach the throne of a holy God.  While the prayer was indeed a model, not something we necessarily have to repeat word for word, it did demonstrate a reverence and respectful approach to our heavenly Father.  In fact, last year as Howard Brammer provided the invocation for the Brickyard 400, he prayed this model prayer given by Jesus.  In my opinion, it was one of the best invocations ever uttered at a track.

 

Howard Brammer is the Pastor Emeritus of Trader's Point Christian Church in Indianapolis.  Howard has provided the invocation at every Brickyard 400 race at IMS.  A few years ago, Howard Brammer and I were sitting in the lobby of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway just before a meeting with speedway staff.  As we talked about the invocations, he made a comment that made a huge impact on me.  He said, "The greatest thing about wording the invocation is that I get to proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord to a worldwide audience." 

 

It is always an honor to be asked to provide the invocation at race events, whether for a local track, traveling series or perhaps NASCAR.  While there is no magical prayer or special formula for an invocation, there is a purpose.  If the focus of the pre-race prayer is on the one saying the prayer, rather than the One to whom the prayer is offered . perhaps, we should reconsider our purpose.  If the focus of the pre-race prayer is to entertain the crowds and gather cheers . perhaps, we should reconsider our purpose.  If the focus of the pre-race prayer is based upon a movie, which makes a mockery of the Lord Jesus Christ . perhaps, we should reconsider our purpose.  When given a mere 25 seconds to come before the throne of a holy God with a worldwide audience . perhaps, we should reconsider our purpose.

 

The privilege of providing an invocation is not an opportunity to be squandered, but a stewardship to be embraced.  None of us has arrived concerning the matter of prayer.  We have much to learn, oh but what a grand privilege!  While our prayers do not need to be "cookie cutter" type utterances, let us focus on the One to whom we are praying . let Him be our audience.  Let us not allow idle words to fill the air and miss the opportunity to lift up the Lord Jesus Christ.  Pray with Purpose!

 

- David Martin serves as the Lead Chaplain for the Champion Racing Association and USA Modified Series;  Assistant Director and Chairman for the National Fellowship of Raceway Ministries;  Director of On Track Ministries and Indianapolis Raceway Ministries.

 

It seems we have been on autopilot over the last few months crossing back and forth across the states and hurrying from one track to the next.  The ministry opportunities seem to come faster than we can keep up with at times, but we love it! 

 

The World Stock Car Festival at Winchester Speedway is one of our largest events every year with five divisions of cars racing.  We always look forward to the races with the large car counts because it means more ministry opportunities for the On Track Ministries team.  The Labor Day weekend race is always a huge draw for the racing community and the fans.  It makes me so glad to have ministry partners like Larry and Carol Avery and Steve and Leslie Harley, especially on these big days.

 

We also made a few trips to Berlin Raceway with the CRA Super Series and JEGS/CRA All Stars Tour.  We had rain again at Berlin, but the rain always provides more time for us to "hang-out" (with a purpose) with those we serve in the racing community.  It is always a great opportunity to be able to build and strengthen relationships.  During the rain delay, Larry was re-acquainted with someone he met at a book signing at a Christian bookstore in Michigan some time back.  It provided a great opportunity for him to share about OTM and why we were there at the track.  It is always interesting to see how the Lord connects people as we travel from track to track.

 

September brought about Adrienne's 17^th birthday!  We had a special night out to celebrate her birthday and a surprise party with her friends from the Fort Wayne Children's Choir.  It is awesome to see how the Lord is using Adi with OTM and Drama Queens Ministries.  Pray for her, as she is about to take a trip to minister around the Tyler, TX area with DQM next month.  I should say, pray for Theresa and me . it will be Adrienne's first ministry trip alone.

 

We had a great race with all five divisions of the Champion Racing Association at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis.  We were excited to see the largest chapel service of the year at Indy.  It just verifies that we are making an impact on those we serve, little by little.

 

One of our highlights over the last three years is the privilege we have had to be a part of the Fall Festival/Car Show with Trinity Reformed Church in Munster, IN.  Theresa and Adi got to sing with the choir on Sunday and had the privilege to speak during the Car Show and then to preach on Sunday morning.  We saw two people respond to the gospel to invite Christ into their lives.  We went away incredibly blessed.  What an awesome weekend . can't wait until next year!

 

The Winchester 400 race weekend is the largest weekend of local track racing that we cover all year.  We had six divisions of cars over a 4-day weekend.  My heart filled with joy as I watched Larry, Steve and Leslie serve those they have built relationships with over the year.  The last race does not mean the end of ministry for us.  There is still plenty of racing and plenty of ministry opportunities.

The highlight of the Winchester 400 weekend was that our son, Jonathan, was crowned as the 2011 USA Modified Series Champion.  We are incredibly proud of him, not just for winning the championship, but more so, for the character and testimony he displayed through a very difficult year.  He was a champion long before he earned the title. 

 

Larry and I ended the month serving with Alabama Raceway Ministries at Talladega Superspeedway for the NASCAR weekend.  It was great to see the ministry of ARM in action.  Larry was able to spend time with Dwight Sisk and the Timothy Cup Ministries site.  I was able to tour all of the ministry sites with ARM Director, Mike Jackson.  We came away with a great appreciation for the ministry of ARM and gratitude that we serve together under the National Fellowship of Raceway Ministries.  The highlight for us was to be able to pray with some of the drivers who have come up through the ranks of the CRA and are now racing in NASCAR. 

 

Thank you for blessing us and making it possible for us to continue sharing Christ with the racing community. 

 

Winning the Race,

David G. Martin, Director