Alabama Baptists saturate Talladega Speedway with the gospel

The legions of fans who flocked to Talladega Super Speedway for the Winston 500 encountered more than just a race this year.
   
There, among the sounds of speeding race cars and the commotion of the annual event, race fans were witnessed to by a group of Alabama Baptists who are concerned with a more important victory — where the spectators will spend eternity.
   
The event brings ample ministry opportunities to Talladega, located in the Coosa River Baptist Association. Luther Williams, director of missions (DOM) for Coosa River Association, said the population of Talladega grows tenfold each October to approximately 225,000 people, during the weekend the race is held. Volunteers also work the race when it is held in April.
   
“It’s a missions field that comes right to our door,” Williams said.
   
The DOM said Alabama Baptists worked in several hospitality tents as part of efforts by Alabama Raceway Ministries (ARM), an effort of Baptists and other denominations across the state. Race car fans were offered everything from free breakfasts to soda and bottled water.
   
Williams said volunteers from his association also distributed gospel tracts and 12,000 copies of the Christian-themed Sports Spectrum magazine.
   
Joni Lay, a member of Sixty-Sixth Street Baptist Church, Birmingham, helped hand out soft drinks and water, in addition to cookies made by members of churches in Birmingham Baptist Association.
   
Lay said the ministry offers an opportunity to invite fans to worship services at the racetrack. “You have a mass amount of people on the missions fields at one time,” she said.
   
The raceway ministry offers an opportunity for witnessing to people in an environment in which they are comfortable, according to Richard Alford, an associate in the office of associational/cooperative missions at the State Board of Missions (SBOM). Alford said part of the work his office does focuses on resort and leisure ministries.
   
“It’s reaching people where they are,” he said of resort and leisure ministries. “It’s reaching people in surroundings they’re comfortable in,” Alford said.
   
J.B. Burt has served as president of ARM for more than 10 years. Burt, pastor of New Vision Baptist Church, Prattville, became involved after preaching a worship service at the race.
   
But the pastor said he saw an even greater opportunity for ministry. “I saw that if we had teams, we could do so much more,” he said.
   
Reaching such a large group takes several dozen people, with volunteers helping out from associations that include Birmingham, Covington, Calhoun and others.
   
“It’s bigger than one association can handle,” said Williams, who estimates 50–60 Alabama Baptists participated in the ministry.
   
“Twice a year, Talladega becomes the third largest city in Alabama,” said Burt. “If Jesus were here today, I think that’s where he would be twice a year.
   
“There are so many people you can reach this way,” Burt added. “You’ve got such a great opportunity to speak to so many people because of where they are.”
   
The pastor said he has distributed as many as 100,000 gospel tracts on race weekends in the past.
   
Williams said racecar fans aren’t the only people volunteers share the gospel with. “We try to minister to parking people, security people and first-aid people,” he said.
   
“It’s a positive presence of the Lord Jesus at the raceway ministry,” he added. “It gives you the opportunity to share your faith.”
   
For 18 students from Fleetwood Baptist Church, Peterson, the race brought not only the opportunity for witnessing, but also helped them practice witnessing skills.
   
Vicki McCay, director of the church’s puppet ministry, said the students were accompanied by four adults.
   
The group performed three puppet shows, in addition to distributing tracts, witnessing and handing out food.
   
“The impact was that they (race car fans) saw we loved them,” McCay said. “I think seeing Christ’s love was the biggest impact.”
   
In addition to the other work, she said the church’s praise band performed on Saturday and Sunday and church members held a worship service Sunday morning.
   
“The people who wanted to come to church were able to.”All 90 chairs set out were used, according to McCay, with some having to stand during the service.
   
Williams said the response from racecar fans is positive, though most are surprised to receive the free soft drinks and bottled water.
   
While the fans are there for the race, Williams said the ministry presents an opportunity to reach people for Christ.
   
“It builds a bridge,” Williams said. “It gives you the presence of the gospel there on the grounds.”
   
The experience of Fleetwood’s youth sharing their faith was also emphasized by McCay.
   
“I think the opportunity for our youth is important,” said McCay. “I believe it will make them bolder in sharing their faith.
   
Lay said the ministry also offers a chance for adults as well in that it allows them to witness to others outside of their usual confines.
   
“I’ve always felt that you have to go out of your area of where you’re comfortable,” he said. “You have to go outside your walls.”
   
Pointing out that fans come from across the United States, Lay said she believes she and others are planting seeds for harvest across the nation.
  
To volunteer for ARM, call Burt at 334-361-9881.