Ricky Clowdus considers anyone from birth to 100 a child and is happy to give the small wooden cars he helps create to anyone in that demographic.
Clowdus, a member of North Highlands Baptist Church, Hueytown, estimates he has had a hand in crafting some 1,500 since April.
“Hueytown’s a big racing community, so I decided to make race cars,” Clowdus said, noting the cars tend to find the most favor with young children.
“Kids love them and they can paint them the color of cars represented by favorite drivers,” he said.
The cars also represent an opportunity for ministry.
Giving them away at the Talladega Superspeedway, area churches’ Vacation Bible Schools, hospitals and other venues might be enough to show God’s love on its own, but Clowdus takes care to include information about the plan of salvation in the small sandwich bags containing the cars.
“He does something that no one else is doing through creating the cars” and using his passion in a unique way for evangelism, said Doug O’Brien, pastor of North Highlands Baptist.
Every Tuesday from 1 p.m. until 8 p.m., Clowdus, his wife and a half-dozen volunteers from the Bessemer Baptist Association church gather to make 100 cars in a small house adjacent to the church’s former location just off Hueytown Road.
A sign out front reads, “Running for the Cross. We’re Helping Children to Find Jesus Christ.”
Making the 6-inch cars begins with drawing either a race car, truck or street rod car on the wood and cutting it with a band saw.
The cars are then placed on a drill press to make holes for the wheels before they are sent to a sanding machine to eliminate rough edges. Axles and wheels are tacked on next. The cars are finalized with a “Running for the Cross” stamp on the bottom providing contact information for the ministry.
Clowdus pays for the wood and equipment but said his fellow church members have been instrumental in helping with the Running for the Cross ministry — not only volunteering their time but also being there for him in tough times.
Since December 2003, Clowdus — who retired from U.S. Steel near Bessemer — has battled leukemia, which is now in remission.
“I never really knew that I could have Christian brothers and sisters like I have down there,” he said.
In fact, Clowdus said it was his struggles with leukemia that led to the creation of his ministry — something North Highlands has been eager to support because of the positive image and outreach it provides.
“It has sparked a lot of interest in our church,” said North Highlands member John Odom, who also helps make the cars. “Our church has always been missions-oriented, and this has touched a lot of people.”
And if the number of cars distributed during the April races at the Talladega Superspeedway are any indication, then Clowdus’ team will need to increase production.
Clowdus said more than 300 cars were distributed in connection with Alabama Raceway Ministries in April and he plans to take more than 400 for the next race weekend in October.
“It’s a thrill to be able to give a car to a child,” volunteer Clarence Sims said. “It also gives them an opportunity to hear the word of God through Running for the Cross.”
Although the cars distributed randomly are not painted, Clowdus occasionally custom designs some for new babies, anniversaries, graduations and Alabama and Auburn fans.
Young children may be his target audience, but he is eager to share the cars with anyone who requests them.
“All God’s children are different ages, and I’ve had many adults that want these cars,” he said.
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