New Ministry at Goodguys Car Show

By Sharon Mager

DOVER, De. — Jim McBride Jr., director of Delaware Raceway Ministry, finished leading a successful but intense weekend at the end of April ministering at the annual NASCAR 400 race at Dover Downs. Then, less than a month later, he helped with a new ministry at the track for the Goodguys Rod & Custom Association show  — a classic/custom car extravaganza featuring over 20,000 cars, competitions, races and lots more. The show was at Dover for the first time on June 7-9. and thousands attended. God just opened the gate wide for ministry.

McBride shared how the opportunity came about. The National Fellowship of Raceway Ministries (NFRM) always wants a presence, with a church service, at the shows, as does Goodguys.

In March, Josh Thompson, event operations manager for Goodguys Rod & Custom Association, coordinating with the NFRM, called McBride and said, “We’re coming to Dover for the first time — Is that something you can help us with?”

McBride explained that Thompson hoped to offer a short worship service at the raceway and that they had the location ready. “They needed a worship team and a message.”

A church often steps in and does the service, McBride said, but it would be at 10 a.m Sunday. Plus, many pastors were preparing to leave for the Southern Baptist Convention in Indianapolis that weekend.

McBride agreed to help. “I wanted to get the right person, not just anyone,” he said. But those he reached out to couldn’t help that weekend.

So the right person was — McBride!

In addition to being the director of the Delaware Raceway Ministry, McBride serves full-time as the facilities manager at Skycroft Conference Center. He shared about the event with Jim Chamblee, a Skycroft maintenance technician and a musician. Chamblee quickly joined other musicians from a CREDO addictions recovery ministry to form a praise band for the service.

McBride asked Chamblee about the music set, and Chamblee gave him the songs.“Sometimes I hear a song I really identify with, and it ”hits’ me,” McBride said. That happened with one of the songs on the setlist, “In the Room,” performed by Matt Maher, who co-wrote the lyrics.

“It refers to the friends who lifted the paralytic through the roof and the woman who crawled to Jesus to touch his robe. It’s about wanting to be in the room, to witness the experience of Jesus — to be in the room where Jesus is working.” McBride used that theme for the devotional time.

There was a DJ on site with a sound system making announcements about the service, and there were signs pointing the way. “They (Raceway Ministry & Goodguys) go all out to make it a part of the event.”

Everyone was pleased with the turnout. “We were in the media center and didn’t have much room. We set up  24 chairs, and 30 people showed up,” said McBride.

So, the question is, will they do it again next year?

“Oh yeah!” McBride answers, already getting excited. “Next year, they’re moving us into the garage. It’s where the cars are parked and get worked on, and they have vendors and exhibits. It’s the hub of activity, where people are in and out.”

There’s even more. Part of the ministry is a “Kids’ Zone,” where boys and girls ride big wheels through a maze, a race using lug nuts from race cars, and they make model cars. Thompson told McBride they needed more volunteers to work with the kids. Could he help?

“Absolutely!” McBride told him. He’s raring to go!

If you’d like to help with this ministry or the annual Dover Down Speedway NASCAR Ministry, email Jim McBride, Jr.