ON THE OUTSIDE, NO ONE WOULD EVER KNOW THESE WERE MINISTERS PREPARING TO SHARE A MESSAGE. AND ON THE INSIDE, YOU’D NEVER KNOW THIS WAS THE EAGER CONGREGATION.

Rev. Randy Foster / Bethpage United Methodist Church / Kannapolis, N.C.: “Just because the culture that we live in now, we feel like we have to bring the gospel to the culture, not to change the gospel but to bring it to where the people are.”

FOR THIS EVENING SERVICE, THE PEOPLE ARE AT LOWE’S MOTOR SPEEDWAY NEAR CHARLOTTE, N.C.

Woman praying: “We ask, O God, that you keep us mindful ...”

THE “FASTER PASTOR” RACE IS AN OUTREACH MINISTRY OF UNITED METHODIST MOTORSPORTS. IT PITS AREA PASTORS AGAINST ONE ANOTHER IN A DIFFERENT KIND OF PULPIT.

Rev. Buddy Compton / Pine Grove United Methodist Church / Albemarle, N.C.: “I get the opportunity to come to a racetrack and share the Word of God and not do it in a threatening way.”

Dr. Arnetta E. Beverly / Superintendent, NE District of Western North Carolina Annual Conference: “Everybody you see smiling is not happy, and all these people you see yelling here at the track, many have problems. I’m just glad we have this many clergypersons out to be available to them.”

AFTER A ROUND OF QUALIFYING AND SOUL-SEARCHING …

Rev. Jeff Maynard / Little River Baptist Church / Brevard, N.C.: “As Paul would say, it doesn’t matter if you don’t finish the race. So I guess I need to just finish the race.”

IT WAS TIME TO TAKE OFF THE ROBES AND GET DOWN TO BUSINESS.

Rev. Buddy Compton: “Ready to rock and roll!”

Rev. Buddy Compton: “People are not flocking in to the pews, so we’ve got to go where they are. We’re reaching people that, I mean it’s just a blessing. And we receive a blessing.”