No, we haven’t had a student arrive on campus in an actual racecar– yet. But Denver Seminary’s sponsorship of a NASCAR racecar has captured the attention of many prospective, and present students, not to mention alumni, donors and many others.

What’s a seminary doing at NASCAR? Donors of Denver Seminary have provided the opportunity for the Seminary to team up with the #00 Scott Gaylord NASCAR Racing Team. I serve as chaplain to that team, which races in the Winston West Circuit. Beyond what some may think, the job does not entail keeping the guys in line and out of jail. In fact, of all the professional sports, NASCAR is actually a very conservative, growing, and family-oriented sport, and a great ministry outlet.

This sponsorship says a lot about the strategic thinking of Denver Seminary. Being in the right place at the right time in today’s fast-paced world means moving beyond the traditional forms of ministry and creating ministries that meet people where they are. We find many students are coming to Denver Seminary with the goal of turning their avocations into their vocations. We’re training people for marketplace ministry — graduating students that are serving all over the country, in all kinds of situations, not just the traditional pastorate or chaplaincy. We have students serving in malls, ski resorts, airports, camps, racetracks, soccer fields, prisons, hospice and sideby- side with fire and police departments.

Being a chaplain to a NASCAR team demonstrates what I always tell students: If you can envision a Ministry venue, you can accomplish it. As a chaplain, you learn that you must take ministry to where people are — not expect them to come to you, hence the idea of ministry in the marketplace. As ministry venues are transformed, so are lives. That means a ministry of presence with people– a ministry of relationships. People need to see you “walk the walk” before they will “trust your talk.”

My presence at the racetrack as a chaplain means being there for the crises in people’s lives as well as for the good times. In the good times I get to celebrate with the crews: marriages, births, good races, graduations, new sponsorships and better cars…what a treat to celebrate my own driver’s season award from his peers as “The Most Popular Driver” in the Winston West Series and a top-ten finish in points (actually 8th overall) for the 2002 season. At the last race I was able to do pre-marital counseling with a couple whose wedding I will perform. That opportunity then led naturally to a conversation with some crewmembers about marriage, and God’s role and plan for people.

Although our team and NASCAR circuit has been relatively injury free, there are times when we all hold our breaths. The most recent was at the Roseburg, Oregon track in September of last year. Scott qualified first and managed to lead the first 115 laps of the 200-lap event. Unfortunately trouble occurred on the 115th lap, causing him to lose control of the car, and damage 2 vehicles. Fortunately Scott and the other driver were okay, and their cars were ready for the next race, but it doesn’t always end so happily. Then too there are the more “routine” crises of life: health issues, job losses, financial struggles, family issues and burn-out. What an honor and a privilege to walk with people through these everyday challenges to faith.

But just because we are moving beyond the boundaries of what was once considered traditional, we have not forgotten that being there for the crises means that we need to be well grounded in what they believe. In fact, it is imperative that we understand that God is the ultimate source of all truth; God reveals his divine purpose in Scripture. When taking ministry into a pluralistic marketplace of believers and non-believers alike, students must be well-grounded and able to function in a variety of contexts. There is no division between scholarship and praxis. We are committed to training students who are relational, can walk the talk, and remember that they are ambassadors for the kingdom wherever they go.

After spending 22 years as an activeduty chaplain in the Air Force, I never thought I’d find anything that I loved more. I’ve now spent two years as the chaplain for the Scott Gaylord Racing Team, and four years at Denver Seminary, creating a chaplaincy program and improving a counseling program, that trains students to minister creatively and effectively in today’s world. It just keeps getting better. May we all finish the race well!

Reprinted, with permission, from, Vol. 22, Spring 2003, p. 7-8, of Denver Seminary’s Focal Point magazine