ABOUT THE KIDS CORNER RACE CAR
In conjunction with Brookside Motorsports, the Back to God Hour sponsors the Kids Corner #0 race car in the Champion Racing Association (CRA). This stock car racing team ministers to children, families, and other racing teams throughout the American Midwest. The team promotes and distributes children's devotional materials, leads chapel services in the association, and anchors a family tent ministry on race days.
Check out the Kid's Corner Race Car at the next race event. Click here for the schedule.
Kids Corner Race Car Rides Again In 2008
Brookside Motor Sports and The Back to God Hour, the media ministry of the Christian Reformed Church, Re-Sign for 2008 Racing Season
[Palos Heights, IL] The Back To God Hour (BTGH) recently signed a one year extension with Brookside Motorsports to have the weekly children's program Kids Corner sponsor the #0 race car in the Champion Racing Association (CRA) series, which travels through the Midwest. The car is driven by 18-year-old Sean Matthuis who is entering his 4th year of track racing.
Brookside founders, Shawn and Donna Matthuis (parents of driver Sean), are passionate about using racing as a ministry outreach. As the racing has advanced from local tracks to regional races on the CRA racing circuit, so also the ministry opportunities have grown. Parents and children at the races are attracted to the colorful Kids Corner lizard characters on the car, and the Brookside team distributes "ministry bags" with Kids Corner shirts, CDs, flying disks, and also a TODAY devotional for the parents.
"There are many in the racing community who may never enter a church or hear the Gospel, so sowing the seed of the Gospel in their lives is a high priority for the Brookside team," says Doug Hastings, a volunteer for Brookside and interim Chaplain for the CRA circuit.
"What started out as a marketing strategy has turned into a full-blown ministry," shares Steven Koster, BTGH English Ministry Leader. "This is truly a win-win partnership. Kids Corner has helped Brookside connect with children at the race track, and Brookside has helped Kids Corner get out in the marketplace, allowing for true street level ministry."
In 2008, Brookside's opportunities will be expanding even more as they will host a family tent at most CRA races. One of Brookside's sponsors in 2007 (Al Longtin's AB Resources) will be adding his car to the team this season, which will be sponsored by WMBI, Chicago's largest Christian radio station.
"This coming year is filled with high expectations," Koster adds. "Sean is climbing the standings higher each year, more volunteers and prayer teams are getting behind the efforts, and God is opening new and exciting doors to plant the seed of the Gospel into lives of kids and parents."
