MERCER

Bible school idea takes off

Each summer churches present their traditional week-long vacation Bible schools with puppets and cardboard with painted scenery propped against church walls.

Next week, however, engines will be revving and crowds will be cheering for area children and adults during Bible school.

Mercer Raceway Park, Findley Township, is the location for the vacation Bible school program Road Rally 2000. It runs from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday for ages 3 to adult.

The Rev. Bill Beck, pastor of Barnstone Ministries, New Bedford, looked in January for a Bible program to hold and when he found the racing curriculum, he know it was a match.

And he knew exactly how it was going to run -- because the Rev. Beck, a welder and racing enthusiast, spends Saturday nights as part of the pit crew at the racetrack.

His first step was to contact Vicki Emig, owner of Mercer Raceway Park, and ask if she would permit Beck to use the facilities for his church course.

She jumped at the chance to host the program since the raceway offers many family-oriented activities during the season.

"We were the first speedway in the region to offer family passes," she said. The track is used every Saturday night April through September, but, according to Emig, most of the time the grounds are empty. "We welcome people to utilize the facilities."

She announced this inaugural Bible school at the February racing banquet and included the information in the 2000 racing schedule.

The next step came as a shock to Rev. Beck. Dawn McCann, member of Mercer United Methodist Church, chose to do the same racing program. When she heard that Rev. Beck booked the racetrack for his church, she asked if her church could join.

According to Rev. Beck, after Mercer Methodist, came Trinity and Bethany Presbyterian, the Nazarenes, the Catholics, the Living Words and more.

"One by one they joined," he said. "I am so excited! We have churches from Greenville, New Wilmington, Hermitage, Grove City, New Bedford, Mercer and the list keeps growing."

"What an opportunity to tell kids the gospel and to show them that it does not matter whose church you belong to, it crosses all denominations and everyone is invited," he said. The program was promoted only within Rev. Beck’s church and each Saturday night at the raceway. Word-of-mouth did the rest.

Not only has word of this program spread through out Mercer and Lawrence counties but also the world. One of the children of Chernobyl staying in the area for a few weeks this summer from Russia will attend.

"Although the churches and the raceway have been accepting applications, we really have no idea how many people we are going to have show up on Monday night," Rev. Beck said. "It could be 50 or 150."

Although most of the volunteers are from the participating churches, Rev. Beck has not searched for volunteers; people just keep asking what they can do to help

People are traveling from Franklin and Ellwood City to help with the vacation Bible school. Dean Dairy Products Co., South Pymatuning Township, is providing the drinks for snack time.

He adds that even Standard Publishing Co., which owns the Road Rally 2000 curriculum, donated items such as hats and flags when they learned of the wide-spread appeal of the event.

"We could not have done this without the use of Mercer Raceway Park. It is a great location with the parking, grandstands and concession area," Rev. Beck said.

Although evening activities will include some of the Bible school traditions such as making crafts, music and face-painting, the highlight will be the sprint, modified and stock cars that will be on the grounds. Drivers will be showing off their cars, talking with the crowd and teaching.

Many of these drivers participate in a prayer time before the race, says Beck, and some even have a Bible study.

"Some of the participating churches are still having their own Bible school programs in addition to Road Rally 2000, Rev. Beck said. "Other churches are participating just in this program."

"This is what it (vacation Bible school) should be," the Rev. David M. Davis, pastor of Mercer United Methodist Church, said. "Exciting and moving. We should be out in the community where the people are."

The closing program for Road Race 2000 will be July 8 during intermission at the racetrack.

For more information, contact the Rev. Bill Beck at (724) 964-0777 or Mercer Raceway Park (724) 662-1310.