General News
1 September, 2024
In Good Faith
Last weekend, Rainbow enjoyed the Rainbow Rises car races.
Car racing had an interesting beginning in the early half of the 20th century in southern USA, and was initially associated with the transportation of illegal alcohol.
To avoid being caught by the authorities, some “bootleggers” took to transporting their “moonshine” in their “souped-up”, high powered cars.
This was not an easy task, with steep, curvy roads and the constant risk of being caught by the revenue authorities.
This was the beginning of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing - commonly known as NASCAR - and is now a popular sport with fans from all over the world.
Brazilian driver Alex Ribeiro - a devoted Christian - started his racing career with a vehicle that he built at home himself in 1967.
In 1972, after winning the Brazilian Karting Championship for two consecutive years, he entered the Brazilian Formula Ford championship sponsored by the country’s largest manufacturer of cigarettes.
The decision to join the team was a dilemma, as Alex knew there were Christians who opposed smoking.
Eventually he accepted an offer to join the Hollywood Ford racing team, and subsequently won his first race, driving a Porsche 910 sports car, and was runner-up in the 1972 Formula Ford Championship.
His fame grew as the driver prominently displayed on his car the message “Christo Salva” - Spanish for “Christ Saves”.
In 1977 he achieved his dream of qualifying for Formula One.
He achieved 8th place in both the German and Canadian Grand Prix, although he failed to qualify for the remainder of the season, meaning he was unable to drive in F1 the following year.
His determination to continue racing led him to form his own Christian racing team, based in England, which became known as “Jesus Saves - Racing”, and continues to this very day.
Towards the late 70s, Alex’s racing career declined, and he went on to drive the medical car and perform chaplaincy duties at race meetings.
The story of Alex Ribeiro demonstrates how Christian mission can emerge and operate from within even the most unlikely of environments.
Being able to prominently display the message on his F1 racing car provided the opportunity to deliver the most wonderful news in the world, in ways nobody could ever have imagined.
As we read our bibles, we find sports are often mentioned and used as examples of how we should live our lives for Christ.
The apostle Paul said in his letter to the church at Corinth, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.
“Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we are imperishable.
“So, I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”
This is how we too need to be living our lives for Christ.