There are three things I love in this world: Bridgett, the Church, and NASCAR.  This post has to do with the last two.

I’ve watched NASCAR since the late 1980′s.  My dad turned on the first race when I was a wee lad eating Sunday dinner, and I’ve been a fan ever since.  My all-time favorite driver: Dale Earnhardt.  I remember the first time I watched him win a race.  He was leading by 16 seconds, and crossed the finish line with his engine sputtering.  He had run out of gas.  There wasn’t even enough to get him to Winner’s Circle.  And I’ll never forget his last win at Talledega in 2000.

Over the past 10 years, I’ve noticed a lot of similarities between NASCAR and the Church; mainly in that years that I’ve kept up with NASCAR news I’ve noticed some similarities among the current states of both NASCAR and the Church.  Overall, both are suffering, and both need extreme help.  And both, can be saved though hard work.

3 Things Church Leaders Can Learn From the Current State of NASCAR

1. People want to relate

   NASCAR’s been around for quite some time.  Officially organized in 1948, the sport slowly grew until television in the 1970′s blossomed it’s popularity.  NASCAR experienced it’s peak for about five years from 1998 to 2003.  The sanctioning body seemed to be unstoppable.  Fans popped up everywhere even to the point where exhibition races where held in Japan.  Cool, huh?

   Not cool enough.  About that same time fans began noticing that NASCAR was changing.  Sponsors were flocking to fund teams and promoting cookie-cutter drivers that was a good face for their branding image.  Drivers were no longer “in it to win it” instead striving to make racing a career.

   This is a problem.  NASCAR fans don’t cheer for a brand.  They don’t cheer for a team owner.  They may not even cheer for the teammates of their favorite driver.  They cheer for a specific driver.  THEIR driver.  And THEIR driver is to be the best.  But how does one cheer a driver that acts and drives like every other driver?  How does one cheer a driver when the sponsors are contractually forcing drivers to promote their products?  How does one cheer a driver when the team owner gets more publicity than the team itself?

   It’s the same with churches.  People need to relate to something to be a part of a church.  They need to belong.  To call their church THEIR church.  The pastor needs to be an approachable, fallible person; just like them.  Exclusive groups need to be non-existent.  In simple words: Make church personal.

2. Gimmicks don’t work

   Five words: Chase for the Sprint Cup.  NASCAR’s version of the postseason playoffs.  In other words, a gimmick.

   NASCAR formed “The Chase” in 2004 after Matt Kenseth won the championship in 2003.  Kenseth only won 1 race that year, but still won the championship through finishing races with consistency.  A few (and I mean a few) people were angry at this so NASCAR instituted the Chase to manufacture excitement at the end of their seasons.  Therein lies a problem: NASCAR proved that it was in business to control everything in the sport; even racing.  Therein lies another problem: NO ONE CAN CONTROL RACING.

   The same with churches.  Many churches believe that they can control the number of people attending each week with gimmicks like giving away things for free, special services, and outlining every aspect of their services without flexibility.  Therein lies a problem: controlling everything creates spiritually empty people and keeps the Spirit of God from working.  Therein lies another problem: NO ONE CAN CONTROL GOD.

3. Build trust through open, honest communication

   NASCAR is secretive.  No illustration is better than the Jeremy Mayfield vs NASCAR in 2009.  NASCAR claimed that Mayfield tested positive for illegal substances violating the sport’s substance abuse policy.  Mayfield disagreed, thus a lawsuit.  No problem right?  Wrong.  When questioned about what substances were listed as prohibited by the policy, NASCAR wouldn’t give over their list until pressured to do so.  NASCAR has done this time and time again when changing car specifications without warning or explanation.  They also have a rule that every violation can be filed under that states, “Section 12-4-A: Actions Detrimental to Stock Car Racing.“  What does this mean?  No one knows.

   In more simple words: people don’t like secrets.  They like open communication.  Sure, NASCAR can’t share everything, but what’s the harm in sharing certain information?  NASCAR isn’t transparent, and it seems like their hiding something.

   This is a huge lesson to be learned for churches.  Be open and honest with the people who attend, and with the community.  Be transparent with them, and it’ll show that nothing being hidden.  This will prove trustworthiness.

I really hopes this helps.  These are just a few things that I’ve noticed about NASCAR and what the church can learn from this sport.  There are more, but these seem to be a good start.