I began my search in the early 1980's looking for a ministry the Lord would have me place my efforts toward. He had just released me from one ministry and I felt that He had something special in store for me. I asked the Lord to reveal to me a ministry that would provide an avenue for people of all ages to come to the point of meeting Him as Lord. I asked him to provide the resources to begin the ministry and lead me to the people that He wanted involved in that ministry. I also had been involved in a ministry that had been stressful, so I asked Him to allow the ministry to be enjoyable. The search led me to help in several on-going ministries at Crestmont Baptist Church, but I did not feel comfortable in them. I asked the Lord to let me see a glimpse of what He would have me involved in. This prayer continued several months until I woke up one morning and knew He had spoken to me and clearly laid out a ministry unlike anything I had seen before.
The vision the Lord laid upon my heart began like this. First He said for me to build a Pinewood Derby track that contained 7 lanes. He wanted the track built so it could be taken apart easily and transported anywhere in the state of Texas that we would be asked to go. Second He told me that the track needed to be constructed in a way to eliminate the problems I had seen with other tracks. Third He showed me that we needed to provide sound behind the racing and that ultimately the track would have electronics that would time the cars and to show the times to the crowds. He assured me that the people needed to do this would be provided.
I thought that once given the vision everything would fall into place. I did not take into consideration God's timing. The Lord had always provided the people needed in other ministries I had been involved in, so I never questioned whether or not they would be provided; however I did question several times as to when they would be provided. I began a search to find someone to help find plans and to help construct the track. This search took almost three years. I believe that Dwain Nixon told me he would help build the track just to get me to quit asking if he would. Dwain had never seen a Pinewood Derby track before so it was easier to explain problems to him I had seen on other tracks. Dwain found a plan through the Baptist building in Dallas, Texas, and because it was not plans for a seven lane track he made the changes necessary to make our track seven lanes.
Dwain thought we were building the track to use at Crestmont Baptist Church and we would race on it a couple of times a year. The Lord did not let me reveal to anyone the scope of the ministry He showed me. He kept telling me that the people would be provided. Crestmont helped with the initial cash needed, and the ministry was on its way. Dwain Nixon, Eddie Walker, Bradley Schwalk, my 5 year old son, and I began by praying over the pile of lumber in Eddie's cabinet shop. We asked the Lord to bless our efforts and to provide the avenue where people would be drawn to Him. The track was completed and was ready to race on in 1985.
The past twenty years have been good to Crestmont Raceways. We have seen 5 or 6 adults accept Jesus as Lord and have received reports of multiple accounts of children beginning and ending their search for Jesus because of our ministry.
The Lord provided help whenever the ministry's growth deemed it necessary. In the twenty plus years the Lord has been faithful in providing the help needed to do the ministry. Paul Stone, Mike Earheart, Mike Ellis,and Doyle Munday joined us. Doyle was the avenue that brought electronics to the track. James Mott, Tom Williams and Eddie Walker joined the team as the ministry progressed.
Larry Schwalk
Track Details
Track Length -- 36 feet
Length necessary to set up track -- 40 ft.
# Lanes -- 7
Electronic Timer on all lanes. Win, place, and show are indicated by lights on the timer with times shown on computer timed to ten thousads of a second.
