The IRL Ministry   is dedicated to providing spiritual support and counseling to the Indy Racing League both on and off the track.  The IRL Ministry began when the Indy Racing League was founded in 1996.  With the exciting growth of the Indy Racing League there is even more need for the IRL Ministry.  With increased pressures and demands on drivers, teams, officials and their families the ministry is available to assist in many different ways.  IRL Ministry is here to provide support in times of crisis as well as encourage during the challenging times of racing.  Ministering to both the Indy Car Series, with as many as 30 teams, as well as the Indy Pro Series, which can have between 20 to 25 teams. With the additional safety teams, IRL officials, hospitality providers and support personnel the total reaches hundreds to minister to. Bob Hills is the full time chaplain to both the Indy Car Series and the Pro Series.  Bob has over 20 years of counseling experience as well as crisis intervention training and experience.  He has a great love for Jesus Christ and a love for racing.  We have been blessed with volunteers to assist us at the track with various ministry tasks.

To care about people, introduce them to Christ, help them grow in their relationship with Christ and equip them to introduce others to Christ.

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Our Purpose Statement

The Indy Racing League Ministry is a 501c3 not-for-profit, non-denominational Christian organization, which was developed to pastor the racing community. We will achieve this by attending racing venues, by being available for counsel and encouragement and by providing for the spiritual and emotional needs of this community. We will strive to be consistent in our approach and creative in our witness. Our overall objective is to see lives changed, spiritual relationships strengthened, and to bring honor and glory to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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Statement of Faith

WE BELIEVE:

The Bible is infallible and divinely inspired. That all people have sinned and are in need of forgiveness.

Jesus Christ was virgin born, sinless, died on the cross for our sins, was raised from the dead on the third day and is coming again.

Salvation is a free gift bestowed by God’s grace and received by faith.

A believer’s salvation is secured by Christ alone.

The Holy Spirit, which every believer receives at conversion, leads us and guides us.

Believers are to live in the power of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to glorify God.

The purpose of Christians is to fulfill the last command of Jesus; The Great Commission.

Jesus Christ will return to earth to fulfill the prophesy of the Bible and gather His believers.

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Our Board of Directors

Dr. Dirk (Chairman) & Denise Titus

Tony & Laura George

John & Jane Barnes

Sam, Jr. & Crystal Hornish

Tiffany Hemmer

Dr. Kevin  & Diana Scheid

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Chaplains

Chaplain Bob Hills is the full-time chaplain to the Indy Racing League. He came to the Indy Racing League Ministry with over 20 years of counseling experience. Being an ordained minister, he has a history of prior church ministry experience. Bob received a Master of Arts Degree in Counseling from Cincinnati Christian University and a Master of Science Degree in Psychology from California State University. He also has 10 years of sport psychology experience and is able to understand the psychology of this sport in a unique way. Born in Meadeville, Pennsylvania he grew up in a minister’s family. With a deep passion for the Lord and a love of racing, Bob feels this ministry is a great match for him. Bob provides ministry to both the Indy Car Series and Indy Pro Series within the Indy Racing League. Bob enjoys various sports from go kart racing, football, softball and golf to riding his motorcycle. He lives in Indianapolis. Bob’s desire is to see Christ lifted up in this ministry as many come to a personal relationship with Jesus. Reverend Philip DeRea is the Catholic Chaplain to the Indy Racing League. He was ordained as a Catholic priest in 1968 and is a member of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. Father Phil, as he is affectionately known, has traveled throughout the world, working with missionaries in more than 20 countries, involving himself in their efforts to mitigate misery and spread the gospel. Fr. Phil has also served as a hospital chaplain, and has worked in development and public relations for several Catholic organizations. Father Phil has served as a chaplain to racing for over 30 years and loves the racing community. Fred & Sue Jones serve as volunteer Track Assistants for the Indy Racing League Ministry. They are retired and live in Muncie, Indiana.

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On-Track Ministry

The role of the Indy Racing League Ministry at the racing venues is to provide for the spiritual and emotional needs of the race community. Chaplain Bob Hills is present at every IRL venue, as well as open tests. We offer assistance in times of crisis for the family members of drivers and crew members involved in traumatic circumstances. We are present at the infield care centers in the event of a on-track incident. We are there to provide counseling, visitation and overall support through the difficult times. Chaplain Bob Hills directs Critical Incident Stress Debriefing as needed at the tracks or at the team garages. IRL Ministry is also there to be a constant encouragement and support for the league in general, with such things as trackside barbecues and Christian Family days. We oversee the IRL Ministry Rescue Food Ministry, collecting non used foods from our hospitality area and getting it to the local shelters and missions to help the needy. We also collect soap & shampoo from our teams and officials that they bring from the hotels and those items go to the local shelters and missions. It is our desire to be a positive and uplifting force among the racing community. We also are there to provide for the spiritual needs of the racing community. On race days we hold Chapel times for Protestants and Catholics. We offer special music and even communion times as part of the Chapel services. Prayer is encouraged and offered in the driver meetings, team meetings and individual driver pre-race prayers. Many feel very strongly about the importance of prayer prior to the racing contests.

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Off-Track Ministry

During the season as well as the off season we try to visit all the teams at their race shops throughout the country. We desire to build stronger relationships with those teams as well as to encourage the establishment of Bible Studies. By visiting those teams we can better reach out to them and minister to them. We believe that through Bible Studies and Discipleship we can help promote spiritual growth for individuals, teams and the league in general. Other off-track ministry is involved with counseling for individuals and families. Bob Hills’ years of counseling experience helps in ministering to the teams and league. He also provides wedding and funeral services as requested or needed within the race community. With the element of danger in this sport many times drivers and team members may require hospital stays. We provide visitation and support for them during those difficult times.

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Goals of Chaplaincy

To provide for the religious needs of the Indy Racing League community.
Specifically to form relationships and to effectively
pastor this community.

To be Available

To see the lives of those who do not know Christ find Him in their
own time via the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

To be Consistent

To provide frequent opportunity for discipleship to facilitate
individual growth.

To be Educational

To provide a non-denominational Worship experience at
the track for all to attend.

To be Inspirational

To provide counsel and encouragement to
the "congregation" as needed.

To be Attentive

To provide support in times of crisis.

To Sustain

To provide pastoral services to this community both
on and off track.

To Care