John Bandimere Jr. and his family celebrated 60 years of speed in 2018 at Bandimere Speedway. John Jr. became the manager in 1975 and dedicated the speedway to “providing a place where young people could race off the streets.” Today, it’s a world-class drag strip in the beautiful Colorado foothills. When asked about his success, John said, “Bandimere Speedway has been successful and has endured many challenges over the past 60 years because we truly believe that God has given us a unique platform and opportunity to share the Good News of Salvation.” While the pandemic of 2020 was a tremendous financial hardship for the family, they reopened the track on Easter Sunday with a special worship service with more than 8,000 attendees and several hundred commitments to Christ.

1 Kings 18-19 – Renewed Calling

First Kings 18-19 shows Elijah’s ministry highs and lows. They are not so different from what the Bandimere family faced with their racetrack shut down during the 2020 pandemic. Elijah went from exposing the false prophets of Baal to being threatened by Jezebel, who wanted to kill him after he offered a simple prayer to show he served the one true God.

Elijah was forced to flee into the wilderness after experiencing a great victory. Trials and depression often follow great spiritual victories. Sometimes, the greater the victory, the greater the depression! It’s easy to become discouraged! God gave Elijah a fresh vision. He needed to depend upon the Lord. God didn’t leave His man to mope and die in a cave; He sent Elisha to be his disciple. God knows what we are made of and never treats us as our sins deserve (Psalm 103:8-14). Elijah found strength by seeing God’s power and glory, and so can we. By the end of the chapter, Elijah responds obediently to God’s call by anointing his successor, Elisha.

The Kingdom Coach and Athlete know times of discouragement can overwhelm them, so they lean on God’s help to battle fear and depression when faced with oppression.

Bible Memory Verse – “And Yahweh said to him (Elijah), “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus, and you will arrive and anoint Hazael king over Aram; and Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint king over Israel; and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place.” 1 Kings 19:15-16 (LSB)