My wife Jennifer accepted the call to ministry to move and become children's pastor at a church in Kansas. One of the first things I asked when I got to the church was “What would you most want out of my time here?” The youth pastor Philip spoke up and said among other things that “in Galena Kansas lives the District Director of Kansas and has never lost a Ranger Derby Race in 10 years. I knew that we could be competitive with the ten-time champ but I did not make any promises.
So after about a month, the Ranger Derby building started, The Royal Rangers made Dragsters, speeders, racers and other high performance racing machines (Ranger Derby Cars). Pastor Philip wanted to make a Starship Enterprise from the movie Startrek. I told Pastor Philip that that car looked cool and it could also win, if we ran it backwards. Pastor Philip and the Royal Rangers began building their cars getting to the primer step, when Pastor Philip had get a tonsillectomy surgery.
During Pastor Phillips surgery something happened and he died leaving his unfinished Ranger Derby car. The Royal Rangers and the youth group were stunned, and wondered how we could show honor to Pastor Philip. We all decided to finish Pastor Philips car and race it in honor of him. The Royal Rangers worked hard on Pastor Philips car, also running 2 test races against the reigning ten-time champ, almost winning with our regular cars. But we had one trick up our sleeve. For the state race we had finished Pastor Philips car with fresh paint job pained by the Rangers. We also ordered new wheels and lube from Maximum Velocity.
Race day was here! Our entire fleet of cars passed inspection with flying colors, even Pastor Philips with a split nose that went around the start pin. So the race was on, we had two Rangers that got third and fourth in the state, and all that was left was the leaders class with Pastor Philip car. As expected with a split nose the race officials allowed us to put tape across the nose so the car would stay behind the pin on the start gate. The first race we lost by an inch but the next three we won by an inch or more! We knew all of the times would be close, but would Pastor Philips car win? The District Director explained what had happened to Pastor Philip, and that we finished and raced the car for him. And then said First Place winning by 3 Thousandths of a second, Pastor Philip!!!!That Sunday and I Presented the car and medal to Pastor Philip's Mom and Dad. Mostly everyone was at least little misty eyed. The Royal Rangers group wanted in our way to give just a little honor for Pastor Philip to remember what a good man he was.
So after about a month, the Ranger Derby building started, The Royal Rangers made Dragsters, speeders, racers and other high performance racing machines (Ranger Derby Cars). Pastor Philip wanted to make a Starship Enterprise from the movie Startrek. I told Pastor Philip that that car looked cool and it could also win, if we ran it backwards. Pastor Philip and the Royal Rangers began building their cars getting to the primer step, when Pastor Philip had get a tonsillectomy surgery.
During Pastor Phillips surgery something happened and he died leaving his unfinished Ranger Derby car. The Royal Rangers and the youth group were stunned, and wondered how we could show honor to Pastor Philip. We all decided to finish Pastor Philips car and race it in honor of him. The Royal Rangers worked hard on Pastor Philips car, also running 2 test races against the reigning ten-time champ, almost winning with our regular cars. But we had one trick up our sleeve. For the state race we had finished Pastor Philips car with fresh paint job pained by the Rangers. We also ordered new wheels and lube from Maximum Velocity.
Race day was here! Our entire fleet of cars passed inspection with flying colors, even Pastor Philips with a split nose that went around the start pin. So the race was on, we had two Rangers that got third and fourth in the state, and all that was left was the leaders class with Pastor Philip car. As expected with a split nose the race officials allowed us to put tape across the nose so the car would stay behind the pin on the start gate. The first race we lost by an inch but the next three we won by an inch or more! We knew all of the times would be close, but would Pastor Philips car win? The District Director explained what had happened to Pastor Philip, and that we finished and raced the car for him. And then said First Place winning by 3 Thousandths of a second, Pastor Philip!!!!That Sunday and I Presented the car and medal to Pastor Philip's Mom and Dad. Mostly everyone was at least little misty eyed. The Royal Rangers group wanted in our way to give just a little honor for Pastor Philip to remember what a good man he was.
