By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer
ORLANDO, Fla. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptists placed first in multiple national Royal Ambassador Pinewood Derby races, held June 8-9 prior to the Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting.
Winning their respective races were Campbell Hodge, a fourth grader from Temple Baptist Church in Ruston, RA division; Louisiana Baptist Women’s Missions and Ministry Strategist Christine Gill, state Baptist WMU director division; and Rob Richardson, an RA leader from First Baptist Church, Lafayette, RA leader division.
Hodge, whose win was the third year in a row for a Louisiana Baptist RA, expressed excitement about the three-peat.
“It felt great to win the national race,” Hodge told the Baptist Message. “I was happy to represent my church, Temple Baptist, and the state of Louisiana. I’m thankful for our RA program for teaching me more about Jesus and how it gives me extra time to spend with my dad (Sam).”
Gill, who won her race for the second year in a row, said she was grateful to have defended her title.
“Winning the RA Derby car race for the second year in a row was a lot of fun, but what made it most meaningful was the attention it brought to Royal Ambassadors and the mission of developing boys into godly men who follow Christ,” she said. “Racing alongside fellow WMU state leaders made for great fellowship and friendly competition. I am grateful to the WMU Foundation for sponsoring the race and helping create an opportunity to highlight the importance of RAs and their impact on the next generation.”
Richardson, who has served as an RA leader at FBC Lafayette for five years, said the race brought back memories of when he raced in the Pinewood Derby as an RA at the same church.
“I love the ministry,” he said. “I am happy to be a part of a program that wants to help point boys towards Christ to grow into strong Christian men.”
RA Consultant Keith Gates, also a member of First Baptist Church, Winnfield, coordinated the event and Goldonna Baptist Church’s RA ministry provided the track.
“We are so proud of the boys who raced in the National Championship and also for Christine,” Gates said. “Congratulations to Campbell and the entire Louisiana team on a great race and, more importantly, on displaying those RA virtues that have been taught to millions of men over the century as they came Ambassadors for Christ.”
