PIT Crews

     Anyone who knows me knows I am not a high adventure gal, unless the job calls for it.  Early in my television career, I remember that I had to do a story about a motorized ultralight plane and couldn’t get out of the reporter involvement piece of it!  I don’t like heights, especially when my feet are dangling from above.  About the middle of my career, I was sent off to the Skip Barber Racing School in Bridgehampton, Long Island as a part of a thirty minute special on the local street race in San Antonio.  If I were ever forced to choose a high adventure sport to regularly participate in, I guess automobile racing would be it.  At least it’s on the ground!  I spent three days learning how to drive a Formula Ford race car and on the last day of the three day class, it rained!  That created treacherous race conditions and I was thankful I had to leave early to catch my plane home because some of the students told me later that they were spinning out left and right on the slick track. 

     My racing career was short lived but I still enjoyed the sport and all that surrounded it.  For many years, we were regulars at the Indianapolis 500 with seats on the first turn, and during that time, I learned to appreciate the Pit Crews.  When a driver has car troubles or needs some maintenance, the Pit Crew’s job is to get the driver and car back into the race as soon as possible.  They might have to gas up the car, change its tires, whatever is needed at the time, and every second counts!  The pit stop can make or break the race results for the driver!

     Recently, I discovered a different kind of Pit Crew that I appreciate just as much, developed by actor Judge Reinhold and his wife, Amy.  It is called a “Personal Intercessory Team” or PIT Crew for short.  The PIT Crew is made up of three to twelve people. Its purpose is to “pray the purposes, promises and plans of God into, over and through the life of the person they serve.”  The PIT Crew member pleads your case to God on your behalf.

     I have found that the more involved I get in ministry, the more I need prayers to sustain me, so this idea is intriguing to me.  Like the racing PIT Crew, the Personal Intercessory Team keeps you on track through their prayer support and their prayers are essential for you to finish strong.  In 1 Timothy 4:7, the Apostle Paul compares his life to a race when he says, “I have fought the good fight; I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”  I imagine Paul had his own PIT Crew praying for him during his ministry because he underwent many trials and tribulations.

     Next week, my PIT Crew will meet for the first time. I have asked three prayer warriors to join me in praying regularly for each other and they are as excited about this as I am!  Through our prayers, we will help each other finish the race triumphantly and accomplish what God has created us for.  We will stand in the gap for each other when crisis presents itself.  Through our prayers, we will be conquerors in this world for Christ!  I challenge you to put together your own PIT Crew.  For information on this concept, you can go directly to an article explaining it at:  http://smalley.cc/a-surprising-way-to-a-stronger-marriage-what-do-you-want-your-spouse-to-change  Don’t let the title confuse you.  The PIT Crew is not about changing your spouse.  It is about making you stronger in your Christian journey.