Episode 81: Daytona Download with Jesse Urban of Be Still Retreats

The HHAUSA Podcast

Anyone that knows me or follows me on social media is aware that I am a huge NASCAR fan. So when an opportunity came up to attend the season opening Daytona 500 in Florida, I jumped at the chance and headed south for a week of racing in The Sunshine State with my good friend Jesse Urban.
Jesse and his wife Lindsay reside here in Central Wisconsin and run Be Still Retreats, a pastors retreat founded to prevent clergy burnout. Having introduced Jesse to a friend in the NASCAR world back in 2016, he was the perfect travel companion for this ministry trip. That belief was confirmed early on in our adventure and affirmed countless times as the week progressed.
Aaron Scheer and some of his team from Centershot Ministries happened to be in Florida at the same time doing training for the Centershot Blue program designed to bring archery to the Law Enforcement world. Our meeting with their crew was just the beginning of a weekend of divine appointments, open doors and a sign of great things to come for all of us in the year ahead. Gathered in an airplane hanger on the grounds of the hallowed Kirchman Ranch east of Orlando, the foundation was laid for what should be our first out of state archery event in 2024 during Speed Week.
Having gained some great friends in the NASCAR garage over the past decade, our next stop would be 1801 W. International Boulevard in Daytona Beach, home of the World Center of Racing, Daytona International Speedway. It didn't take long and we were connecting with crew members, officials, and a handful of drivers from the top racing series in North America. On the biggest weekend of the season, these guys took the time out of their day to have meaningful conversations about life, hunting and most importantly how we could work together to help our Veterans and First Responders. As much as I love professional stock car racing, I walked away from my week in Daytona with an even greater appreciation for the heart of the people that make up the NASCAR community. It is a tight knit family whose purpose is much bigger than running cars around a track 10 months out of the year. Most of these men are passionate about serving others and are using their careers in racing as a means to spread that message.
We also had the opportunity to meet three of the pastors for Motor Racing Outreach (MRO) and can’t help but feel the Lord bringing us together again soon.
Such is the path that I have personally taken as a business owner, founder of a nonprofit and a born again Christian. I love racing, love archery and love our Military and First Responders. God sees that and has blessed me to do what I enjoy, impacting people along the way through connections in those three communities. When we live our lives with open hands and for agendas pointed towards others and not ourselves, He will orchestrate things that only He can and we get to be a part of that work. That happened every day in Daytona and I am excited to continue these partnerships into the future and change lives. Fast cars, bows and arrows, all for the red, white and blue. Boogity boogity boogity, let's go racin' boys!
You can connect with Be Still Retreats on Facebook and Instagram and visit their website at www.https://bestillretreats.org

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