Race Track Chaplaincy of Maryland

10/08/2026

The Laurel Multi-Service Center, administering state grant HB337, provided 150 boxes of fresh fruit, vegetables, and eggs for families living off-track. With the high cost of living, this was a welcome blessing from Marchelle LeBlanc, director of the Laurel Multi-Center.

This is what the chaplaincy is all about: reaching every soul, those who live on the premises and the families that live off-track. It is wonderful to see support reaching struggling families who have children. I am blown away by the goodness of God!

In Pastor Jared and Pastor Sean's words: LOOK AT GOD!

10/08/2026

Laurel Park Service Tonight

Thank you to Tony and Veronica for cooking for us tonight.

It was wonderful to have Carlos and Jackie back from vacation tonight, and even better to see baby Carlos Jr. with them again. We missed them!

Carlos shared from 1 Peter 1:15–16:

> “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’”

The message was simple but powerful: God’s Word should transform our hearts and shape the way we live. Holiness is not a religious appearance; it is allowing God’s Word to take root in us and produce a life that is pleasing and acceptable to Him.

Carlos’s message echoed the challenge our Chaplaincy President, Hugh McMahon, often gives:

We cannot be defensive when it comes to the Gospel—we need to be offensive.

Not by attacking people, arguing, or forcing our beliefs, but by taking the Gospel to them, making every effort to save every soul

Jesus told His disciples in Mark 16:15:

> “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”

Laurel Park is a mission field filled with people who are hurting, lonely, discouraged, or struggling with addiction, relationships, finances, fear, and uncertainty.

Our primary goal should be to reach the lost on our track—not merely to hold services or preach sermons, but to see lives changed by Jesus Christ.

Jesus also reminds us in Matthew 28:18–20 that all authority in heaven and on earth belongs to Him, and He commands us to go and make disciples.

We do not go in our own strength. We go with His authority, His Word, and His love, trusting that He is still changing lives today.

If God’s Word is not producing change in us, we are missing the point. Jesus changes us from the inside out, so:

Let’s live the Gospel.
Let’s share it.
Let’s take it to the people who need it.

There is a mission field right here at Laurel Park, and people need to know that Jesus loves them, has not forgotten them, and can change their lives.

Let’s go.

10/01/2026

What an encouraging word we received tonight from Bert and Sandy from Severn Run!

Bert preached, and Sandy interpreted in tandem, and together they brought a powerful message from God’s Word.

Bert shared from Exodus 3, where Moses encounters God at the burning bush.

Moses begins making excuses:

“Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”
— Exodus 3:11

Moses was focused on who he was—his past, his weaknesses, his limitations, and why he believed he wasn’t qualified.

But God redirected Moses’ attention.

God told him:

“I AM WHO I AM.”
— Exodus 3:14

God wasn’t asking Moses to accomplish this in his own strength. The answer wasn’t found in who Moses was, but in who God is.

And that speaks directly to us today.

How often do we define ourselves by our job, our position, our successes, our failures, or even by what our parents or other people have told us—good or bad?

But those things don’t determine our ultimate identity.

Our identity is found in Christ.

Paul tells us:

“You died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.”
— Colossians 3:3

And:

“If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
— 2 Corinthians 5:17

Jesus repeatedly used the words “I AM” throughout the Gospel of John:

“I am the bread of life.” — John 6:35
“I am the light of the world.” — John 8:12
“I am the gate.” — John 10:9
“I am the good shepherd.” — John 10:11
“I am the resurrection and the life.” — John 11:25
“I am the way and the truth and the life.” — John 14:6
“I am the true vine.” — John 15:1

And Jesus made an extraordinary statement:

“Before Abraham was born, I am!”
— John 8:58

Jesus wasn’t merely saying, “I existed before Abraham.” He was identifying Himself with the divine “I AM” revealed to Moses.

So maybe the question we need to ask isn’t simply:

“Who am I?”

Maybe we need to start with:

“Who is Jesus?”

Because when we know who He is, we can begin to understand who we are in Him.

The world may tell you who you are.
Your past may tell you who you are.
Your failures may tell you who you are.
Your job may tell you who you are.
Even people close to you may have spoken words over your life that you’ve carried for years.

But your identity doesn’t have to be determined by any of those things.

It is found in Jesus Christ.

Moses asked, “Who am I?”

God answered with “I AM.”

And the same I AM who met Moses at the burning bush is the Jesus Christ we worship today.

He hasn’t changed.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
— Hebrews 13:8

That is the hope we have tonight at Laurel Park:

It’s not about what I can do.
It’s about what He can do through me.

It’s not ultimately about who I am.
It’s about who He is.

I AM. ❤️🙏

09/23/2026

Laurel Park service tonight:

The Blood of the Lamb and the Word of Our Testimony

Revelation 12:11:
“They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.”

Think about what Jesus did for us.

He took the hardest part.

He was flogged. He was beaten beyond human recognition. He wore a crown of thorns. He was nailed to a cross—not because of His sin, but because of mine.

He took the punishment that I deserved.

And then He conquered the grave.

He defeated sin. He defeated death. He defeated the devil. He paid the price for a sinner like me.

Jesus did the impossible.

And what did He leave for us?

“The word of our testimony.”

How hard is that?

To say, “Thank You, Lord.”

To praise His name.

To worship Him.

To tell somebody what Jesus has done in our lives.

And our testimony isn’t just about telling people what God has done for us. It is also about sharing the love and goodness of God with our words.

Somebody around us may be hurting. Somebody may feel forgotten. Somebody may have lost hope.

And sometimes, a simple word can become the testimony God uses to reach them:

“God loves you.”

“God hasn’t forgotten you.”

“There is still hope.”

“Jesus can change your life.”

We don’t have to have all the answers. We don’t have to preach a sermon every time.

Sometimes our testimony is simply sharing the goodness of God with someone who desperately needs to hear it.

The cross was not easy. The resurrection was not easy. The price Jesus paid for our salvation was beyond anything we could ever pay ourselves.

But He paid it.

So our part is not to earn what He already purchased.

Our part is to believe it, live it, proclaim it, and testify about it.

When you tell someone what Jesus has done for you, you are giving the world your testimony.

When you praise Him in the middle of a difficult situation, you are declaring that your circumstances are not greater than your God.

When you worship Him, you are saying, “Jesus, You are worthy.”

And when you share His love and goodness with someone else, you are letting your testimony become a light in their darkness.

So let me ask you:

What is your testimony?

What has Jesus brought you through?

What has He forgiven?

What has He changed?

What has He restored?

Don’t keep it to yourself.

Jesus shed His blood for your salvation. Now let the words of your testimony tell somebody else about the Savior who did it.

The blood of the Lamb has already been shed.

Now open your mouth and testify.

Share His love.

Share His goodness.

Tell somebody about Jesus.

Say:

“Thank You, Jesus.”

“Praise You, Jesus.”

“You are worthy, Lord.”

Because after everything He has done for us, our testimony is not a burden—it is a privilege.

09/19/2026

Today was RTCA Prayer Walk Day, and what an honor it is to work alongside such an amazing organization.

In honor of Salty Roberts, racetracks across the country come together to carry the mantle of prayer for everyone who lives and works on a racetrack.

Here in Maryland, we gladly accept the privilege and honor of joining tracks across the country in lifting up our racing communities in prayer.

We pray for the horsemen and women, trainers, jockeys, backside workers, families, racetrack employees, and everyone who makes this industry what it is.

Salty left a legacy of faith, compassion, and prayer—and today, we continue that legacy by standing in the gap for those who call the racetrack home.

What a privilege it is to be part of something bigger than ourselves. 🙏❤️

09/17/2026

Laurel Park service tonight:

God Can Do It Today
Numbers 17
Scripture:

The Budding of Aaron’s Staff
17 [a]The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the Israelites and get twelve staffs from them, one from the leader of each of their ancestral tribes.Write the name of each man on his staff. 3 On the staff of Levi write Aaron’s name, for there must be one staff for the head of each ancestral tribe. 4 Place them in the tent of meeting in front of the ark of the covenant law, where I meet with you. 5 The staff belonging to the man I choosewill sprout, and I will rid myself of this constant grumbling against you by the Israelites.”
6 So Moses spoke to the Israelites, and their leaders gave him twelve staffs, one for the leader of each of their ancestral tribes, and Aaron’s staff was among them. 7 Moses placed the staffs before the Lord in the tent of the covenant law.
8 The next day Moses entered the tent and saw that Aaron’s staff, which represented the tribe of Levi, had not only sprouted but had budded, blossomed and produced almonds. 9 Then Moses brought out all the staffs from the Lord’s presence to all the Israelites. They looked at them, and each of the leaders took his own staff.
10 The Lord said to Moses, “Put back Aaron’s staff in front of the ark of the covenant law, to be kept as a sign to the rebellious. This will put an end to their grumbling against me, so that they will not die.” 11 Moses did just as the Lordcommanded him.
12 The Israelites said to Moses, “We will die! We are lost, we are all lost! 13 Anyone who even comes near the tabernacle of the Lord will die.Are we all going to die?”

“The next day Moses entered the tent and saw that Aaron’s staff, which represented the tribe of Levi, had not only sprouted but had budded, blossomed and produced almonds.” — Numbers 17:8

The Huddle

Every single day on the track, we deal with things that are completely out of our control.

We watch horses that look completely washed up out-sprint the field. We watch riders come back from devastating injuries when everyone said their career was finished.

And if we are honest, sometimes we look at our own lives—our finances, broken relationships, our future, or our own worn-out spirits—and think, “That’s it. It’s dead. There’s no turning this around.”

In Numbers 17, Israel was in a chaotic and bitter season. There was a dispute over who God had chosen to serve in the priesthood. God told the leaders of the tribes to lay their staffs before Him. Twelve pieces of dead wood were placed in the Tabernacle overnight.

But the next morning, Aaron’s staff had sprouted, budded, blossomed and produced almonds.

Think about that.

God took something completely dead and, in a single night, brought it all the way to fruit.

But there was something else God was demonstrating.

God was defending His choice.

Aaron didn’t have to defend himself. He didn’t have to convince everybody. God Himself demonstrated whom He had chosen.

And that is an important truth for us today:

When God chooses something, He is able to defend what He chooses.

God’s Defense of His People

That applies not only to a calling or a ministry. It reaches all the way to salvation.

When God calls us to Himself through Jesus Christ, our salvation doesn’t rest on our ability to defend ourselves, our own strength, or our ability to prove ourselves worthy.

God is our defender.

The cross is God’s demonstration that He was willing to do what we could never do for ourselves.

And the resurrection is God’s declaration that death does not get the final word.

There will always be voices, circumstances and situations that tell us we are finished, disqualified, forgotten or defeated.

But our confidence isn’t in ourselves.

Our confidence is in the God who chooses, saves, sustains and defends His people.

But Here Is the Challenge

It is easy to read Numbers 17 and say, “Look what God did back then.”

But what if we stop treating these things as just stories?

What if we actually believe God is still God today?

The God who brought life from that dead staff is the same God we serve today.

The God who defended His choice then is still able to defend His people today.

The God who raised Jesus from the grave is alive today.

And that is the difference.

This isn’t just a religion built around stories of what God used to do.

Jesus is alive.
His Word is alive.
His power is alive.
And God can still bring life where we see nothing but death.

The Challenge to Me

As chaplain, I don’t want to stand here challenging everybody else’s faith while leaving mine unchallenged.

I challenge my own faith today.

Do I really believe God can do this today?

Can He bring life to something in my life that I have already written off?

Can He restore what I think is broken?

Can He defend what He has called me to?

Can He protect and sustain the people He has placed in my care?

Can He bring purpose where I see only an ending?

Can He produce fruit where I see nothing but dry wood?

I believe He can.

And now I challenge our people:

What is the “dead staff” in your life today?

What have you already decided is finished?

What situation have you stopped praying about?

What part of your life needs a demonstration of God’s power—not just another story about what He did thousands of years ago, but a demonstration of His power today?

And who needs to know today that the God who saved you is also able to defend, sustain and keep you?

The Track Application

You know the difference between a horse that is simply moving and a horse that is firing on all cylinders—fully extended and giving everything it has.

God doesn’t do halfway jobs.

When Jesus came out of the grave, He didn’t simply survive death.

He conquered it.

So never count God out.

Your situation may look like a dry piece of wood, but God specializes in bringing dead things back to life.

And when God chooses and calls, we don’t have to live in fear that everything depends on us. The God who calls us is able to defend what belongs to Him.

Our salvation is the greatest evidence of that.

So my prayer today is simple:

“Lord, demonstrate Your power in my life today. Defend what You have called. Bring life where there is death. And let the fruit of Your work be undeniable.”

And I have to be willing to pray that for myself before I ask anyone else to pray it.

I DO need that demonstration.

Who else does?

God can do it today.

And when He does, we won’t just have another Bible story to tell.

We’ll have a testimony of the living Christ.

09/14/2026

The Chaplaincy is looking forward to working with Stable Footing in the near future -read all about it here. 

https://bizmonthly.com/news/business/nonprofit/2026/07/stable-footing-nonprofit-launches-to-aid-struggling-md-horse-racing-workers/?fbclid=IwcGRvZgNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA80Mzc2MjYzMTY5NzM3ODgAAR4i_uEDXn4w1AwBe5HbknxgzNE7prGPrkOOn_thZchG9Qhqr0XnsQeFKAVOiw_aem_92LBC6aURIe2T5nco3YXIQ

It’s an uncomfortable reality, but many of the people who care for the racehorses at Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course are only just getting by and can’t easily deal with an injury or even the prospect of retirement.

09/10/2026

When You Pray, Heaven Hears

Tonight at Laurel Park, we had something special. Carlos Palma from The Church of Severn Run was our guest speaker, and the Holy Spirit truly moved in a special way.

Carlos shared from Daniel 10:10–12:

“Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.”

Daniel had questions. He didn’t understand what was happening, so he prayed, fasted, and sought God. His answer didn’t come immediately. In fact, Daniel later learned there had been a spiritual battle taking place in the unseen world.

But here is what stood out to me: God heard Daniel from the first day he prayed.

Sometimes we pray and nothing seems to happen. We ask God for an answer, a breakthrough, healing, direction, or help—and we wonder, “Is God even listening?”

Daniel reminds us: God hears you.

The delay does not mean God has ignored you.

We are not spectators in the spiritual battle. We are on the frontlines, and prayer matters. Our prayers may be the very thing God uses while we cannot see what is happening.

That is especially important here at the racetrack. Some are doing well; others are struggling. Some are in a slump. Some are facing serious problems. Some don’t know what tomorrow will bring.

Keep praying. Keep believing. Keep seeking God.

Jesus said in John 15:7 that if we abide in Him and His Word remains in us, we can ask Him. Mark 11:24 tells us to pray believing. James reminds us that the prayer of a righteous person has great power.

And Matthew 5:44 takes prayer even further: pray for those who hurt you and even those who persecute you.

Prayer isn’t a performance. It isn’t about saying perfect words. It is about having a real relationship with God.

So tonight, wherever you are in life, pray.

Pray when things are good.
Pray when things are falling apart.
Pray when you have answers.
Pray when you have questions.
Pray when you don’t understand.

And most importantly, don’t stop praying just because the answer hasn’t come yet.

Daniel kept praying—and heaven was already moving.

Your words are heard. Your prayers matter. Don’t give up.

“Pray without ceasing.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:17

09/04/2026

Carlos Lopez

09/03/2026

Laurel Park service tonight:

Fan the Flame

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1

2 Timothy 1

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, in keeping with the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,
2 To Timothy, my dear son:
Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Thanksgiving
3 I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers.4 Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. 5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Euniceand, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.

1
When I read 2 Timothy, I don’t just see Paul sitting in a Roman prison. I see a man who spent his life pouring into the next generation.

Paul knows his time may be coming to an end. He knows Timothy is going to have to carry the work forward.

And what does Paul do?

He doesn’t complain about his chains.

He doesn’t tell Timothy how unfair life is.

He encourages him.

He prays for him.

He reminds him of what God has put inside him.

And he tells him:

“Fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you.”

That speaks to me about the people God has placed around me.

I don’t believe God called me here just to stand in front of you and preach. I believe He called me to walk alongside you, pray for you, encourage you, speak truth to you, and help you grow.

And eventually, I want to see you doing the same thing for somebody else.

⸻

LIFE IS GOING TO BE HARD

Let’s be honest.

Life is going to bring challenges.

There will be falls, stumbles, failures, disappointments, financial problems, family problems, broken relationships, loss, and days when you wonder how you’re going to keep going.

That’s life.

But sometimes God uses those very struggles to bring us closer to Him.

Sometimes the problem becomes the doorway.

Sometimes falling teaches us how to stand.

So don’t assume that because you’re going through something difficult, God has abandoned you.

God can use what you’re going through to mature you.

⸻

MATURITY IS LEARNING TO PRAISE GOD

One of the greatest signs of maturity is learning to praise God as a habit.
Its the most powerful weapon ….
Praise is the water my enemies drown in.
I said this before you can pray while st angry….

Not praise angry…

It’s easy to praise Him when the horse wins, the bills are paid, the family is doing well, and life is comfortable.

But what happens when it isn’t?

That’s where maturity shows.

I want us to reach a place where praise becomes instinctive.

You wake up:

“Thank You, Jesus.”

Something good happens:

“Thank You, Lord.”

Something difficult happens:

“Lord, I still trust You.”

You fall:

“Lord, help me get back up.”

You don’t understand:

“I don’t understand it, but I trust You.”

That’s maturity.

Not that you never hurt.

Not that you never struggle.

But that your first instinct is to turn toward God instead of away from Him.

⸻

GOD IS IN THE TRENCHES WITH YOU TOO:

We understand dirt / straw/hay/ manure around here.

We know hard work.

We know exhaustion.

We know disappointment.

We know what it’s like when horses doesn’t perform the way we hoped.

We know what it’s like to lose and still get up the next morning and go back to work.

But remember this:

God isn’t only in the winner’s circle.

God is in the barn too.

He’s in the disappointment.

He’s in the shedrow.

He’s with you when you’re exhausted and when nobody else knows what you’re carrying.

Sometimes God’s presence isn’t proven by Him removing the problem.

Sometimes it’s proven by the strength He gives you to walk through it.

⸻

DON’T PASS YOUR DARKNESS TO SOMEONE ELSE

When you’re hurting, don’t take it out on your crew, your coworkers, your family, or the people around you.

Do what Paul did.

Look outward.

Find somebody who needs encouragement.

Find somebody who’s struggling.

Tell them:

“Don’t quit. God hasn’t forgotten you.”

That’s what Onesiphorus did for Paul.

He wasn’t ashamed of Paul’s chains. He went looking for him and refreshed him.

You can be that person.

You don’t need a title.

You don’t need a stage.

Sometimes leadership is simply walking into someone’s barn, asking how they’re doing, listening, and praying with them.

⸻