Inspirational, courageous and worthwhile are some of the words Singleton High School students used to describe Andrew ‘Fishtail’ Fisher’s presentation.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
A presentation aimed at challenging young people to consider the consequences of their decision making around important life choices.
Smoking, drugs, teenage sex, road safety and faith are some of the big issues he touches on.
But why do teenagers listen to him when they often refuse to listen to others, including their own parents?
The professional race car driver says having the street cred of racing cars at over 299km/h and competing at the front of Australia’s most competitive racing championships seems to make all the difference.
“It helps me to connect with the kids and to break through all the noise surrounding these issues. Basically it grabs their attention and allows me to challenge the way they think about things,” he says.
“I don’t tell them what they should or should not do but I teach them to think about the decisions they are making. I provide them with information, encourage them to ask questions and not just to accept everything they are told.”
He delivered his unique ‘Life Choices’ program to around 400 year seven and eight students at Singleton High School on Wednesday.
And if the crowd of students gathered around his replica racing V8 XY GT was anything to go by Jesus Racing driver, Andrew Fisher was listened to.
Students lined up for his autograph and waited patiently for him to intermittently rev the engine.
“My role it to engage them with the latest facts and statistics around these important decisions and to encourage them to think before they act,” Mr Fisher says.
“The reaction from the students is amazing, you can literally hear a pin drop when I am telling them story about my daughter and there is always a huge line up for a poster after the session. We take the replica race car with us which is a real V8 so the students get excited when we make a bit of noise.”
His daughter was basically born with “half a heart” champion driver explained.
Ever year Jesus Racing speaks to around 30,000 young people across the country and to date 250 000 students have heard the presentation.
Passion, Purpose and Life are the three words that feature in the Jesus Racing Team’s branding.
The bible society describes it as a “unique and high-impact ministry”.
“Andrew ‘Fishtail’ Fisher drives the Jesus Ute in the Auto One V8 Ute series, using his racing car as a mobile billboard to spread the name of Jesus and last year he finished third in the Yokohama V8 Ute Series,” their website states.
“Off the track, Andrew utilises his profile as a racing car driver for the ‘Life Choices’ program which last year saw him speak to 50,000 high school students and detainees at many of Australia’s Juvenile Justice Centres.”
Mr Fisher says he founded the Jesus Racing team to challenge the paradigms of Australians.
Andrew felt many people held misconceptions, and labelled Christians ‘funsuckers’, believing you had to give up the good life when you became a Christian.
As a long-term Christian, he says nothing can be further from the truth.
“Jesus said ‘I came to give Life, and Life to the full!’” says Fisher, who knew the last thing people expected was to see a Christian racing cars at 300km/h, doorhandle to doorhandle in Australia’s most competitive and robust racing series.
The Jesus Racing Team has enjoyed great success on the track, winning races, Rookie of the Year, and finishing third in the Championship.
However the real fulfilment comes from taking the name of Jesus to 1.2millionpeople every year at racetracks around the country.
The team has also created a strong off-track aspect to the ministry, which sees Andrew speaking at all manner of engagements around Australia.
Most importantly, he presents the high school’s ‘Life Choices’ program which is presented on behalf of Bible Society Australia.
“I was challenged as to whether I simply carry my Christianity as a back pack or whether I really pick up my cross each day,” he says.
“This caused me to think about why I am involved in motor racing and what impact I make for the Kingdom. I think that by speaking to young people, I can make a difference in their lives, but I couldn’t do that without the framework provided by motorsport and the Jesus Racing Team.”
Andrew’s next race in the Jesus Racing V8 Ute is at Sandown in Victoria early next month and he debuted a 1971 XY GT Falcon in the Touring Car Masters at Sydney Motorsport Park the weekend before heading to Singleton High.
“I love motor racing and feel privileged to be able to compete at the level I do, however I also love the Lord Jesus Christ, so to bring my two loves together is very exciting.”