Debbie sings a new racing gospel

“Join us in prayer,” says Debbie Priestley the first female chaplain for the racing industry based with the Australian Racing Christian Chaplaincy.

I love God and I love horses, and as I love people I’ve been commissioned and sent to racecourses in Sydney as I know that’s where the Lord wants to use me.

I want to honour God and serve him in whatever way he sees fit. I’ve owned horses and being among horses is just wonderful, and I’ve been doing this chaplaincy for a few months.

I talk to so many people – yesterday it was a girl who said she was spiritual, and last week a fellow about a serious medical issue who I saying “I’m still praying for you, how are you going?

I’ve been to hospitals to visit jockeys with serious injuries. I am always introducing myself and striking up conversations as people share medical issues, spiritual issues and life issues with me.

The opportunities are too many to count, and if you show love to people, they’re genuinely interested. Like the strapper who told me “I’m not interested in God, I’m an atheist.

I replied saying, “I’m here to support you as the Australian Turf Club saw the need for a woman on the ground to care for people, so I’m here.” – I like this chaplaincy.

The jockeys get on their horses and they know as they mount that this could be their last breath of life – Every year a jockey is killed, and every year there are injuries.

There are great highs and great lows in this industry, and my role is to encourage in the highs and enjoy them with people, but also to be there for them in the lows.

I’m a horse girl and I’ve owned thoroughbreds that’s helped me connect with people. My thoroughbred nearly killed me, she galloped through a wire fence and I couldn’t stop her.

I fell off and being dragged along by the stirrup I thought “Lord, forgive me.” I know the Lord saved me as it the only time I wore a helmet, and at that time I was not walking with the Lord.

I often think about the passage from Romans 10: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring tidings of good news,” as I was formally terrified of rejection.

At university, I remember I was wearing a cross and a young fellow in a science lab asked me, “Are you wearing that cross because you’re a Christian – Tell me about it.”

That moment made me realise that explaining the faith was my gift and ever since then God has given me opportunity after opportunity to open my mouth.

If you trust God and pray for opportunities, he will give them to you. What a joy it is to speak the Lord’s words into people’s lives.

Join us in prayer – We would love your prayers! For me, pray that there would be opportunities within the relationships I make to share the hope Christians have.

Pray that the racing industry will see the glory of God. They all love horses, everyone involved, but pray that they see them as a gift from God.

Pray for myself and the other chaplains in the Australian Racing Christian Chaplaincy network as we offer support and hope.