The Winning the Race Outreach Foundation is in the final stages of preparations for the 2004 Winning the Race community outreach this weekend at the Knoch High School Stadium.

The Saxonburg Arts Fest will be wrapping up on Saturday, about the time the event begins at 7 p.m.

This year's event will feature two speakers, a former Navy SEAL and a former professional baseball player. Music will be provided by Gregg and Rebecca Sparks.

Charlie Aeschliman, the speaker on Saturday, is a graduate of Southern Illinois University. He served for 10 years as a Navy SEAL.

"My talk focuses on the parallel of our spiritual journey and SEAL training. My Christian faith is central to who I am and I want to encourage others in their spiritual walk," said Aeschilman. "The Christian life isn't always easy, but through our struggles God shapes and molds us just as the pain and discomfort of SEAL training builds and strengthens the recruit."

Aeschilman has performed at NBA and college games as "Secret Agent Jam." A trick basketball handler, he was recently crowned NIKE's "National Playoff Festival Champion."Sunday's speaker is Pat Kelly, who played for the Minnesota Twins, Kansas City Royals, Chicago White Sox, Baltimore Orioles, and Cleveland Indians. Kelly was on the Baltimore Orioles team that faced the Pittsburgh Pirates during the 1979 World Series.He became executive director for Christian Family Outreach in 1983. In 1986, he was licensed to preach. A year later, he began Life Line Ministries, a faith-based organization.Winning the Race is the brainchild of Pearl Reimer of Sarver. She had a vision of an old-fashioned tent revival to bring spiritual renewal to her community. Pearl spoke with her pastor and others and was encouraged to pursue the dream. She was driving by Lernerville Speedway one day and thought it might be a great place to hold such an event, and that is where the first one was held in 2002.The Saxonburg/Sarver Ministerium is now the driving force behind Winning the Race Outreach.

Billed as a community outreach, Winning the Race is geared to youth, singles and families."We hope that it will offer hope and encouragement to those in our community. Hopefully it will change lives, and make our communities stronger, and safer places to live, work and play," said Bill Bittner who has been on the Saxonburg/Sarver Ministerium since its inception.Bittner believes the organization has merit, and he's seen the benefits first hand."People have turned their lives over to Jesus Christ as a result of the first outreach. Drug addicts have been helped and area youth that were once unchurched are now actually serving the church," he said. "Basically people will hear a positive message about the Gospel, which offers the only positive hope in a very negative world."