Oak Grove CME Hosts 5th Annual Car Show in Elko

On Saturday, Oak Grove CME Church hosted its 5th Annual Car Show in Elko. The event expanded this year and included competition categories that specify which competitors could enter their vehicles for the chance to win one of the awards.

Participants’ vehicles ranged from old school rides to newer chic models. Including a variety of vehicles from the past and present, opening the competition up to more participants and encouraging friendly competition and conversation.

Reverend Patricia Lumpkin-Jefferson, Event Coordinator James Ford, George McGhee, Bruce Brown and Tom Ross were the judges for this competition. Judging criteria was focused on the condition of a vehicle’s paint, exterior condition of the wheels and body, interior condition of the car/vehicle, condition of the engines and also the general presentation of the competitor’s vehicle.

The competition winners included Bill McCarthy and his 1983 Lincoln Continental Mark IV who won Best of Show and Candie Hanna with her 2018 Chevrolet Colorado that won Pastor’s Choice. Best Truck went to Mitchell Worthy and his Red GMC Sierra, Darron Anderson won the Best Car Award with his 1971 Blue Chevrolet Malibu and Tracy Ford earned Best Motorcycle for the second consecutive year.

Honorable Mentions went to James Burns, Ruben McGhee, Robert Bryant, Kevin Ford and Robert Lumpkin.

According to Reverend Jefferson, pastor at Oak Grove CME, the event is about much more than cars as she seeks to bring a larger sense of community to the church. When Jefferson became pastor at Oak Grove five years ago, James Ford was eager to begin some form of outreach and find a way to bring people to the church’s door.

“Our initial theme was to bring the community together,” said Ford. “We had tossed the idea around before Reverend Jefferson got here and when she got here we asked ‘What about a car show?’”

According to Reverend Jefferson, the event does grow year after year as the church puts more into the event and more people hear about it and participate. “Seemingly it is getting larger and larger,” said Reverend Jefferson. “The more we put into it, the better and larger it gets.”

Competitors in the car show have come from all over the middle Georgia area to participate in this car show. Reverend Jefferson stated how thankful she was that people were so giving with their time to come out and participate in a community event like this one.

“It’s a blessing that people come from so far,” Reverend Jefferson stated. “People come and bring their cars or trucks and they are so friendly and giving.”

Reverend Jefferson noted that the event itself is not about money making. It is a community gathering and a chance to get to know people and at the same time enjoy an event that involves friendly competition, conversation and participation. Reverend Jefferson hopes that through doing an event like this that the church is getting its name out there as a place where people can come and be encouraged.

“It brings the community together and we get a chance to minister to everyone and encourage everyone,” Reverend Jefferson stated. “We can advertise this church and let everyone know that we’re here.”