{"id":252610,"date":"2026-04-16T13:42:10","date_gmt":"2026-04-16T13:42:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/252610\/"},"modified":"2026-04-16T13:42:10","modified_gmt":"2026-04-16T13:42:10","slug":"cars-and-christ-sparks-conversations-in-plano-texas-church-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/252610\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Cars and Christ\u2019 sparks conversations in Plano, Texas \u2013 Church News"},"content":{"rendered":"

PLANO, Texas \u2014 Every month in Plano, Texas, the parking lot of a meetinghouse for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints fills with the sound of engines, conversation and something less expected: discussions of faith.<\/p>\n

The event, known as \u201cCars and Christ,\u201d is a car show that began two years ago with a couple dozen cars. It has now grown into a unique gathering that blends a passion for cars with spiritual connection.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel like it\u2019s brought the Church to the forefront in Texas, in one of the most normal and natural ways,\u201d said Charlie Riska, a member of the Carrollton Texas Stake who helps lead the effort.<\/p>\n

Organizers say they see anywhere from 200 to 300 cars on the first Saturday of each month. The event continues to draw a big crowd, many of whom are not members of the Church. It is posted on a popular app called ParkUpFront and has also gained traction on social media.<\/p>\n

With no entry fee required to showcase a vehicle, participants are encouraged to bring two canned food items to support the local non-profit, Metrocrest Services. This charitable initiative has been a resounding success, with previous events collecting up to 500 pounds of food.<\/p>\n

\"PeoplePeople view classic cars in the parking lot of a meetinghouse of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Plano, Texas, on Saturday morning, Feb. 7, 2026, during the monthly “Cars and Christ” event. The event also includes a community canned food drive. | Dan Bledsoe <\/p>\n

Bryce Ardis, who also volunteers, said the event is about creating a welcoming space. \u201cI actually love bringing people together. So if I can bring people of faith and not of faith together, it\u2019s a great environment.\u201d <\/p>\n

That environment is intentional. \u201cA lot of people have actually told me that they prefer this meet over other meets because it\u2019s a welcoming thing,\u201d Ardis said. \u201cWe talk to everybody that comes in and out.\u201d <\/p>\n

Missionaries play a central role, mingling with visitors and starting conversations that often go beyond cars. Their involvement with the event is thanks to President Jonathan Ord<\/a>, president of the Texas Dallas West Mission.<\/p>\n

President Ord\u2019s love of cars began while he worked in the automotive industry. Over time, he collected several vehicles and eventually brought his love of cars and his faith together in one event. It has become a hallmark of his time as mission leader in the area.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur missionaries walk around, have these great conversations about cars but also how Jesus Christ wants to be involved in their lives,\u201d President Ord said.<\/p>\n

\"CarsCars are on display in the parking lot of a meetinghouse of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Plano, Texas, for a “Cars and Christ” event on Saturday morning, Feb. 7, 2026. The monthly event also includes a community canned food drive. | Dan Bledsoe <\/p>\n

For many missionaries, they say those conversations happen naturally. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe come here with the purpose of looking at cars, but eventually the conversation begins to talk about Christ and the hope that is found in Him,\u201d said Sister Sara Hill. \u201cIt\u2019s just cool to come to understand people and hear their stories.\u201d<\/p>\n

The event also serves as a first introduction to the Church for some. Organizers say the goal is not pressure, but presence. <\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a whole industry of people that have the same fascination with cars, and it\u2019s just a way to bring them to the church building,\u201d said Sister Stacey Ord, who serves with her husband as mission leaders. \u201cIt\u2019s a great opportunity for our missionaries to walk around, do church tours, talk to people and invite them to church.\u201d <\/p>\n

For Riska, the impact goes beyond numbers. \u201cTo have a passion mingled with my faith in such a way that it normalizes the Church, has been really miraculous to see,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

\"AClassic cars are parked in the parking lot of the meetinghouse of the Carrollton 2nd and 4th wards in Plano, Texas, on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, for a monthly “Cars and Christ” event for the community. | Dan Bledsoe <\/p>\n

He added that the event creates a rare opportunity. <\/p>\n

\u201cYou get hundreds of non members on church grounds every month. Going inside our buildings, walking the halls, looking at pictures of the Savior. And then the missionaries are just the heart and soul of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ultimately, organizers say the purpose is simple. \u201cIt\u2019s about just bringing the community together,\u201d Ardis said.<\/p>\n

And in a parking lot filled with polished cars and open conversations, that goal continues to take shape one interaction at a time.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just love the community here and the connection,\u201d Sister Hill said. \u201cIt really is all about Christ. Christ is the foundation. When we trust in Him and rely on Him there\u2019s so much we\u2019re able to have in common. And I think it\u2019s just cool that we\u2019re all able to learn and to grow from each other.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2014 Kandyce McCracken is the Carrollton Texas Stake communication director.<\/p>\n

\"CarsCars are parked in a meetinghouse parking lot of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Plano, Texas, for a “Cars and Christ” event on Saturday morning, Feb. 7, 2026. | Dan Bledsoe <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"PLANO, Texas \u2014 Every month in Plano, Texas, the parking lot of a meetinghouse for The Church of…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":252611,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[37578,160,162,161],"class_list":{"0":"post-252610","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-plano","8":"tag-living-faith","9":"tag-plano","10":"tag-plano-headlines","11":"tag-plano-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/252610","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=252610"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/252610\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/252611"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=252610"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=252610"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=252610"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}