Father’s Day at Church, now there’s a good time. Just a month before, mothers were praised and honored on their day in services all across the country. Now you get to go and hear what a deadbeat you are, how you don’t spend enough time with your family, how insensitive you are, and on and on. Sound like your church? Well, it doesn’t if you attend Willow Creek Community Church in suburban Chicago, IL. Five years ago, this local church decided to honor dads in their weekend services and by throwing a party. And not just any kind of party, they decided to create DadFest.

Sponsored by Willow’s C.A.R.S. (Christian Auto Repairmen Serving) Ministry, DadFest is over two football field sized parking lots filled with custom, antique, exotic, and rare cars, boats, hot rods, trucks tractors and motorcycles. There are also RV’s, a slot-car track, pit stop competition, bands and free hot dogs.

This year, for the first time, TIJA (The Illinois Jeep Authority) was invited to participate. Willow staged an off-road display and three of our vehicles climbed on, along with one other Jeeper from the C.A.R.S. ministry. Two other TIJA rigs were displayed on the pavement. TIJA was asked to participate because, in spite of not being a Christian organization, they do promote a family friendly lifestyle and strong morals. Jim Evans, Director of Self-Supporting Ministries, and himself a C.A.R.S. volunteer, was familiar with this group through a relationship with Paul “RangerPaul” Swiech. In addition to RangerPaul, Jay “Jeepinjay” came down from Oshkosh, WI to fly the UCORA flag. Brian “78CJ7” brought his family, from Rockford, IL. Shane “Texas” with gal-pal Erin and Tony “Hickory 94” represented the local burbs.

TIJA shared the space with a first-time-out-of-the-garage rock buggy and a big Dodge Ram pickup. There was also a really nice old Bronco there but the owner didn’t display it.

By the end of the fest, there were more vehicles than room to display them, and twenty-three thousand free hot dogs were consumed. Next year’s plans call for more space and thirty thousand hot dogs. And yes, TIJA will be there.