Tag:

marathon

Pastor Runs 153 Consecutive Marathons; He Broke The Guinness World Record

by Le-Jovale Vallejo March 15, 2023

A pastor in Missouri ran 153 consecutive marathons to raise awareness for adoption, foster care, and youth mental health.

153 Consecutive Marathons

Last December 2022, the pastor of The Church at Pleasant Ridge in Missouri, Malachi O’Brien, was seeking to beat the record for most consecutive days of running a marathon. His mission is to increase people’s awareness of foster care, adoption, and youth mental health.

He officially succeeded in running a marathon for 62 consecutive days on December 8, 2022, and broke the Guinness World Record.

Yet the pastor, known by the moniker “Dr. Run,” didn’t stop running even after breaking the record. He kept running until he reached consecutive marathon number 153, which he finished on March 8th.

Malachi told ChurchLeaders after finishing his 62nd marathon that his purpose for running was to raise awareness about youth mental health, adoption, and foster care.

Why Pastor Malachi Ran 153 Consecutive Marathons

Malachi told ChurchLeaders that youth mental health and foster and adoption care are two causes close to his heart. He was adopted at the age of three, and his family had adopted from the foster care system.

Furthermore, his oldest daughter attempted suicide around a year ago after struggling with mental health concerns. The incident, according to the pastor, awakened him and his wife to “the crisis” of youth mental health.

“As a pastor, and even as a father, my inability to truly see it for what it was and to truly know what was needed in that moment is what woke me up—I really think it’s an epidemic and a crisis—so I’m wanting to raise awareness around that,” he said.

For Revival

Initially, Malachi wanted to keep going, but he felt that his “body is breaking down.” Though he is not closing his mind to the possibility of running more in the future.

On the 153rd day of his run, he posted, “Starting marathon 153. Over 4000 miles (1/6 the circumference of the globe) and 900 hours later, this is it. The final marathon. However, it’s not the end. Only the beginning. Stay tuned. Every mile for the glory of God. For revival. To bring mass awareness to youth mental health and adoption/foster care. The miracles of this journey amaze me of the goodness of God.”

Furthermore, the pastor left an important message about running the race.

“You know,” he said, “if you’re a runner and you look behind you, you have a chance of hurting yourself and destroying your future because you might not see what’s ahead of you. And I think people have to stop focusing on the past and really stop focusing on what’s ahead, but live in the now. Even Jesus said, ‘Take no thought for tomorrow’. Why are Christians so worried and anxious about tomorrow when tomorrow may not come? But if we live with intentionality… we can have the most deeply fulfilling and impactful life that revolves around Jesus.”

Header image: Malachi O’Brien [@malachiobrien]. Instagram, 13 March 2023, https://www.instagram.com/p/CptsGzsNBh1/?hl=en

Reference: Church Leaders

March 15, 2023 0 comment

Articles Featured Video

Man Who Might Never Walk Again Runs A Marathon With His Doctor

by Christel Berns October 4, 2022

written by Christel Berns

A man had an accident that broke his spinal cord. His doctor said he could never walk again, but later on, he defied all odds and ran in a marathon.

Bicycle Accident

Dean Otto had an active lifestyle—often riding his bike early in the morning. One day, while doing his usual routine of riding his bicycle on Sept. 24, 2016, in the suburbs of Charlotte, North Carolina, a car accidentally hit him. Immediately, he felt his body getting paralyzed.

Photo Courtesy | YouTube – 700 Club Interactive

At the hospital, the tests revealed that Dean’s “spine got dislocated” with “several fracture vertebrae pinching his spinal cord.” For that reason, the doctor said his chances of walking again were uncertain. But they had to perform surgery on him immediately to save his life.

Miracle

While in surgery, prayers poured from around the world for Dean. Later on, a miracle happened as the supposed 4-hour surgery turned out to be only 90 minutes. His neurosurgeon, Dr. Matt McGirt, attested that the surgery went smoothly and efficiently. But he informed his wife, Beth, that Dean had only a two percent chance that he would ever be able to walk again.

Photo Courtesy | YouTube – 700 Club Interactive

The next day, Dean’s family witnessed another miracle as Dean was able to move his toe. It only meant that his neuropathway wasn’t wholly damaged; hence, he had a higher chance of being able to walk again. Three days later, indeed, he made his first steps after the accident.

Marathon Challenge To Himself

Meanwhile, Will, the young man who accidentally hit him, asked for Dean’s forgiveness. Dean immediately released forgiveness to him. He told Will, “I don’t want you to carry this around you for the rest of your life. I want you to be able to process this and move on.” And soon, the two became friends and kept in touch.

One day, Dean challenged himself to run half a marathon. He made it his goal while doing his therapies. He also invited his doctor to join him so they could raise funds for spinal cord injury patients. At first, Dr. Matt thought it was impossible. But one year later, Dean would prove him wrong.

Watch what happened.

"There’s just no other explanation." Man - who should never walk again - Runs Marathon

Watch this video on YouTube

Reference | 700 Club Interactive

October 4, 2022 0 comment

Articles Israel Israel Insider News

50 Years After Munich Olympics Massacre, Israeli Athletes Win Gold In The German City

by Ron Cantor August 23, 2022

written by Ron Cantor

Israel’s men’s marathon team took home the gold on Monday at the European Athletics Championships in Munich, Germany. Two men on the team also won a silver and a bronze medal in other races. The victories in Munich come at a sensitive time in Israeli athletics history. Next month will mark the 50^th anniversary of the 1972 massacre of 11 Israelis who were in Munich to compete in the Olympic games. Over a span of about 20 hours, eight members of Black September, a group of Palestinian terrorists in a faction of the PLO (along with the help of some West German neo-Nazis), took hostage and eventually gunned down the group of Israeli coaches and young athletes.

Monday’s victory was an emotional one on many levels. Israel’s Olympic Committee said it was “moved to tears to experience the exciting continuity of Israeli sports on Munich soil.”

And Israel’s Culture and Sports Minister Chili Tropper also praised the men’s team for their medal run in the games. “History in the European championships. Tremendous achievements for Israel. We are proud of you!”

In addition to the gold medal for the four-man men’s marathon team, two of the members won individual medals for their time in the marathon—Marhu Teferi won a silver medal, and Gashau Ayale grabbed the bronze in his race. Both Teferi and Ayale are Ethiopian-born Israelis.

“This is really exciting for me. I am very happy with this achievement,” Teferi said.

Israel’s marathon team ran the race in a combined time of little over six and a half hours. Germany came in second place, and Spain placed third.

Israeli women’s marathon runner, Maor Tiyouri, finished her run in 28^th place with a time of 2:38:04.

August 23, 2022 0 comment