'Run for God' taps faith, hope

When Mitchell Hollis began running, he had no idea where he would end up. How could he have known the simple activity he loved would lead to authoring a book that would lead to inspiring a movement?

The journey took him from running for himself to running for God as a physical, mental and spiritual exercise.

Run for God, with its focus on "preparing people to be better witnesses for Christ ... physically, mentally and spiritually," began in 2010 in Dalton, Georgia, and grew rapidly when Hollis turned his passion into purpose.

When a friend told him, "Mitch, don't let [running] become your God," he combined his love of God, commitment to the sport and desire to teach aspiring runners to write a book, "Run for God," which became the catalyst for the actual race.

Program organizer Scott McQuay speaks to the runners before the Run for God/AMEN Center 5K Run/Walk Saturday, June 29, 2013 at Lynwood Baptist Church. (Fred Lynch)

Year-round the Run for God ministry offers Run for God Training Challenges and hosts Run for God National Races. Three training challenges exist: 5K, 10K/half-marathon and triathlon.

It became a Cape Girardeau event in 2013, said local race director Scott McQuay.

"Mitchell wrote the devotions to help people learn about the parallels of faith and the endurance sport of running, while at the same time growing closer to God," he said, adding, "Since 2013, God has used this book in 1,800 classes with 50,000 participants."

The race itself has drawn more than 300 runners the past two years, and as many are expected this year, which will take place at the Amen Center in Delta, rather than in Cape Girardeau.

The race serves as a fundraiser for the Amen Center, which is led by directors Danny and Shirley Hollowell.

"The Amen Center is a Christian center where people who are facing a setback, crisis or tragedy in life can come. ... It is a wonderful ministry doing God's work by reaching out to the less fortunate, and we want the people to know of this ministry firsthand and take that knowledge back to their communities," McQuay said.

A family begins the first annual Run for God/AMEN Center 5K Run/Walk Saturday, June 29, 2013 at Lynwood Baptist Church. (Fred Lynch)

Running is a metaphor for a relationship with Christ because, he said, because it "takes discipline and endurance. Running also requires perseverance and an enduring faith. Faith requires us to lay aside every obstacle and weight that creates a sense of doubt and run with endurance toward the finish line. As a witness of Christ, I am in a race -- God's race," the race director added, and stressed that Christ is the example of true perseverance. "He had to be prepared physically, mentally and spiritually."

Missouri was selected to be part of the National Race Series this year. A 12-week course is offered, though it's not necessary for race participation. Enrollees "learn to take small steps first and build on that each week for 12 weeks."

Furthermore, "it's a place where the 'I can't' becomes an 'I can,'" McQuay said. Speaking from experience, he also called it "a great experience to see individuals who have never run before step out in faith, endure the training for 12 weeks and finish the goal they committed to."

Free to the community, Run for God is focused on sharing the gospels through the "My Hope America" video by the Rev. Billy Graham. Each runner receives a T-shirt and can experience the timed race. Afterward, everyone listens to Graham's program.

On June 27, those interested in taking the challenge will have the opportunity to participate in a 5K or 10K race, the proceeds of which, along with the Amen Center, go toward the daily operation of Run for God. Concerning the Amen Center, McQuay said, "We use this race as a means to provide them with a monetary donation. We have raised close to $10,000 over the last two years. Why? God called us to!"

Ryan Lane is the first male runner to finish the Run for God/AMEN Center 5K Run/Walk Saturday, June 29, 2013 at Lynwood Baptist Church. (Fred Lynch)

People often think only those with extensive running experience should participate in such a race. However, McQuay said it's open to participants of all experience levels. Participants may walk or run -- or do a combination of both.

"The race is open to male and female, young and old. We have had kids as young as 4 and have had grown-ups in their 70s participate," he said, adding,

March 30 marks the beginning of the Run for God 2015 season, and more information about classes and locations is available at runforgod.com/rfg-classes.

Packet pickup for the race is in Cape Girardeau on June 26 at the Missouri Running Co. from 3 to 6 p.m. Gates open on race day, the 27th, at 5:30 a.m. in Delta, and registration concludes 15 minutes before the start of each race. The race will be followed by an awards ceremony and tours of the Amen Center.