"Forgetting what lies behind, and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus..." (Philippians 3:13&14, English Standard Version).
Forgetting the fact that none of us has ever hosted a 5K before...
Forgetting the fact that the fire department refused to help us out, saying that the race would never happen because we hadn't planned it a year in advance...
Forgetting the fact that Massachusetts was under a "winter storm warning" from the night before through the day after...
Forgetting the fact that many people have never even heard of the Route One Ministry...
We did press on. And the first annual Freedom 5K did happen. And as the sun rose on Saturday, October 29th, so did 65 people determined to add their voice to the cry against the practice of trafficking in human flesh. Although it was chilly morning (a balmy 32 degrees Fahrenheit), spirits were high and all participants seemed happy to be there!
Although many of the participants knew at least one of the team members, not all of them did. In fact, the winner of the race said he was not a Christian but found out about the race via a running website. He said he runs one race a month and bases his choice on which he considers to be the best cause. It sounds like we were the best cause.
So when all was said and done, $1200 was raised and 65 people returned to their homes possessing a greater awareness of sex trafficking and the resources for how to join in the fight against it.
65 people who can be used by God to have exponential impact on bringing light into the darkness.
..."I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward — to Jesus.
I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back...". (Philippians 3:13&14, The Message)
