Team 413/Gracerunners Ministries - a wonderful ministry/outreach!

Fred & I are involved with a wonderful ministry called Team 413 - Gracerunners Ministries.  We've been participating in marathons since the Cleveland Marathon in May 2008.  At our next marathon, the Walt Disney World Marathon in January, 2009, we happened upon the Team 413 booth at the Expo.  The founder and executive director of the ministry, Chris Gillespie, and his wonderful wife, Kiki, were spreading the Good News at the booth.  I also encountered Team 413 at the Knoxville Covenant Health Marathon in March and the Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon in May.  Fred and I were privileged to serve with Chris in the expo booth at the Detroit Free Press/Flagstar Bank Marathon in October.  It was great fun!

Chris, who is on the faculty of Samford University in Birmingham, AL in the Exercise Science and Sports Medicine Department, founded the ministry in 2003.  The 413 in the name refers to Philippians 4:13 - "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."  The ministry sells tech shirts and other merchandise with the objective to spread the Gospel, encourage fellow athletes, and to generate interest and talk about Christ with spectators.  Here is an excerpt from their website:


"TEAM 413  was founded because we believe that while on earth Jesus Christ had the heart of an athlete.  His heart defined courage, endurance, power, perseverance, strength, loyalty, motivation, dedication, compassion, and truth.  We believe that He gives us, as runners, the courage to start, the perseverance to continue the race, and the strength and power to finish strong.  Team 413 is motivated to serve Him in all that we do by sharing His truth and compassion with whosoever crosses our path.  We are loyal to His calling and we long to excel so that we may please Him in everything that we do and say."


It is a joy to be involved in this ministry.  It is doing Christ-honoring and eternal work for the Kingdom of God!  

Chris recently completed his first book, 'Gracerunner: Faith on the Run.'  It will be available at the beginning of January, and Chris will have copies at the 2010 Walt Disney World Marathon Expo (Chris is registered for the Goofy Challenge, where he will run a half marathon on Saturday, January 9 and the full marathon on January 10!).  I had the opportunity to read the book prior to its publication, and it is wonderfully inspiring!  You can contact Chris at chris@team 413.org to reserve your copy.  I highly recommend it, and hope to review it in the near future.


Team 413 is in middle of a major fundraising campaign in order to expand its outreach and participate in more marathons.  If you feel led, and want to contribute to a great cause, this is very worthwhile!  You can contribute here.  


Please keep this wonderful ministry in prayer!  And please pray for Chris as he participates in the Goofy Challenge at the Walt Disney World Marathon!