Episode Description
Staying awake for 24 hours is hard enough, but this youth pastor ran and walked for that long. After I talk about the value of supporting causes with your running or other challenges, we dive into our discussion with the latest guest on the Run The Race podcast.
(5:32) Adam Churchwell is a former teacher and karate school owner, now student pastor of a megachurch in Georgia. He and a friend recently completed a challenge of 70 miles, running and walking, over a 24 mile time span, all on a 1/4 mile trail at their church. He talks about the epic challenge, what they ate and drink during it, how they raised nearly $4,000 so far for the Alzheimer's Association, and how you can still donate in the coming weeks & months.
In the "Fast Four," (10:52) we get to know this pastor and ultrarunner - from a Bible verse that stands out...to 25 years of martial arts, bringing him discipline that he's carried over to life and running. (14:07) We discuss how he became a runner thanks to his oldest child, the bonding as a father and son, and doing events like Run Across GA with a relay team several times. How can you get motivated to get fit too? He has some answers.
(21:14) His martial arts journey started at age 12 and he eventually opened his own karate school. Adam sounds off on how it helps with discipline, respect, flexibility, focus, and making people less likely to be a bully because of self-confidence. There are parallels between karate and the Christian faith.
Adam transitioned into being on staff in student ministry at Cascade Hills in Columbus GA, for the past decade now, with teens facing so much nowadays and (26:51) lately trying to do church during COVID-19. Adam gives us his take on what we've learned from this pandemic about fellowship, growing in the faith, family time and unexpected fitness changes.
(30:27) His "Monday Motivation" videos on social media will make you think. Pastor Adam explains what it means to "stand in the gap" for others, holding true friends accountable, and what Jesus showed us about trials when we think "life's not fair."
Running and athletic challenges (35:27) can also be symbolic for the hills and valleys of life. Adam, who's also completed marathons and a 50-mile trial run, talks about mentally pushing himself and how God also gets us through tough times. (38:33) He closes us out in prayer.
In the closing segments, (40:22) I talk about ultrarunning as an ideal "Christian sport" and priests comparing running with life in "Food for Thought." And we get some wisdom from the so-called Ultramarathon man Dean Karnazes in our "Parting Gift."
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