By Movieguide® Staff
From one group in Ohio to now 80 cities across the world, what started as a small Christian running club is now demonstrating Hebrews 12:1-3 litearlly.
“What we thought would be a cool little community where we did a devotional beforehand and then we ran together, ended up turning into hundreds of people gathering,” Will Garinger, the 21-year-old founder of “Run With Christ” told CBN. “We saw people just getting saved, getting prayed for and getting plugged into the local church.”
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Speaking to K-LOVE about the club’s early days, Garinger said, “Basically, [it was just] ‘We’re going to have energy drinks, music, water, share the gospel, share Bible verses, pray with each other, and it’s just going to be an amazing time.’ That was the depth of anything I had.”
He explained to CBN that, in addition to helping members stay active, “Run With Christ” also helps them grow in their faith.
“You show up on a Saturday morning and you’re like, ‘Oh okay. Am I coming to this competitive running group? What’s happening? Are people gonna think I’m weird? ‘Cause I just don’t know how to run a 5K,’” Garinger explained. “But you show up, and then there’s music and people are loving on you. You’re getting hugged and you’re getting energy drinks and you’re like, ‘What is going on? I thought I was coming to a competitive environment,’ but in reality, running is just honestly the facade of it all to just bring people in. But then we get to share with them the love of Christ.”
“Run With Christ” chapters are showing up all over the world, and Garinger gives the credit for the group’s success to God.
“Jesus has been so kind,” he said, adding, “There has not been one city in this entire world that I’ve reached out to see if they wanted to start one…every [chapter] has started with…a random 20-something-year-old [saying], ‘Hey, I don’t really have community. I’d love to see change happen here. How can I start one?’”
One of those people that reached out to Garinger? Derek Eddings, who started a “Run With Christ” chapter in Cincinnati.
“I felt a lack of Christian community,” he told the city’s local news channel WLWT5. “I was scrolling on Instagram one day and I saw this ‘Run With Christ’ page up in Columbus. And I reached out…and talked to Will Garinger on the phone.”
Garinger invited Eddings to Columbus to take part in a run, and “after experiencing it up on Columbus, I was like, ‘This is what Cincinnati is missing,’” he recalled.
Eddings began his own chapter of “Run With Christ,” saying, “It’s been nothing short of amazing.”
The popularity of “Run With Christ” groups across the world showcase the creative ways Gen Z are connecting with other Christians and sharing their faith.
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