“I’m planning to run 2,021 miles on a virtual run from my home in Bourbon, Indiana to the Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, California. Along the way, I plan to raise $20,021 for 2nd Mile Missions. Sound crazy? You might be right! But I’m asking God to show up big in 2021 and you can join me.

“Running has been a part of my life since I was about 10 years old. To be completely honest, I don’t remember exactly why I started running, other than I watched my cousin do it. But somehow, my dad got me started running and he became my trainer. I’d run, and he’d ride his bike. Over and over again, we’d run the “country block,” a three-mile route from home, out into the country, and eventually the run would end back at home. Dad had the course mapped out, and we knew exactly where each mile marker was. He charted my pace and would always let me know if I was ahead and behind my goal pace at each of those mile markers along the way. Day after day, week after week, we ran this route. I’m not sure I could even guess how many times I ran the “country block,” but I can assure you, it was a lot!

“I can’t remember the exact day, but on one of the final days of December, I saw an image on Facebook challenging runners to run 2,021 miles in the year 2021. When I first read it, I thought, “Oh, that’s kind of cool.” Then I started doing the math and realized you had to run 5.5 miles per day, every day of the year in order to reach this goal. I started realizing it would be quite a feat to accomplish this task. About this time, Lindsey said, “You can’t do that.” Well, I still have a little competitiveness in me, so that’s all it took for me to say, “Watch me.” On January 1st, 2021, I set out on this journey to run 2,021 miles.

“A day or two into this wild and crazy goal, I realized that I should heed Paul’s advice from 1 Corinthians, and not just run aimlessly, but with a purpose, so I decided I should “Run for Change” and make this crazy goal even crazier by creating a campaign to raise money for 2nd Mile Missions, a faith-based, nonprofit organization that has been an integral part of my faith journey the past six and a half years. I also decided that I should go the “2nd Mile” and create a virtual run from my home in Bourbon, Indiana to the Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, California – a total of 2,121 miles – to map out my journey and spread awareness for 2nd Mile Missions to help them educate, equip, and empower God’s children in Bavaro, Dominican Republic.

“Paul challenges believers in 1 Corinthians to run in such a way to get the prize. He didn’t say to run half-hearted and stop when you feel like it. He instructs the church in Corinth to go all out, to run in such a way as to WIN the prize. Go big or go home! In verse 23, Paul says that he does all of this for the sake of the gospel, that he may share in its blessings. Nothing would bless me more than to have you join me in my efforts to raise $20,021 for 2nd Mile Missions. It’s a big goal! It’s a bold goal! But with your help, we can continue to share the gospel both at home and in the Dominican Republic.

“Will you join me on this journey as I “Run for Change”? Your one-time, or recurring, tax-deductible gift, will help Second Mile Missions as we continue to provide resources for the least of these in the impoverished area of Bavaro, and share the good news of Jesus. You can follow my journey at https://runningforchange2021.blogspot.com/ as I strive to live out 1 Corinthians 9:24-27. Your donations towards my $20,021 campaign goal, along with your prayers for my safety and health along the way, are appreciated as I run to share the gospel. And after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”