22 Aug Exciting Team Updates – forward in faith!
OUR TEAM’s 10th BIRTH-DAY! LIFE Runners was born on Oct 12th, 2008 when 12 teammates (a great number to start an apostolate) raced the Chicago Marathon. We are now 8,278 teammates in 35 nations, All In Christ for Pro-Life! Running is now optional but faith will always be required for our public witness with “REMEMBER The Unborn – Jer 1:5” jerseys. We move forward in faith to cross the finish line that ends abortion. “We run so as to win.” Winning means our message of love and truth has impacted hearts and minds for saving lives. “The will to win is meaningless without the will to prepare.” We prepare to win with devotions and prayers. Wear your jersey anytime and especially on the First Wed of each month in unity with teammates in your town and around the world. Whenever you wear your jersey, please post photos with #RememberTheUnborn and share at liferunners.org/photos. To encourage teammates and help quantify our total team impact, please log jersey time and distance on the LIFE Runners App each time you wear jersey.
RECORD TEAM GROWTH (1 Cor 3:6): We have already added 1,528 new teammates this year with four months to go. Last year was our largest growth with 1,709 teammates (previous two years were 1,138 and 901). We have over 100 ordained teammates: cardinal, archbishops, bishops, priests, pastors, deacons. Invite friends and family to join our Team and others through church bulletins, radio interviews, diocesan newspaper articles, parish & diocesan Respect Life e-blast, etc. Share the facts from abort73.com. Together we are impacting many hearts and minds for saving lives. God First, Life Always, Teammates Forever!
NATIONAL RACE WEEKEND (Oct 6th-7th): Imagine our life saving impact in southern California, we need you for Long Beach! Our national chaplain, Bishop Paprocki, will be there. We will have a race expo booth. As one of the official race charities, everyone can donate and see our fundraising effort. Help our Team raise $5,000 for student “REMEMBER The Unborn” jerseys to impact hearts and minds for saving lives at schools K to college. Be sure to register for the Long Beach 5K, Half, or Full Marathon and select team “LIFE Runners.” See training tips. The race weekend will be an amazing time of fellowship and ministry. Details at liferunners.org/longbeach.
TEAMMATE TESTIMONY: Pricilla Burgos shared. “The doctor asked, “Are you sure you don’t want to interrupt the pregnancy? The baby has a lot of complications, and she can die in the womb. This is so hard, you don’t have to go through this.” That was not an option for us!!! It was so hard to know the bad news about our baby, but her heart was beating! I could feel her moving in my womb, she was the most beautiful miracle that God was creating in me. We loved her with all our hearts. She came to change our lives. She made me brave, she made me stronger, she made me a better person. She taught us the true meaning of God’s love. Our faith is stronger. We celebrated Fátima’s first anniversary of her life in heaven by releasing balloons from the Holy Family Shrine near Gretna NE. Even though her life on earth was short she left an everlasting mark in our lives. All In Christ for Pro-Life!“
INTERNATIONAL: Over 100 Fiji LIFE Runners traveled from Nadi and Lautoka to Suva to be a light of truth at the Suva Marathon. The race was difficult with pouring rain at times. The team pressed in and cheered on weary runners. The Men’s Marathon Team took 1st place! Many teammates participated in the 10K. In Fiji the subject of abortion is taboo, so the team stands counter cultural in raising awareness. As the world continues to press with pro-abortion rhetoric, teammates in Fiji are standing boldly to be a voice for the voiceless! Thanks to your donations Fiji LIFE Runners were able to rent two buses and travel there to impact hearts and minds for saving lives. Donate here. Vinaka Vakalevu (thank you very much)!
CHAPTERS: See over 100 chapters listed at liferunners.org/chapters, including school and international chapters. Liberia Africa chapter now has an office to do God’s business (photo above). Only five local LIFE Runners are needed to form a chapter. Many thanks to our chapter leaders for arranging monthly huddles. New chapters can request $100 in free promo materials. A great way to get the message out is to consider adopt-a-highway trash clean up for free “LIFE Runners” road signs. Consider fundraising for a local “REMEMBER The Unborn – Jer 1:5” billboard and free jerseys for local schools. School chapters are able to receive a $250 grant for free student jerseys.
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MEDIA & SPEAKING: Dr. Pat
* Spirit Radio (every day): Pro-Life Reflections.
* Spirit Radio (stream at 7:40am CT, 23 Aug 2018): LIFE Runners Bishops.
* South Dakota Right to Life Convention, Hartford (22 Sep 2018): Supporting Life at All Stages.
* Knox County Right to Life, Creighton NE (26 Sep 2018): Living Pro-Life with Heroic Virtue.
* Sidewalk Advocates Conference, Dallas TX (19-21 Oct 2018): Ending Abortion Through the Power of Love.
* Pro-Life Youth Conference, Dearborn MI (26-27 Oct 2018).
* See more at liferunners.org/speaking and liferunners.org/media.
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God First, Life Always, Teammates Forever!