Race of the Redeemed- Distinguished 2026 — Fair Grove, MO

Welcome! 3 options for this event! 5K 1 mile walk Donate what you wish Whether you are a seasoned runner or this is your first 5K we want this to be an awesome experience for you! We want this to be an opportunity for God to show up for you in a way that encourages you, lifts up your soul, and ignites you to live a more full and passionate life through Jesus Christ! This years theme has to do with our condition. We like to speak in terms of physical and spiritual. So what we are referring to with "condition" is first of all our condition before God. And secondly the condition of our body to be able to run. I'd like to draw our minds to the book of Ezra. Chapter 9 and verse 1 as our key verse. It reads as follows: "After these things had been done, the leaders came to me and said, “The people of Israel, including the priests and the Levites, have not kept themselves separate from the neighboring peoples with their detestable practices, like those of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians and Amorites." I know you might be wondering what the world this have to do with running or walking in a 5k?! Well, this 5k supports local people with real needs. The one need that I feel God highlighted to me for 2026 is depression/anxiety. I have met some who are so weighed down by life's circumstances so much that they are considering taking their own life! This breaks my heart because I can see the gifts, talents, abilities they have and so much more that they bring to the table that makes a positive impact on the people around them that make up our community. I think our key scripture in Ezra has an insight to something that might help! Let me explain. Our scripture focus says that even the leaders didn't separate themselves from the neighboring people. Who knows that our leadership is only flesh and blood also? The neighboring people were not Gods people. They were actually more like an enemy! They had different gods with different expectations. You know like when you go to your bosses house verses your friends house. There's a different feel right? Like maybe at bosses house you need to take your shoes off at the door whereas at friends house it don't matter, you fit right in with the dogs! Or like when you go to a fancy restaurant verses McDonalds. It's a fancier crowd, more silverware, and less things you can pronounce on the menu at the restaurant! There's an expectation for a more formal dress and more refined behavior at the restaurant. Well, kind of like this Gods people were supposed to display who He was in their actions and words. There's allot we could say about who God is, but for now we will just say that He is perfect in every way. He is a perfect judge in all situations. And God had instructed His people not to do certain things. They disobeyed. And that caused a separation between God and the people. And that was a problem because God was their protection, their shield, their provider, everything they needed! And to get access back to all of who God was for them, they had to confess their shortcomings to God and run the race He had set out for them. Which was different than the race they were choosing to run when and where they wanted to. The answer to the hopelessness they had found themselves in was found in God. In returning to Him. And that consisted of acknowledging their true CONDITION, confessing they hadn't made the right choices and didn't respond to situations in the way He had instructed them to, accepting God's grace and favor, and beginning to run the race for Him. He is to be our true leader. I invite you to enter training for this race with all this on your mind. Do you understand what has led you and/or others in your life to such a place of despair? I invite you to open your Bible and your heart to Ezra chapters 9-10 to hear what God says. He loves you and has victory in store when your ready to start running for, in, & through Him! We'll talk more about our physical training as we prepare! Packet Pickup: Oct. 9th come by the Fair Grove Senior Center anytime between 4-6 pm!🤩👕 Race Location: Fair Grove Senior Center 122 S Orchard Blvd When: Oct. 10, 2026 *Weekly opportunity to train together! Training to begin the wk. of Aug 1, 2026 Check our Facebook page for days and times!