Running for Him

And so, after months of preparation, planning and much anticipation, the Big Guy upstairs pulled us through the final phase of Run for the Nation 2010, Penang. I'd like to share my personal experience being part of the organizing team for RunNat 2010, Penang.

Execution: 22nd May 2010, Running with Purpose!
I woke up about 3.45am and realized that the weather outside was breezier than usual. Took some time to pray for good weather. And just before I headed off for the first checkpoint to meet the first team, it started to rain :( Gah. It got me a little worried. Thought to myself, what if it rains for the rest of the day?... Stop all these negative thoughts, Christopher Koh... I quickly got my stuff and headed to my first checkpoint - Penang International Airport.

In total, the committee came up with 4 main routes, each charting a 44km distance. For each main route, 11 teams are assigned to run a distance of 4km respectively and as they run from their checkpoint to the next they are to pray as they run, handling over the prayer card, which also worked as a baton, to the following team until the entire route is completed. The whole idea is to cover Penang island with prayer. To saturate the city with God's blessings.

Route A starts from Balik Pulau Sports Complex and ends at RECSAM.

Route B, the route I was in charge of, starts from Penang International Airport and ends back at the airport.

Route C, begins from Clock tower in town and ends at Reservoir Garden Baptist Church (RGBC).

Route D, starts from Hard Rock Cafe, Feringghi and ends at RGBC as well.

Put everything together and this is how much we covered Penang island!
Over 180km in total!

The rain gradually slowed down. Thank God! The first team to the third team, however, could not really embark on a real prayer run. Instead, they got into the car and go for a 'prayer drive' :) In any case, all the participants were still excited in spite of the downpour. My initial reservations eventually subsided. It rained but that didn't stop us from blessing and praying for the nation! It was really encouraging to see how passionate everyone was to run and pray in spite of the rain and in spite the need to wake up 4.30 in the morning! :)

The semangat people who woke up 4.30 in the morning and go through the prayer run even though it rained!

One of the main concerns that I had was the safety of the participants. Although running a 4km trail may be short, the external factors such as inadequate pathways, running through narrow streets and uphill/downhill route seemed fairly dangerous to a certain extent. Hence, this year we made it a point to have a briefing especially for all Team Managers emphasizing on the issue of safety. Thank God, everyone had a blessed experience. Also, thank God that the traffic in Penang wasn't too bad on that particular Saturday. God is good! :)

Praying together before embarking on the prayer run!

Running for Christ!

Warming up and getting ready to paint the streets with blessings!

Peeps from Gateway City Church!

Standing together as one!

The first team started running at 5am and the last team ended at 10.30am. After which, everyone gathered back at Reservoir Baptist Garden Church (RGBC) for a corporate closing prayer. There were 8 specific prayer points that we prayed for; Church, Government, Religion, Family, Media, Commerce, Education and Social. It was good to see different pastors from different churches leading the prayer session coinciding with one of the main agendas for RunNat. One of the key objectives of RunNat is not just to pray for the nation but also to rally the churches together as one. We wanted to unite the churches together as one body of Christ so that we can stand within the gap for Him. It was a pretty big task but a worth while one to plough through.

Different pastors from different churches rallying the people to pray together as one!

Interceding for the nation!

Coming before Him on bended knees!

United in Christ!

Looking at how God piece everything together during the actual event on the 22nd May 2010 was as if looking at a genius at work. There were some points in the midst of preparation where I felt at lost but as always, His grace is sufficient for me.

Preparation: Stretch before you run!
In any running event or sports for that matter, it's crucial that you do proper warm-ups and stretching before you actually run. Similarly, as I went through the preparation and planning period prior to the actual RunNat event itself, God, likened to that of a coach, really stretched my spiritual, mental and physical muscle in every way.

Firstly, taking lead for RunNat 2010 in itself was already a huge task by my standard but knowing that it was something that He has challenged me to do, I took it up with 'fear and trembling'. Consequently, there were numerous responsibilities that I had to learn to juggle and to execute. Getting a committee running with experienced people and pastors was a nerve-wrecking task but a good one nonetheless. It forced me to be on my toes and to learn from them. I'm also grateful that through the planning, I had the privilege of contacting and meeting many new people from the Christian community in Penang.

Secondly, being overwhelmed with a handful of administrative work through the course of RunNat, there were times where I found myself loosing the actual intent of the event. It became more of 'doing' than 'worshipping'. There were days where I just spent the entire day mapping out the routes, getting the registration done, contacting the participants and so on that it seemed like I'm running an event management company more than anything else. There came a point where I felt completely inadequate, totally zapped out physically and that was when God woke me up from the physicality of doing to the spiritually of worshipping in the midst organizing an event.

In regards to preparation, I guess the two most challenging task I had to face were (1.) to rally churches and people to be part of RunNat and (2.) to map out the respective routes for the event. I just realize that coordinating and getting people to move is actually quite a task! I also realized that Penang island is actually really REALLY small! :P The experience of this year will definitely equip me to face next year!

Reflection: When the race is over!
After any sports event, be it an individual or team sports, it's crucial to debrief, analyze and reflect upon the result of your performance in that particular event so that you grow from it. Likewise, as I've experienced being part of RunNat 2010, Penang, it's time to see what God has taught me through it. I'd like to share two things I've picked up from this journey.

• Stretching is essential for any athletes for Christ!
  

If you want to run well in a race, then stretching is not an option! You need to stretch and be stretched to be able to run the distance and to run it well.

Being stretched in more ways than one, I've learnt to cope with mistakes, failures even, and in the midst of all that, to learn to trust that God will pull me through thick and thin and nothing, I say it again, NOTHING can stand between me and the grace that comes from Him. Admittedly though, I disliked being stretched :P Then again, who does!

• The intent is more important than the event!

I'm sure it's not uncommon for ministers and churches to fall into the trap of putting a certain event above the intent. There's always that lurking danger. God reminded me that I must always, ALWAYS put Him above all else. And through the course of RunNat 2010, other events came into play as well that reminded me to re-time the rhythm of my heartbeat according to the intent of His heartbeat. Whether or not He demands us to organize an event or to take up certain responsibilities or even to let go of certain things in our lives, what will keep us in check and enable us to do these things is when we are in tune with His heartbeat.

..................

Funny how it seemed as if it was only yesterday when my church decided to take up the task of running RunNat 2010, Penang, and now it's all been done! :) Scary to think how time flies so quickly. Ah, another decent reminder that time is of the essence... Let's make Him famous while we can and in the process, build champions as well!

A big thank you to all who participated in RunNat 2010, Penang.
You are a blessing!

Looking forward to RunNat 2011, Penang!