A Marathon to Remember!

Thursday, May 1, 2008 - Mark McAdow

Mark McAdow”Amazing!” “Awesome!” “Incredible!” Those are just a few of the words I’ve heard and used to attempt to describe this year’s Second Wind Outreach! This is an amazing church family and staff. Thanks to each of you who invested your time, energy, expertise and talents all weekend long to care for others in Jesus’ Name here at First Church! Thanks for your willingness to be stretched and used of God!

This was by far our greatest Marathon Outreach event ever. Our presence at the Runner’s Expo on Friday and Saturday gave us some great visibility; Mary Nethercutt, Sandie, Laura, Kirk and I cooked and served hundreds of silver dollar sized pancakes to passersby and invited people to worship with us on Saturday night and breakfast on Sunday morning. Kirk estimates we served 2100 for breakfast, 1000 kids enjoyed our Kid’s Play area, and another 2000 stretched out in the warmth and comfort of our church building, used our restrooms, watched the live feed of the race in our sanctuary, etc. We were packed!

We had a tremendous one-hour targeted worship service on Saturday evening and for the very first time, about half the congregation were runners and their families. I preached on Finishing Strong and we had a "Blessing of the Shoes" to close the service with a special anointing for runners who so desired – many did! It was very moving. I saw several with tears in their eyes. Our kids did a great job singing and signing I am Free, and we even had a guest appearance by our own Forrest Gump (Steve Kime)!

Sunday began early (4am) for the pancake cooks and other volunteers (including several of us who spent the “short” night in the church). We actually began serving an hour early because people were here and hungry. The cold, rainy weather brought more people inside our building; God used even that to allow us to serve more people. We received overwhelming appreciation and personal thanks from lots of people. We also led the Sunrise Service at the Survivor Tree at 5:25am and began with the blowing of the shofar (thanks, Terri!).

I am so proud to be your pastor and thankful for the chance to serve alongside each of you. Yes, it was hard work, but very satisfying. We always receive more when we give – that’s a spiritual principle you can count on!

Blessings, Mark

P.S. And thanks for your prayers! I did finish the 5K race without needing EMSA and I have Evan and a medal to prove it!

8 comments (Add your own)

1. Kim wrote:
I really enjoyed serving runners through First Church at the second wind outreach. This is something I will do every year because it was so rewarding!!!

May 1, 2008 @ 1:13 PM

2. Susan Cox wrote:
Way to go First Church! One of my co-workers had family eat our pancakes while one family member ran the marathon- my co-worker's father (a retired Baptist minister) said our food was delicious and the servers and other church members were quite friendly! I thank everyone for representing our church so well!

May 1, 2008 @ 1:28 PM

3. Wanda Askins wrote:
What a great weekend!! I was very impressed with the number of runners who attended the Saturday night service and participated in the special blessing and anointing at the altar. Then Sunday morning was just overwhelming--everything went so smoothly in the dining area where I worked. This was thanks to Doris Haley for her superb organization!! So many people thanked us as we worked our assigned tables. I enjoyed every minute of it!! (I "guesstimated" that we served about 2,000 so I wasn't too far off.)
I love belonging to a church where the people are willing to give so much of their time and effort to serve others!! Bless everyone who participated and also those who came to be served!!

May 1, 2008 @ 4:46 PM

4. wrote:
What an incredible outreach by an incredible church! My entire family and several friends from out of town participated in this year's Marathon relay as well as First Church's pancake breakfast. I got the nicest compliments from them all on what a blessing it was to have a nice place out of the rain to gather and fill their stomachs and their souls with service from such caring people. As a new member of First Church, it makes me proud to know that the mission here is truly to be the hands and feet of Christ to the community and world!

May 1, 2008 @ 8:19 PM

5. Leigh Anderson wrote:
What a blessing it was to hear how First Church touched my family and friends from out of town who participated in last weekend's marathon! The pancake breakfast provided food for hungry stomachs and souls, and as a new member of First Church it makes me so proud to be a part of a church family whose mission truly is to be the hands and feet of Christ in the community and the world!

May 1, 2008 @ 8:22 PM

6. Mary Nethercutt wrote:
I didn't see much of the operation at the church, but I say cold hands and feet supplied by warm hearts and smiles lifting up and encouraging thousands of very tired runners. First Church, you are world class marshals. You are truly an inspiration to work with and are all a part of my extended family. Blessings to all who served to shine Christ's grace on His children.

May 2, 2008 @ 11:11 AM

7. Tim Buettner wrote:
I wasn't there in person, unfortunately, as I am slowly recovering from PTSD which involves stress of alot of crowds....but I definitely look forward to next years Marathon and will be the first one to sign up for such an awesome event.....and everyone was in my prayers on that special day this past week

May 4, 2008 @ 3:19 PM

8. Bill Parks wrote:
12th and Hudson had to be one of the best places to be course marshal. Cheering all thosee folks on with less than a mile to go. It was a true privilege to get to serve in this way. I am looking forward to next year when some of us will be in the Pat Perkins Relay team. First church truly is the heart and hands of Jesus in downtown OKC.

May 7, 2008 @ 9:57 PM

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