Trio goes the extra miles for Speed the Light
Durbin (Left)
Kelley
Mooney
By Amber Weigand-Buckley and Kara Chase
Anyone can do extraordinary things for God — 2009 has proven that! And raising money Speed the Light (STL), the student-initiated program that provides essential transportation and creative communication for missionaries across the globe, is no longer just a job for the youth group. “Students along with leaders are responding in extraordinary ways to fulfill the cause of Christ to reach the lost of our world,” says STL Director Chet Caudill. From walking 500 miles, to running marathons, to biking across the U.S., they are inspiring others to give sacrificially and be the change in their world.
I Will Walk
Earlier this year, 15-year old Mike Durbin from Whitehouse, Texas, attended a STL conference, where Caudill challenged students to make sacrifices for their faith. Gripped by Caudill’s message, Mike knew he wanted to do something.
The next morning, Mike felt God was leading him to walk 500 miles from Whitehouse to Assemblies of God headquarters in Springfield, Missouri, to raise $10,000 for STL. Plans for I Will Walk were soon underway.
Joined by his uncle, Marccus Durbin, Mike began his journey on June 1. Averaging 20 miles each day, they encountered intense summer heat, tornado warnings and even a few dog chases.
Along his 500-mile route, Mike spoke at churches and youth groups, but the message of I Will Walk extended far beyond church walls. Through Mike’s daily interactions, many opportunities arose for him to share his faith. He was even able to lead a man to Christ outside of a Starbucks.
Mike completed his 500th mile in front of AG headquarters, where a number of employees cheered him on at the finish line, including members of the Executive Leadership Team and national youth ministries staff.
“I finally understand true sacrifice, as throughout the day I stretched myself physically, emotionally and spiritually,” says Mike, who wants to serve as a missionary in the future. He challenges his fellow students to discover their own “I Will.” “God has a divine plan for everyone’s life, but it’s up to them to pray about it and find out what it is.”
Bike for the Light
“Initially I was a just a big guy who wanted to lose weight, and that’s when I started to bike, says former youth pastor Johnny Kelley.
Little did Kelley know that down the road he would leave his youth pastorate, sell all his belongs and find a ministry pulpit on two wheels — biking 10,000 miles a year cross-country to raise awareness and support for STL.
Bike For The Light, like the cause it’s supporting, isn’t just about fundraising. It’s inspiring students to be world-changers.”This tour’s was called the Fill In The Blank tour, [meaning], ‘I’m going to bike for the Light, what are you going to do for the Light? Fill in the blank,’” Kelley explains, “and I challenge and dare students to do something to change the world.”
The RV, which is currently parked in the General Council Exhibit area, is what Kelley calls home. The vehicle has turned into a canvas for students to fill in the blank. Thousands of commitments are scrawled on the RV’s exterior, including phrases like, “I will tell my brother about Jesus,” “I will become a missionary to Africa,” and “I will raise $200 for Speed the Light.”
During this week he has been able to reconnect with students who have he’s spoken to along the tour to ask if they are really making the change. And in 2010, Kelley will embark on another Bike For The Light tour, traveling down the east coast.
“Our teens are awesome and they can do huge things if we give them direction and show that we have faith in them,” Kelley says. The commitment-covered RV is evidence of the young people’s desire to make a difference.
Marathon for Missions
Just a week before the hectic events of General Council Orlando, national Youth Director Jay Mooney broke through the finish line of another race — the San Francisco Marathon, in faith to raise more than $100,000 for missionary projects that require immediate funding.
This was the Mooney’s first marathon. “One thing I learned from a seasoned runner is that there are two halves to a marathon. I actually discovered my half was the first 23 and the last 3.2.” The only setback Mooney encountered during his race was 20 miles in when he experienced terrible stomach cramps which took him back on his time 15 minutes.
The marathon was a part of Mooney’s All Will Drive (AWD) commitment — a petition for 1,000 youth leaders to put their feet to action and make STL a personal priority. Participating leaders commit to a 26-mile walk or run to corporately raise at least an additional $1 million in STL funding.
“Some missionaries have been forced, because of shortfall, to take out loans for a vehicle until a supply is provided for their mission,” explains Mooney. “We want to set the pace for our students, that we are willing to give it our all to equip our missionaries to reach the world with the gospel.”
Mooney says doing something significant for missions doesn’t mean you have to run a marathon or walk 500 miles. It simply takes determination. “Every student in the AG could and should give at least $100 in a Speed The Light offering the week of 9.9.09 — we call it 9INE. Collectively, it should be the largest STL offering ever!
“It took me over 350 miles and six months of training to run a marathon,” Mooney adds. “Doing my part in the 9INE offering will be much easier. Most importantly, it will make an eternal difference for lost and dying people who need the gospel of Jesus Christ!”
To learn more about Durbin, Kelley and Mooney’s challenges visit:
For more information on 9INE, All Will Drive and Speed the Light visit www.speedthelight.com.