In 1954, a British runner named Roger Bannister accomplished something extraordinary. For years, runners had chased the elusive four-minute mile. It was a barrier that had never been broken. It seemed like an impossible feat. But on May 6, 1954, at a track in Oxford, England, Bannister ran the fastest mile ever recorded. He ran one mile in 3:59:4 seconds! The lid was off! Then, just 46 days later, an Australian runner named John Landy broke Bannister’s brand-new world record with a time of 3:57:9!
What once seemed out of reach had suddenly become possible! Since that historic day, 2,000 men have joined the sub-four-minute-mile club. But not one woman has officially broken the four-minute mile barrier. Not yet anyway!
After spending the last few weeks in Zambia with our running team and our amazing kids, I’ve decided that my money is on a little girl named Mapalo. She’s one of our Little Lions who is now running with the big boys! She’s fast. She’s confident. She talks a little trash. And she makes running look ridiculously easy! She hardly breaks a sweat, and her stride, rhythm, and posture are amazing to behold. I’m praying she breaks the 4-minute mark.
At Orchard Ministries, running is incredibly important to us. It’s how we first began gathering young people together years ago. It’s a tool for discipleship, an opportunity to build relationships, and a powerful metaphor for the journey of life.
During my recent visit, I was so proud to see 45 kids gather to run through the streets of Chifubu. Boys and girls. Big kids and little kids, with 9-year-old Mapalo charging out ahead as far as we’d let her! As we invest in these incredible young people in Ndola, Zambia, we believe we’re raising lions who will live powerful, roaring lives! We’re teaching them to believe that their lives matter.
That THEY matter. That their stories have purpose.
That their circumstances don’t have to determine their futures.
That they were made to blow the lid off limitations!
They were born to be record breakers!
Please join me in praying for our Lions in Zambia. And join me in praying for young people everywhere. The challenges and opposition facing this generation are significant. But I believe the plans and purposes built into their lives by the Creator of the universe, even before they were born, are greater still!
As we encourage, equip, and empower the young people in our lives, we get a front-row seat to something extra special. We experience the joy of watching them grow, discover their gifts, overcome obstacles, and step into the beautiful stories God is writing through their lives.
Maybe the next record breaker is just waiting for someone to tell them it’s possible. Someone to believe in them and cheer them on until our voices go hoarse!
Our annual Roar Run event is coming up on Saturday, October 31, in Las Cruces, New Mexico! This is our biggest annual fundraiser, supporting our work with children and youth in Zambia. It’s going to be a really special morning, complete with fire pits, hot coffee, breakfast burritos, and a whole lot of fun! We’ve got something for everyone: a 1-mile family fun run, a 5K, and a 10K. We’ll also have a costume contest, kids’ face painting, and a special art auction featuring handmade paintings from a dear Zambian friend. Every dollar raised helps us continue investing in the next generation of Lions! So, sign up to run, come cheer everyone on, or donate today.