The local Run With Christ chapter gathers before a group run in Fayetteville. | Courtesy photo.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. –At the University of Arkansas campus, students are connecting with their faith not through a church service or a sermon series, but through running.
Run With Christ is a new club that has recently emerged to provide Christian fellowship among college students and anyone in the community wanting to be involved. Several ministries and churches in Northwest Arkansas supply places to worship, but do not specifically cater to the many students who love athletics.
Originating on the campus of Ohio State University, Will Garinger founded the first Run With Christ club and invited several students to join him on campus. Through the first few meetings, Garinger wanted to make it more evangelistic, involving a time to speak about God’s word and teachings before every run.
Five hundred students attended the first Run With Christ meeting on Ohio State’s campus, and since then, the vision has shifted from an idea to a reality and a job for some. As more students became involved, the movement got so big that it eventually became a nonprofit.
A total of 70 Run With Christ clubs have emerged from this one root, including groups on and off campuses. From places like California, Wisconsin, all the way to Georgia, RWC is a place where athletes compete to become a better version of themselves.
Ethan McCarthy and Joli Ducharme both desired to bring RWC to Arkansas and created a movement here that reflected the nonprofit’s vision. McCarthy explained that this was more about sharing the gospel than it was athletics.
“This is not about running,” McCarthy said.
Both attended Bentonville High School and ran track together. McCarthy attended college at Penn State, pursuing a business degree, and then, deciding to take a gap year, he reevaluated his passions for his future. Ducharme attended the University of Arkansas and has been involved in mission work and church-based events throughout college.
Both leaders have now found a need within their spiritual lives to implement their faith in their sport. Holding a sacred view of taking care of themselves inside and out, as well as sharing their faith and inviting others, is something McCarthy and Ducharme strive to accomplish.
McCarthy makes it clear that this effort to start this run club wouldn’t have been possible without the leadership team. Leadership helps the group’s stabilization and streamlines elements like scheduling, meeting planning, media promotion and recruitment.
“There is so much variety, spiritual gifts and skills among our entire team. This is literally the reason any of this has happened,” McCarthy said.
Run With Christ has also gone global, setting up clubs in places like Cape Town, Africa, and Argentina. McCarthy and Ducharme believe this club was a calling in their lives to have an opportunity to speak about their faith.
Hunter Kemp is a student at the University of Arkansas and has been running cross-country and long-distance for 10 years. He stays active to connect with God during his runs and implements the things he loves into that relationship.
“It’s cool getting to work out with a group of like-minded people and getting to know them better while I myself am getting better,” said Kemp.
The setup for a day’s run starts early for the group’s leaders. Beginning with blaring music, energy drinks and a welcome team, RWC starts with prayer and stretches to get the entire team excited to run. With praying and sometimes baptisms on site, as well as some running, the team then concludes with lasting remarks that leave the people wanting more.
RWC also pairs its club with the local community, allowing small businesses to be involved, like Rush Running, which recently did a giveaway at one of the meetings.
Although several churches serve many members of the NWA community, it is often difficult when members find small differences among their own churches. Run With Christ hopes to create an avenue for students to look beyond their contrasts and mold into one family.
“Local churches, although amazing, sometimes divide up the student body,” Ducharme said.
The Run With Christ club often tables at various times and places around campus and hands out flyers for people to join the movement (literally). RWC leaders promote the local community to deepen their spirituality while encouraging a healthy lifestyle. RWC has several Instagram pages that promote each place the club represents around the world. This phenomenon has struck the new generation and seems to keep building momentum throughout many familiar parts of our nation.