#Comrades2019: Run for a purpose, run for Bibles
One athlete who has run for Bibles for the last 14 years, is Comrades legend, Louis Massyn (67).
When you run a race as grueling as the Comrades Marathon it is important to know why you are doing it.
Why are you putting yourself through such an ordeal? What is the purpose of this exercise?
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Indeed, this is one of the first pieces of advice those who have run the race share with novices. Because, when the going gets tough — and in the Comrades it will get tough — and the pain becomes unbearable, and the doubts start creeping in, you need a clear and strong “why” to help you push through and get to the finish line.
The group of athletes who run for Bibles are more than convinced of their “why”.
Their purpose is to help spread the Word of God to those who are least likely to receive it.
By supporting the Bible Society of South Africa these runners help ensure that people who cannot afford a Bible will indeed receive a Bible of their very own.
One athlete who has run for Bibles for the last 14 years, is Comrades legend, Louis Massyn (67).
“I ran my very first Comrades in 1973 and it all began with a sermon. I was in the Anglican Church in Odendaalsrus when the Bishop of Bloemfontein compared the sermon’s passage of Scripture to the Comrades Marathon. As a 22-year-old man, I decided to run the next Comrades race then and there,” says Louis who aims to complete his 47th consecutive Comrades in 2019.
That Comrades in 1973 was also the first race that Louis ever ran in his life.
Inspired to run in his first Comrades Marathon by the Word of God, Louis still combines his love for the Bible with his love of running today.
Projects that benefit from athletes such as Louis are: Braille Bible for the blind, Audi Bible for the elderly and visually impaired, literacy programme for pre-school disadvantaged communities, Gr 7 learners from disadvantages schools, Bibles for prisoners and Bibles for the poorest of the poor.
To become part of the Run4Bibles team is easy. Sign up online at www.biblesociety.co.za or phone Hermien Cilliers at 031 207 4933 and receive your personal Active for Bibles donor number.
Ask your family, friends, church, club members or anyone really, to sponsor you during your running events.
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