What merely started as a simple thought has turned into a movement across the world.
Will Garinger was just 19 years old when he founded Run With Christ, a run club geared towards physical and spiritual health in Columbus, OH.
Today, Run With Christ is in over 30 cities and even several countries. From Nashville, to Miami, to New York City, there is a RWC popping up on every corner.
Without an established leadership team, marketing plan, or a clear direction, Will came up with this concept and hit the ground running. To his surprise, it wasn’t long until other people started taking notice and joining in.
“Basically, we're going to have energy drinks, music, water, share the gospel, share bible verses, pray with each other, and it's just going to be an amazing time. That was the depth of anything I had,” Will said.
Will started RWC out of a desire to create a unique, Christ-centered community that would help people grow spiritually and physically, different from typical running clubs that lacked a faith focus.
Many from all different backgrounds, ages, and even denominations have come together to find community.
From a newborn baby in a stroller to a 70-year-old, Will’s hopes are coming to life through RWC.
Runners can expect a Saturday morning unlike any other.
The morning kicks off with a community-wide prayer that allows attendees to keep their mission at the forefront. Hundreds of people soon gather surrounded by upbeat music, cold tubs, and an unbeatable energy to set out on a 5k.
RWC has become more than just about running. Several baptisms and salvations have taken place at these events turning an RWC morning into a ministry many are finding their faith in.
At such a young age, Will is paving the way for others to take their passions and turn them into a ministry, and he still is astonished. When asked how it makes him feel to see a run club take off in the way it did, he easily had the perfect response.
“I think our God is funny sometimes in the way that he chooses certain groups of people to do something like that,” Will said.
What started out as a simple idea has exploded into a movement that has impacted thousands of people, an idea that a 19-year old created.
As Will's story shows, RWC has grown far beyond its humble beginnings into a nationwide community of runners united in their faith. The club has become a welcoming home for believers of all ages and backgrounds to grow closer to God through fellowship and fitness.
Plans are underway for a national conference which will bring all the RWC chapters together. This will provide leadership training, fitness events, and an opportunity for all the RWC leaders across the country to come together.
Will's passion and unwavering commitment to serving Christ has sparked a movement that is touching people across the country and now globally. Currently, RWC is gearing up to launch in Costa Rica, Mexico City, and Cape Town, South Africa, proving once again that with God, all things are possible.
If you are ready to join or even start your own RWC in your city, visit their website to get in touch.