RUNNING
ACROSS THE SAHARA

Topics: Ambition; Attitudes; Challenges; Courage; Dedication; Determination; Faith; Faithfulness; Goals; Motivation; Passion; Patience; Perseverance; Persistence; Self-discipline; Strength; Trials; Victory

References: Acts 20:24; 1 Corinthians 4:9–13; 9:24–27; 2 Corinthians 1:8–11; 2 Timothy 2:1–13; 4:6–8; Hebrews 11:1–12:13; Revelation 3:10

For 111 days. Charlie Engle, Ray Zahab, and Kevin Lin ran across the Sahara Desert. They touched the waters at Senegal and then made their way through Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Libya, and Egypt to touch the waters of the Red Sea.

Along the way, the trio faced blazing afternoons of 100-plus degrees; jarring, freezing nights; sandstorms; tendonitis; violent sickness; aches, pains, and blisters. But the biggest challenge they faced was finding water. Finding it in its purest, cleanest form gets to be a bit of a chore while in the middle of nowhere.

Running 4,000 miles across the Sahara Desert is an amazing accomplishment. But just as commendable are these marathon finishers:

•     Christians who finish their lives still growing, still serving

•     husbands and wives who stay faithful to each other “until death do us part”

•     young people who preserve their virginity until marriage despite crushing peer pressure

•     pastors who stay passionate about ministry until their last breath

•     church members who weather conflict and remain joyful, loving, and faithful

—Anna Johnson, “3 Ultra-athletes Run across Sahara,” USA Today (February 20, 2007)

PART 30: SPORTS