Youth and Discipleship Leaders to Run New York Marathon
International Director of Youth and Discipleship Tom Madden and Assistant Director Gary Lewis will run the ING New York City Marathon this weekend to raise funds for the establishment of an Urban Center in New York City.
Called the “Run for Hope” it will establish an Urban Center to enable and assist the 150 local Churches of God to:
• Establish benevolence ministries
• GED for Adults
• After school tutoring for at risk children
• Drug and alcohol rehabilitation
• Feed and clothe the needy
• Provide English as a second language courses
• Provide crisis pregnancy counseling
“One in five adults and a third of the children live in poverty in New York City,” Madden stated. “The labor force for the center will be young adults committing nine months of volunteer service to establish and maintain their ministries. Instead of losing Church of God students to other para-church organizations, we will be able to provide the opportunity and training to our sons and daughters.”
The ING New York City Marathon is one of the largest and most prestigious running events in the world. It attracts upwards of 50,000 participants who run all five boroughs of New York City during the 26.2 mile course. The two leaders will be joined in the race by Tom Madden’s son and daughter, Chad Madden and Crystal Madden.
“This run will be more than a typical marathon for both of us,” Tom Madden stated. “We are energized by the fact that it will be a run of: Prayer – Jesus is Lord of the city; Declaration – The Church of God is alive in New York and ready to reach the lost; and Finances – Running to raise two years of operation ($400,000) for the center.”
To make financial contributions please call the department of Youth and Discipleship at 423-478-7225. All donations will go directly to the New York Urban Center.
