Who Is your Support Crew?

by Chris Freet

As some of you may know, I enjoy running as a means of exercise and stress relief.  There is a man named Dr. David Horton who is an exercise science professor at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia.  Dr. Horton is also a legend in the world of ultra running.  For example, he has the third fastest time in history for running from Los Angeles to New York.  He is only one of nine men who finished the Barkleys ultra marathon--100 mile run has been around for over 25 years!  He also has held numerous speed records on long trails such as the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Coast Trail.  The Pacific Coast Trail is over 2600 miles long and he ran it in 68 days!

But I bring Dr. Horton to your attention for another reason.  Not only is he a running legend but he is also a born again believer.  And during his attempt at the PCT spped record a few years ago God laid something on his heart.  The illumination Dr. Horton received was this:  We need people.  Sounds simple, right?  It is really more important than we realize.  Dr. Horton could not have set the speed record on the PCT without a good support crew--people hiking food to remote spots, a doctor to 'doctor' his feet and blisters regularly, people to set up camp daily so that when he arrived at the certain point everything would be ready.  This simple but deep truth is something that is vital for Christ-followers as well.  For example, the apostle Paul wrote:

"Carry each others burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."  - Galatians 6:2

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.  Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching."  - Hebrews 10:24-25

You see, in the New Testament alone there are over 60 "one another" verses calling the church (gathered people, not an organization) to encourage, build up, edify, etc.  This means that it is vital for the church to regularly meet together.  If we are not regularly meeting with the church then how can we edify each other?  This is the point of spiritual gifts according to Paul in 1 Corinthians and Ephesians.  They are given to edify and build up others.

With this we can see how important it is to meet together with other believers.  It is not something that can be negelcted if we are to grow in our faith in Christ.  Like Dr. Horton realized so must those who call on the name of Christ--we need people.