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Guinness World Record

Pastor Runs 153 Consecutive Marathons; He Broke The Guinness World Record

by Le-Jovale Vallejo March 15, 2023

written by Le-Jovale Vallejo

A pastor in Missouri ran 153 consecutive marathons to raise awareness for adoption, foster care, and youth mental health.

153 Consecutive Marathons

Last December 2022, the pastor of The Church at Pleasant Ridge in Missouri, Malachi O’Brien, was seeking to beat the record for most consecutive days of running a marathon. His mission is to increase people’s awareness of foster care, adoption, and youth mental health.

He officially succeeded in running a marathon for 62 consecutive days on December 8, 2022, and broke the Guinness World Record.

Yet the pastor, known by the moniker “Dr. Run,” didn’t stop running even after breaking the record. He kept running until he reached consecutive marathon number 153, which he finished on March 8th.

Malachi told ChurchLeaders after finishing his 62nd marathon that his purpose for running was to raise awareness about youth mental health, adoption, and foster care.

Why Pastor Malachi Ran 153 Consecutive Marathons

Malachi told ChurchLeaders that youth mental health and foster and adoption care are two causes close to his heart. He was adopted at the age of three, and his family had adopted from the foster care system.

Furthermore, his oldest daughter attempted suicide around a year ago after struggling with mental health concerns. The incident, according to the pastor, awakened him and his wife to “the crisis” of youth mental health.

“As a pastor, and even as a father, my inability to truly see it for what it was and to truly know what was needed in that moment is what woke me up—I really think it’s an epidemic and a crisis—so I’m wanting to raise awareness around that,” he said.

For Revival

Initially, Malachi wanted to keep going, but he felt that his “body is breaking down.” Though he is not closing his mind to the possibility of running more in the future.

On the 153rd day of his run, he posted, “Starting marathon 153. Over 4000 miles (1/6 the circumference of the globe) and 900 hours later, this is it. The final marathon. However, it’s not the end. Only the beginning. Stay tuned. Every mile for the glory of God. For revival. To bring mass awareness to youth mental health and adoption/foster care. The miracles of this journey amaze me of the goodness of God.”

Furthermore, the pastor left an important message about running the race.

“You know,” he said, “if you’re a runner and you look behind you, you have a chance of hurting yourself and destroying your future because you might not see what’s ahead of you. And I think people have to stop focusing on the past and really stop focusing on what’s ahead, but live in the now. Even Jesus said, ‘Take no thought for tomorrow’. Why are Christians so worried and anxious about tomorrow when tomorrow may not come? But if we live with intentionality… we can have the most deeply fulfilling and impactful life that revolves around Jesus.”

Header image: Malachi O’Brien [@malachiobrien]. Instagram, 13 March 2023, https://www.instagram.com/p/CptsGzsNBh1/?hl=en

Reference: Church Leaders

March 15, 2023 0 comment

Articles Featured

Doctors Advised Abortion, But Couple Took Leap Of Faith And Had Quintuplets

by Christa July 1, 2022

written by Christa

The father of quintuplets, who made headlines for setting a Guinness record, shared how he almost lost his children. But, he and his wife chose to trust God, and now, they are enjoying their answered prayers.

The Blessing of Quintuplets

Chad and Amy Kempel always knew that their family would grow. Today, their warm home includes the couple and their seven children.

But before the Kempels had their first daughter, Savannah, in 2014, they experienced several miscarriages. Chad told CBN News, “We have seven on earth and seven in heaven.”

Yet, throughout the tragedies, Chad kept his trust in God although Amy almost lost her faith. He believed that they were “meant to have children.” He said, “Our ideas of life involved family.”

In 2016, Chad and Amy welcomed their second daughter, Avery. They continued attempting to expand their family, even using fertility treatments.

The following year, Amy got pregnant again. But, this time, five babies were found inside her womb. “Years of trying to create a family, this was one of the times I felt the fear,” Chad shared.

Amy previously got pregnant with twin boys. But, her uterus had a tough time with the babies end eventually lost them. The couple worried for the future of their quintuplets.

But, their worries were doubled when doctors advised them to have “selective reduction.” It is a procedure in which they would “abort some babies to increase chances of survival for others.”

The couple watched a video of the said procedure and was horrified by what they saw. “It looks like an execution,” Chad recalled. “It’s inhumane.”

Kempel Family

Turning to God

The Kempels were indignant with the option so they turned to God. “I’m putting this in God’s hands. We don’t want to do this and now we’re here and it’s all in Your hands.”

Finally, on January 11, 2018, Amy successfully delivered three healthy boys and two lovely girls – Lincoln, Noelle, Grayson, Preston, and Gabriella.

“The day they were born at 27 weeks and 3 days, we were told minutes after birth that everyone is healthy,” the proud father said. “They are small and fragile but everyone is healthy. It switched to extreme gratitude and every day I thank Him. Through all of our suffering, I learned that nothing else matters in life.”

To the couples struggling with fertility, Chad encouraged them to never give up. “Don’t give up on it. There are options. Don’t listen to the doctors when they have a negative outlook on things. If you have a faith, belief in things unseen, then that’s the time to lean on it.”

As an expression of Chad’s gratefulness, he would run in races with the quintuplets in a stroller. Today, Chad sets the world record for being the fastest male marathoner to push a stroller.

Reference: CBN News

July 1, 2022 0 comment

Articles Video

Family Handwrites World’s Largest Bible In An Attempt To Break Records

by Christel Berns November 22, 2019

written by Christel Berns

A Christian family living in Dubai produces a massive handwritten Bible in an attempt to break a Guinness World Record for World’s Largest Bible.

Manoj and Susan Varghese, and their kids Karun and Krupa are the family behind the amazing feat. According to the report in Gulf News, the colossal text weighs a staggering 332 lbs. Impressively, each of the 800,000 words contained within the vast A1 size pages are meticulously handwritten.

Remaining Bible Verse Artifact From 9/11 Attack Reveals An Important Message

The family started the project on May 11, 2019. It was said that the family did it as a labor of love. They said that God guided them in the entire process. And it took five months for them to complete the task.

Christian family writing world's largest Bible

World’s Largest Bible

Susan’s motivation isn’t really getting the World’s Largest Bible record but to leave something remarkable for her children.

“All I wanted to do was leave something beautiful for my children. I wanted them to treasure something personal that I gave them,” Susan told Gulf News.

Working as a nurse, reading the Bible in Malayalam gave her the strength to get through each day. She wanted to show her children how special each word of the Bible was.

“I decided to write the Bible in English on regular sized paper so I could gift it to my children. I felt that not only would my children draw inspiration from the Bible, but they would also remember a mother who gave them a personal gift,” she said.

The Painstaking Process

Susan shared a bit of the process, “I would spend 12 to 15 hours every day meticulously writing out the Bible. My eyes would twitch and my hands would hurt, but in the process I found the Bible speaking to me, inspiring and guiding me.”

And although it was physically tiring for Susan, it rejuvenated her spiritually.

“My faith in God came alive in the process and I will describe it as a pilgrimage like no other,” she said.

Finally, on October 10, after 153 days, the family finished the huge handwritten Bible. Trueline Book Binding in Ghusaisven even embossed 22K gold lettering “Holy Bible” on the cover.

The report says that the Bible measures 85.5 cm by 60.7 cm in length and width in 1,500-page text. Also, it has 46.3 cm thickness.

The Christian family then submitted their great piece to the Guinness World Records. And authorities have taken official measurements to the huge Bible. Currently, they are still deliberating whether the family’s Bible has surpassed the previous record for World’s Largest Bible.

Dubai family attempts record with largest hand-written Bible

Watch this video on YouTube

Source: Gulf News

November 22, 2019 0 comment