Crossover Austin includes 5K ‘Race Against Time’

By Jerry Pierce
September 10, 2006
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AUSTIN?It’s not the typical Southern Baptist outreach. No potluck or barbecue will be served?at least not until participants cross the finish line in a Kids K or a competitive 5K race.

After a weeklong series of evangelistic church meetings leading up to “Crossover Austin,” the first SBTC Race Against Time will be held at Anderson Mill Baptist Church in Austin Nov. 11 prior to the SBTC annual meeting Nov. 13-14. The race proceeds will benefit HIV/AIDS patients.

“The pastors in the Austin area put their heads together and decided they wanted to do something a little different, which in addition to having door-to-door visitation and having some revivals, they wanted also to have a 5K race. Austin is such a sports and athletics-centered community,” said Jack Harris, SBTC personal and event evangelism associate. “There are races in Austin all the time. They thought this would be a good way to get lost people in the community to come to an event where they could hear the gospel presented.”

Last year in Amarillo, SBTC messengers, ministry staff and dozens of Amarillo-area Baptists dispersed in groups of two and three to canvass neighborhoods. This year, there will be the usual door-to-door outreach led by Austin-area churches in the early afternoon. But not before the race, which will be an officially timed event that Austin recreation officials will help coordinate, Harris said. After the 5K, the gospel will be shared and SBTC disaster relief volunteers will serve food and drink.

Also, for five consecutive nights beginning Sunday, Nov. 5, Crossover rallies will be held at Austin-area churches featuring retired Florida pastor and SBC immediate past president Bobby Welch, Harris said.

Welch is the creator of the FAITH evangelism training, which many churches have successfully used to help lead non-Christian attenders and others to Christ. Welch will share the gospel and encourage believers to participate in the Saturday Crossover events, Harris said.

The site of the race, Anderson Mill Baptist Church, is at 10633 Lake Creek Parkway. The Kids K Run will begin at 9 a.m. followed by the 5K at 9:30 a.m. Awards will be given to male and female winners in each five-year age segment. Pre-registration for the Kids K is $10 and $20 for the 5K; the day of the race registration is $15 and $25, respectively.

Pre-registration will be available at active.com, a national sports events Web site that is partnered with ESPN.com.

The following Crossover rallies with Bobby Welch are scheduled as follows:

6 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 5, Anderson Mill Baptist Church, 10633 Lake Creek Parkway, 512-258-5843. The pastor is Rod Minor.

7 p.m., Monday, Nov. 6, Andice Baptist Church, 6570 FM 970, Florence, Texas, 254-793-2557. James Tisdel is the pastor.

7 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 7, Oak Meadows Baptist <st1:P