Kingdom First Ministries
Our first 5K Freedom Run
Peru Group pic
some students at the Freedom Run 
Peru Group pic
Olympian Ryan Hall starting the race
looking at the stories and pictures of slavery strung up around the school
Follow-up Links:

You can see more pictures from the run  here.

You can also visit the Freedom Run website to learn more about this event here.
Ryan and Sara Hall
Natalie's dad talking at Cardinal LifeWe really encourage you to find out more about the Halls and the awesome foundation that they recently started. Check out their website here.

The vision of their foundation as stated on their website is: to take small steps towards the marathon goal of ending poverty. Internationally, the money raised through the foundation will go towards Clean Water (through World Vision), fighting Human Trafficking (through International Justice Mission), and funding a home in a Rescue Center in Kenya through Global Children's Movement. The Hall Steps Foundation both partners with existing charities, and is in the process of creating its own initiatives within the United States.
 
Greetings!

Our first 5K Freedom Run followed by an abolitionist rally took place on April 25th in Menlo Park in conjunction with MPPC's Compassion Weekend. It was quite a crazy weekend since it was also the same weekend as 2nd mile, which was a big rennovation on Brentwood Academy school in East Palo Alto. We were more than pleased to have over 600 people turn out for the Freedom Run and 700 people for 2nd mile!! We felt like both events went better than we could have hoped for, and we saw God move in some really cool ways. 
running in praise at the Freedom RunThe purpose of the Freedom Run was similar to the Freedom Summit- to raise awareness about human trafficking and mobilize the body of Christ to do something about it- while also engaging in the symbolic act of running for freedom in honor of the millions of people enslaved around the world. (The Freedom Summit, for those who are unfamiliar, was a two day conference to fight human trafficking that Kingdom First put on in May, 2009. You can learn more about it and watch main session talks by incredible speakers at freedom-summit.org. It was absolutely incredible!)

We were honored to have Ryan and Sara Hall with us as our celebrity keynote speakers. They are both professional runners, and Ryan is an Olympic and American record holder in the marathon and half marathon. They are also both good friends and Stanford Cardinal Life alumni. Ryan and Sara recently started their own foundation to fight poverty and human trafficking around the world (see thestepsfoundation.org), so this event was a perfect venue for them to inspire others to become abolitionists. The ways that they are using their running platform to bring glory to God and proclaim good news to the poor and oppressed is so inspiring.

We also had Mercy Dizon with Not for Sale and Kevin Madsen with Trade as One speak briefly about ways that we can authentically LIVE abolitionist lives and not just SAY we are abolitionists. We really hope that action and lasting fruit was born out of this event. In addition to these awesome speakers, there were about 8 other Bay Area organizations present who are actively fighting this injustice (both locally and internationally) where people could get involved. Overall, we felt that our first Freedom Run was a tremendous success.

One powerful moment that sticks out to me was seeing more than 600 people walk to the start line in complete silence as we took a moment to pray for the victims of human trafficking. It was a very unique and sacred moment.

We are hoping to make this an annual event that students in the ministry help lead and orchestrate as they did this year! We want students to gain first hand experience of the great impact for God's Kingdom they can have when they are willing, available, and allowing God to inspire their imaginations for how He wants to use them. It is awesome to see students come alive and be transformed as they get caught up in a vision and movement so much greater than themselves. We feel that these experiences help in equipping them to be sent out into the world to live Kingdom First lives. We truly are wired by our Maker to find great joy and energy when we partner with Him to serve His creation and seek justice for the oppressed.

Have a blessed week!!