Shirt Stories
We receive many emails that begin
with the words "I saw your shirt at________."
You can fill in the blank --- we hear from people
all over the United States. To date, we know that
our shirts have been spotted in all 50 states, DC,
and no less than a dozen foreign countries. It is
truly amazing how God has used a message on a shirt
to spread His word! We want to hear your stories!
If you have worn a shirt and have a story to tell, we
want to hear from you. If you have seen a shirt
somewhere, we want to hear from you. If you want to
be involved in this wonderful ministry that God has
given us, we want to hear from you. Email us at
chris@team413.org and tell us your stories!
STORIES OF BILLBOARDS OF GRACE
ON THE RUN....
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I ran my first marathon last week at Tulsa. I met you at the expo.
Your shirt caught my eye. We ended up talking quite
a while and I bought a shirt of my own.
The whole process of training and running a marathon has
so many similarities to running the race of life. To be successful
at both requires a lot of discipline and training. There are many
challenges to overcome. You had better get your mind engaged to
be ready for the race. Both require persistence and determination.
And obviously once you cross that final finish line the feeling
is awesome. I fully expect when I cross the final finish line in
this life, that will be awesome as well.
On Sunday morning as I prepared to race, I once again asked God
to give me strength to run well. I carried Hebrews 12:1-2 with me as
I ran. So often during my training, I prayed for God to strengthen
me to finish well. I had no set time to finish the race. After all it was
my first marathon and I simply wanted to run well and finish strong.
As I crossed the finished line, I was once again blown away by God's
grace as I saw my first ever marathon time of 4:13:27. Some might
say that time of 4:13 is a coincidence. I choose to think God allowed
me to run that specific time to reinforce that I can do all things
through Christ who strengthens me. Phil. 4:13 I have had the opportunity
to share that story with several people this week as many knew I was
running my first marathon and have asked how I did. I start
off by saying, "let me tell about this shirt I bought".
Thank you for your ministry!
GH
Springdale AR
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A testimony. While wearing a Team 413 shirt, I ran my first
marathon in Richmond this past Saturday. Soon after the start
I encountered two other Christian runners whom I fellowshipped
with for the next 12 miles. I received many affirmations of the
power of the Philippians verse from other runners along the way.
I finished the race with one of the new found Christian brothers.
Iron sharpened iron in the last few miles as we quoted several
other verses. Our finish time: 4hrs 13mins. (4:13 !!!!!!) God's
timing is perfect ! Thanks for your ministry. It's not returning void.
Be blessed. Daniel H.
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I met Mr. Chris Gillespie at the Nationwide Fitness Expo where
Team413 had a booth set up for the Columbus, Ohio Marathon.
I spoke with Mr. Gillespie and immediately knew I had to buy a
Team 413 shirt. I did not know what I was going to where the
day of the Marathon and as they say, God works in mysterious
ways and I firmly believe God was talking to me through Team 413.
This was my very first Marathon and though I had trained hard,
I was feeling a little worn down around the 22 mile marker. I
had several people throughout the race complimenting me on the
Team 413 shirt and the scripture written on it. I concentrated on
the scripture of Philippians 4:13 and this carried me through the
finish line in just over 3 hours and 40 minutes. I am a born again
Christian and this Sunday I spoke out in my church about my
Team 413 shirt and am spreading the word about the ministry.
David J.
Columbus, Ohio
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I met you at the Columbus Marathon and we talked about
the Flying Pig. There was a man there from Cincinnati as well,
whom you knew, but he left before you could introduce us. I'm
a race walker not a runner and I do plan on doing the Pig in May.
Do you have a group of walkers in Cincinnati? (Our motto is
"Why run slow when you can walk really fast?) Do you know
what is done with the silver blankets that runners leave after
the race? In Cincinnati City Gospel Mission would be a wonderful
recipient of them to distribute to our homeless. If possible could
you have the gentleman from Cincinnati contact me. Thanks.
I bought shirts for myself and three of my kids. It's amazing how
many people actually read what others wear!! God's Word
doesn't return void and those words are stuck in their minds
if they want it or not. Thanks for your ministry and for
being faithful to His call. You are blessed and a blessing.
Faith F.
Cincinnati, Ohio
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I also need to share with you the experience my wife Kim and
I had at the Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta last year
(July 4th 2006). It was my wife Kim's first road race. I
ordered her a shirt last minute and you were gracious enough
to send it to us in Atlanta. As you may know, the race has 55,000
runners! At the start of the race we met a man who said he
like our shirts. We were both wearing matching red running
shorts and our Team 413 shirts. During the race we had tons
of people make positive comments about our shirts. At one point,
about half way in the race, we were passing a woman who saw
our shirts and said her daughter was in the hospital having
surgery and asked us to pray for her. My wife said let's pray
right now so we slowed down and my wife said a prayer as we ran.
It was very emotional and we were all in tears. My wife and I
continued our run and crossed the finish line together with our
arms raised high in praise. After the race we were waiting to
get on the MARTA train and saw the same man that we had met at
the start and he said that the verse on the back of our shirts helped
him get through the race and finish. Remember, the race had 55,000
runners, and we could have chosen a different MARTA station, but
we still bumped into the same man. Without a doubt, God was at work!
Anthony N.
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Thanks so much for the prayers at the US10K Classic expo. I got a
job in the next two weeks...and this one should be a lot more stable.
The laying on of hands really had an impact on me. Thanks again and
I'll be wearing my shirt at the St George Marathon this coming weekend.
Steve L. - Kennesaw, GA
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I wanted to tell you a quick story about my first marathon since
buying a Team 413 shirt. I met you earlier this year in Birmingham
at the Mercedes Marathon and bought a technical shirt online earlier
this summer. Anyway, I was training this summer for Two Bear Marathon
in Whitefish, Montana when I tore a calf muscle with only 4 weeks
before the race. I could not run on at all during this time, I could
only bicycle to keep up a little cardio. Every time I would attempt
to run the pain would hobble me and I would limp back home. I
already had tickets to Montana and a vacation planned around the
marathon. I decided I would not run again until 2 days before the
marathon and see if the pain would return. On Friday, we were in
Waterton National Park in Canada and I went out for an early
morning run. Two miles into the run the pain returned just as it had
before. The pain was not intense, but it was uncomfortable
and I knew 26 miles would definitely be painful.
My family and I decided after meeting with race officials that
it would be okay to start and they would take care of me if I had
to call it quits. We all felt a DNF was better than a DNS. On Sunday
morning, I proudly put on my Team 413 shirt and made my way to
the start. Many people commented on my shirt, but two guys came
up to me and introduced themselves as Christians and asked if
I would pray with them. I told them about my injury and the corresponding
lack of training and we prayed about that. We talked for a while
and their pace was going to be something I could handle. They were
shooting for a 4.5 to 5 hour marathon. I asked if I could run with
them to distract me from the pain that I knew was coming. Before I
knew it, we had run 18 miles and I felt NO PAIN! NONE! I had
to let them go ahead of me just because I was fatigued from altitude
and lack of training. I finished the race in 5:16, my slowest marathon
yet. But thanks to GOD I finished! As a 50 Stater, I was not concerned
with a good time, but with a completion. I now have 11 states
under my belt, and this is the one I cherish the most.
I could never have done it without Jesus Christ who gave me strength
and healing. It is now a week later, and I am still not feeling any pain
in my calf. I definitely hurt...but it was the typical post-marathon muscle
tightness. I call this my Miracle in Montana. Thanks for starting such a
worthy cause. Everyone who saw my shirt asked how to get one.
Don't be surprised if you get a lot orders from Montana soon.
David L, Houston TX
