Interview for Chaplains' Corner
by Patrick Nath
cc: When did you receive
Christ as your Saviour?
wb: I think I was
about 8 years old. It was at a
revival meeting in the Christian Church
at Sublette, Kansas. I grew up in
that church. I'm sure I attended there
9 months before I was even born
the first time.
cc: What types of church
ministry do you participate in?
wb: I work for the National
Missionary Convention which conducts a 4
day convention once a year in various
locations all over the USA. We have
met in Orlando, Florida; New York City;
Portland, Oregon; Anaheim, California and many
other places in between. In recent years
attendance has increased to five or six
thousand. The convention serves as a
venue to get people, churches and colleges
involved in world evangelism. I have
worked with the convention since 1966.
I also teach an older adult Sunday
School class at the Sublette Christian
Church. We have a great time. Several
people in the class are over 80
years old and have a great faith.
cc: How long have you
been running?
wb: I started jogging when
I was 42 or 43 -- about 26
years ago -- and started running races
when I was 49.
cc: What are your most
memorable experiences in running?
wb: Running my first marathon.
It was in Las Vegas, Nevada.
I wanted to run in a marathon that
was not on Sunday and not sponsored
by a beer company. I finished first
in my age group in just over three
hours and five minutes. That was in
February of 1986. In October of 1986
I ran the Wichita Marathon in almost
exactly the same time. Another memorable
race was the 8 mile Turkey Trot
with about 3,000 other people in Dallas,
Texas. Also the Tulsa Run in 1985
with about the same number of people.
I have also has lots of memorable
races in Southwest Kansas. I have run
about 400 or more races.
cc: How does your faith
affect your running?
wb: Since I am very
strongly opposed to the liquor industry
in all it's forms I rarely run
in races in which beer companies have
any part. Since I feel I need
to be in church on Sunday mornings
I never run in Sunday morning races.
cc: How does running affect
your faith in Christ?
wb: It helps me work
off frustrations in what is often frustrating
work in the Missionary Convention. When
you are gasping for breath it takes
your mind off other problems. I also
think it is important to keep myself
in the best physical health I can
to do the work I am trying to
do.
cc: Are there any special
things you pray or think about while
running? wb: I try to concentrate
on running. However, since the missionary
convention work is something that is
with me 24/7 it is difficult not
to think and pray about it. Quite
often when I run in the mornings
I will pray about things that I
am going to be working on that
day or about the convention in general.
I will also pray about my family.
cc: Do you have a
favorite Bible verse?
wb: From the standpoint
of my work it would be Matthew
28:19 and 20. As a runner it would
be Isaiah 40:31.
cc: Is there anything you
would like to say to a non-believer
who runs? wb: Jesus gives
a purpose to life (including running)
that goes far beyond anything this world
gives.
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Walter is a co-chaplain for SWFTR, holds
the office of SWFTR Secretary and as
such publishes the SWFTR newsletter, and
supervises the SWFTR Grand
Prix Series. Somehow, he also finds
the time to become a fixture at
most Saturday races in southwest Kansas.