Compassion Is A Team Effort

how Disciples pastors are running, walking, swimming,
​and biking to strengthen Week of Compassion

It has sometimes been said that compassion is a muscle – the more you exercise it, the stronger it becomes. The same is true of creative expression, building community, and any physical or spiritual commitment: with time, practice, and encouragement, we can become more connected to our own inner working, our communal resilience, and our collective power. Synergy is a real thing, in science and in us; the whole is always greater than just the sum of the parts.

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Week of Compassion’s work is rooted in genuine collaboration and shared opportunity; our stated mission is to work with partners to alleviate suffering throughout the world. Long-lasting partnerships provide real opportunities for people to thrive and flourish, and make this life-giving work possible and worthwhile.

So when Jonathan Hall, senior minister at First Christian Church of North Hollywood and an avid triathlete, had the idea to combine his passion for endurance events with his commitment to the enduring partnerships at Week of Compassion, an exciting connection and expansive witness was formed.
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Since 2023, Jonathan has raced ‘for’ Week of Compassion. Inviting friends, family, church members, and social media followers to support Week of Compassion with a contribution along the way, this commitment to lift up and support the mission of Week of Compassion by naming us as his fundraising partner during marathon and IronMan events has been a fun and fruitful partnership. 

Wearing the Week of Compassion colors, running/swimming/biking AND raising money for people and places he cares about has meant nearly $10,000 in mission support over the last two years. At Ironman California, Jonathan even found fellow Disciples! Members of Lee’s Summit Christian Church in Missouri were on the course supporting a friend, saw the red chalice on Jonathan’s sleeve and shouted out the connection.

Which made us wonder: We know a lot of Disciples pastors who do walk, run, bike, and swim events. What if … ??

Gathering a few pastoral colleagues together for a conversation, the idea took shape:

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 So far, four more Disciples pastors have selected their 2026 events (everything from 10K to triathlon) and plan to join their physical efforts and their spiritual commitments for the benefit of the communities Week of Compassion accompanies worldwide – and more Team members are warming up!

Everyone will go their own distance and race for their own reason, and that tells the truest and most expansive story of Week of Compassion: about girls' education in Afghanistan, women’s health care in Sudan, hurricane recovery in North Carolina, war response in Ukraine, tornado recovery in St Louis. Because of their commitment, and Disciples’ generosity, we’ll be able to say Week of Compassion is biking across Iowa, to make sure homes have roofs in Puerto Rico.

General Minister and President Terri Hord Owens often says, “When Week of Compassion is there, the whole church is there.” Commitments of every kind, generosity of every shape, and compassion at every step, along every course, through every mile, makes that possible.

​We are inspired by this Team effort, and so grateful.
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Follow Week of Compassion on social media (Facebook, Instagram) to keep up with the Team’s efforts. Visit this interactive map to see events and locations selected by Team members. Contributions to Week of Compassion in support of Team members can be made online. For information about joining the Team, or to support in another way, contact Week of Compassion.

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