On Saturday, April 15, Magnolia-based Eleos Global Ministries (EGM) is hosting a 5K fundraiser run that begins at 7 a.m. The first-time race has been dubbed “Mercy Run” in honor of the organization’s name. Eleos is the Greek word for mercy.
President Steven McAbee of EGM, formerly head pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church in Magnolia, said, “Part of why we’re doing the Mercy Run is to try to draw attention to what we’re doing.”
McAbee said that Eleos Global Ministries came into being from two main roots. He grew up in a church in Greenville, Texas, where one of the deacons began a ministry called To Every Nation. “I joined the board of To Every Nation, 2004 to 2015, and served and worked as vice president of that organization,” he said. “At that time we were going primarily to South America, but we also ventured into Taiwan.”
In 2010, while McAbee was serving at Immanuel, a member there named Mary Camp had a ministry called Scarlet Thread, a 501c3 (nonprofit) which she asked him to join. In 2012, Camp decided to stop running Scarlet Thread. “She filled out all the paperwork and put the ministry in my name,” he said. “She changed the name at that time to Expecting an Encounter.”
About a year and a half ago, the director of To Every Nation contacted McAbee about taking over that ministry as well. At that point the two ministries became one, and Eleos Global Ministries was born.
“I had studied Luke 10, the parable of the Good Samaritan,” McAbee said. “The whole story is about being kind and showing goodness to your neighbor. Jesus tells a story to explain that your neighbor is whoever you meet. Your neighbor is whoever’s in need. Eleos is an interesting word because it means not only to show mercy but to show mercy joined with an intention to help. A lot of times we feel merciful but we don’t do anything about it — we’re not moved to action. Eleos is all about moving our hearts into action.”
EGM’s approach is three-pronged. When they go into an area in need, they first provide solar panels with batteries and light fixtures so that people can give up kerosene lamps that often cause fires. Secondly, they provide filters to remove all impurities and bacteria out of water that is often drawn from disease-causing sources. And thirdly, they teach villagers to grow food using aquaponics, as opposed to hydroponics which uses chemicals. “We provide medicine for them, too, just to get them well,” McAbee said.
“As I’ve traveled over the world the last 18 years, I’ve realized that the world needs food, the world has a great need for water, and much of the world is in darkness,” he said. “They can charge the solar panel during the day and use the battery at night for the light. We’re helping them be more healthy and providing renewable energy. I saw one hut that burned down because of these kerosene lamps. That just moved my heart, and I wanted to do something about it.”
Eleos is active in the Philippines, India, Taiwan, Uganda, Peru, and Mexico.
Ben Warner, a volunteer with EGM, is the organizer for Mercy Run. “The course will be the same as that of the Blossom Festival 5K, so if anyone is wanting to preview the course for that race, this would be a great opportunity,” Warner said. “The starting line will be just south of Lois Gean’s and the McAlester Building.”
Every participant who registers by March 31 will receive a free T-shirt with their paid entry. There will be a $100 prize to the top male and top female runner. There will also be awards for the top three in each age division. The age divisions for men and women are 18 and under, 19-39, 40-59, 60 and up. For walkers the age divisions are 39 and under, 40 and up.
“We purposefully scheduled the race to be on Easter weekend as a reminder of Jesus’ sacrifice for us and the mercy that comes with it,” Warner said. “EGM is based in Magnolia and does work all over the world. Our mission at Eleos is ‘Love God. Love Others. Change the World.’ We do this by telling those whom we encounter through our ministry of the salvation that God has so freely offered us. While trying to help the spiritual needs of those we encounter, we help with their physical needs as well. We do this by providing clean water, renewable food, and renewable energy. All proceeds from this race will go toward ministry and helping those in need.”
Entry fee for the race is $25 per participant. Register online at https://racesonline.com/events/mercy-run. Online registration closes at 9 p.m. on April 14, but those wishing to register the day of the race may do so 5:30-6:30 a.m. at the Farmers Bank & Trust drive-through across from Lois Gean’s on S. Jackson in Magnolia. All registrants will pick up their packets and racing bibs there before the race.