Freedom Day fun run brings community together

KNYSNA NEWS – The Amazing Ministries Church held its second annual fun run on Thursday 27 April, Freedom Day.

The fun run, inspired by Nelson Mandela's "Long Walk to Freedom", was a success for the congregation in uniting the community and the church in a fun way, bringing together 101 participants.

The event began with a welcome by Bishop Thembi Mkefa, followed by a walk and run to the forest and a mass prayer at the top of the forest. Prayer points were led by Pastor Christopher Mbangeli.

Participants then returned to the starting point where they were treated to fun run packs and entertainment in the form of live choir and solo performances, Sarafina dancers, a moving Freedom Day speech and even a flash mob. Food stalls also provided some yummy eats and drinks.

Amazing Ministries aimed to make this year's event more accessible to everyone by making it a walk/run, with many of the participants even walking from their own homes.

The church is also responsible for establishing an outreach programme in the community which consists of helping those in need in various ways such as painting houses, giving out groceries and distributing stationery to schools.

The annual fun run not only aims at bringing together the church, but rather at involving the broader community and establishing a sense of unity, says Anita Best. "These events are no longer happening in our communities anymore, but the overall response that we got from the community was amazing. People that were just passing by came and joined in on the day's event. Our communities need such events," says Best.

Amazing Ministries currently has a few programmes designed to serve the community, including its outreach programme. This consists of helping those in need through various ways such as painting houses, giving out groceries and distributing stationery to schools.

Amazing Ministries wishes to thank Kingdom Word, Ark of God, the Concordia and Joodse Kamp communities, White Location and eThembeni communities for their support and helping to make the event a success.

Amazing Ministries hopes to make their Freedom Day event bigger in the future, to keep and maintain healthy habits in the community, try to keep kids off the streets and to raise money to reach more families in need through the outreach programme.

Eager participants in the fun run doing an impromptu warm-up.