Somerset church encourages healthy living through inaugural community fun run

Members of the Somerset Church, Ky., took steps toward healthier living this spring by hosting their first-ever Spring Fling Fun Run, a churchwide initiative designed to encourage physical activity and lay the groundwork for future community outreach.

Held May 17, the 5K attracted approximately 15 participants. The event was organized by the church's health ministries department as part of its yearlong "Let's Move" initiative, which encourages members to incorporate more movement into their daily routines.

"I just told the congregation this year, 'We're going to move,'" said health ministries leader Shelley McCarty. "I'm interested in you just moving. Those small steps are what's important."

McCarty said the church, whose congregation is primarily made up of older adults, wanted to promote attainable lifestyle changes rather than intense fitness goals. Members were encouraged to take simple steps, such as parking farther away from store entrances, choosing stairs over elevators or taking extra walks throughout the day.

McCarty says health-focused events create opportunities for churches to build meaningful relationships within their communities.

"I think health ministry is the right arm of the gospel," McCarty said. "When you reach out to the community, you can talk to them about health and become their friend first, and then you can talk to them about the gospel."

Participants each received a commemorative medal, and organizers used the event to establish race times and identify ways to improve future races.

The May event served as a trial run for a larger community race. The Somerset church now plans to host a larger fun run on Oct. 11. Organizers intend to advertise throughout the community and make it a fundraiser benefiting Help the Homeless, a local organization that provides food, clothing, showers and other services for people experiencing homelessness. McCarty said the church hopes the event will attract significantly more community participants and become an annual tradition.