Missionary will run Stockholm Marathon to benefit church
Missionary will run Stockholm Marathon to benefit church
June 1, 2004
A UMNS Feature
The Rev. Keith Turman
Photo courtesy of GBGM The Rev. Keith Turman
By Linda Bloom*
For the Rev. Keith Turman, running is a pleasure, not just a way to keep fit.
But
the United Methodist missionary, based in Lithuania, has chosen to make
his first marathon more than just an enjoyable race past the Swedish
Royal Palace and Houses of Parliament in central Stockholm.
His
goal: to raise $26,000 — $1,000 per mile — at the June 5 Stockholm
Marathon, to be used toward the construction of a new church in Taurage,
Lithuania.
Turman
told United Methodist News Service that the idea of running a marathon
in Europe originated with his friend, Angie Slaback, who was planning to
visit Lithuania with her son, Lake, in June. She had run her first
marathon in Chicago last fall and was eager to try again, he said.
“Several
years ago, my good friend, Dr. Dan Slagle, had used a marathon to raise
money to help build a church in North Georgia, so I decided to follow
his example,” he added.
Training
began in February. “I ran for two months on snow and ice before seeing
the sidewalk, and the first day of running on the sidewalk was in a
driving, icy rain,” Turman said. “But I didn’t quit. I couldn’t quit. I
had already told my church in Taurage that I was running a marathon for
them.”
The
first United Methodist congregation in Taurage was established in 1923
and a church building dedicated in 1925. But its 71 members dwindled
because of German repatriation in 1941. The Soviets forced Lithuanian
clergy and church leaders to flee, confiscated the Taurage property and
eventually tore the church down. A funeral home now occupies the land.
Restarted
in 1996, the current Taurage congregation has purchased property near
the original sites. The projected cost of a new church building is
$250,000.
Turman
and his wife, Chan, serve in Lithuania through the United Methodist
Board of Global Ministries. He said he continues to challenge the
Taurage church members to pursue their dream.
“The
marathon training has been difficult at times and it has given me many
opportunities to talk with them about overcoming obstacles and enduring
the struggles to meet the goal,” he explained. “The church members are
poor, but I have been amazed at their desire to sacrifice and give.
“They
are discovering creative ways to give to the building fund. Vida, a
hairdresser and member of the church council, has made a commitment to
take her earnings for one day each month and donate it for the new
building. Others are following her lead.”
Turman
and Slabach will join some 15,000 other runners from around the world
at the Stockholm Marathon. Traveling to the marathon will involve a
10-hour bus ride from Lithuania to Tallinn, Estonia, and an overnight
ferry trip from Tallinn to Stockholm.
Turman can be reached by e-mail at keithnchan@yahoo.com.
He is accepting race pledges either on a per-mile basis or as a lump
sum. Pledges or contributions to the Taurage church fund can be mailed
in the United States to Hillsdale United Methodist Church, 5228 Highway
158, Advance, N.C. 27006, in care of the Rev. Jerry Webb.
*Bloom is a United Methodist News Service news writer.
News media contact: Linda Bloom, New York, (646) 369-3759 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
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