The second annual Rebel Run, sponsored by Grace Bible Church’s Youth Impact ministry, kicked off at 10 a.m. Saturday with the 8K race, followed by the 5K race at 10:30 a.m.
The Rebel Run, complete with water slides, obstacle courses, and hill climbing, was organized by Youth Impact volunteers. Erin Christian, Youth Impact coordinator and Class of 2011, said some of the volunteers even ran in the race.
“We have about 120 college volunteers who run a program for students in Bryan-College Station ages 5-18,” Christian said. “We wanted to mentor them and connect with them and inspire them to be Christ-like leaders in our community.”
Dani Kline, sophomore biomedical sciences major, said Youth Impact benefits the future of the Bryan-College Station community.
“The youth are the ones that are going to grow up to be the people who are reaching out to people more so it’s just growing generations to continue spreading the faith and disciplining others,” Kline said.
Kline said events hosted by Youth Impact succeed in unifying people of all ages.
“It’s really good because it has a very wide range of age groups,” Kline said. “There’s older people who can help mentor the younger people and then also there’s that good basis of leadership to keep the church stable. Good community, good leadership.”
Hannah Gribble, junior animal science major, said Grace Bible Church and the college ministry are doing a good job of integrating the college population into the church’s activities.
“I think it’s good, I mean, they’re really catering to kind of a college atmosphere,” Gribble said. “They’re very much trying to get college students involved into their community. So the younger kids can be like, ‘Oh hey, I can talk to this college student, I can kind of get a feel for what it’s going to be like.’ The college students can help the younger ones and the younger ones can look up to the college students.”
April Gill, 5K runner and mother of two, said Rebel Run attracted so many people because of its accommodation to the younger crowds.
“It’s fun and, especially with this new generation, as far as what’s attracting a lot of people is these kinds of races,” Gill said. “So not just running but having obstacle courses and challenges and something that’s really close to the drive is it appeals to old and young crowds.”
Gill said the race focused on the youth of the community and reminded her of what kind of future she wanted for her children.
“It’s bringing us back to remembering to think about our kids and to do what’s right for them,” Gill said.
Laura Farris, sophomore meteorology major, said Rebel Run was a good way to reinforce how a true community operates.
“Community is really important because that’s how God intended it to be,” Farris said. “You need to have that community of love but also people who can point you in the right direction when you’re going the wrong way.”