Extreme faith.
That’s what Vista McDuffie says Embark Ministries is all about, and the events his ministry hosts challenge students to both spiritual and physical extremes.
The Amazing Race: Extreme Faith Edition pitted eight youth groups against one another in a friendly competition July 16 as they raced across Etowah County. The youth group from CrossPoint Community Church, Gadsden, won a $500 award toward a youth event such as rock climbing.
The other participating youth groups were from College Heights Baptist Church, Glencoe; Bellevue Baptist Church, Gadsden; Fairview Baptist Church, Gadsden; North Glencoe Baptist Church; First Baptist Church, Glencoe; Noccalula Church of God, Gadsden; and The Church at Mercy Hill, Rainbow City.
The competition began when teams clocked in at Morange Park in Gadsden, where they received their first clue card. The card bore a Bible verse without a reference. Teams had to find the reference, which served as GPS coordinates for the next challenge location.
They punched the coordinates into their GPSes and rolled up a curvy county road to Little Rock City Park near Gadsden, where the challenge was to rappel down a rock formation.
One by one, team members leaned back into their harnesses and took the backward step over the edge of the rock. For many, it was a scary moment. As their stomachs churned and knees shook, their teammates encouraged them to face their fears.
“The first step is the hardest part,” shouted one student waiting below. Others who made it down chimed in agreement.
Some students overcame their fears to the cheers of their teammates, while others declined to participate, resulting in a 10-minute penalty for their team.
The next clue card sent teams to Gadsden Mall, where a specific person knew the secret phrase they needed to receive their next challenge.
To find out the phrase, teams approached shoppers, saying, “What seems to us as bitter trials is often blessings in disguise.” Some shoppers nodded in agreement, while others stared in confusion or led them astray with fake phrases.
The key phrase “caramel Macchiato” allowed teams to advance to an obstacle course.
Each team member raced over and under a wooden obstacle, zigzagged through a creek and tromped through swamplike conditions — all while holding a cup full of water.
At the end of the course, team members dumped the contents of the cup into a bucket, hoping to quickly reach the “full” line.
Once the bucket was filled, a clue sent teams to the finish line, tucked away near a campground. They could recite a verse that had been displayed at the registration table for bonus points.
Working together to complete the race, the students completed the challenges much quicker than McDuffie expected.
“If all these kids could apply this to their Christian walk, how big of a change there could be,” he said.
The suspense over who won was drawn out until the end of the rally held that night at Bellevue Baptist, where McDuffie challenged the students spiritually.
Comparing the Christian life to a physical race, he urged them to run the race with passion and endurance.
McDuffie explained that if they were going to school and never sharing their faith, then they were running halfheartedly.
“You’re sitting on the sidelines, and you’re watching your friends go to hell,” he said.
McDuffie said he spoke from experience, having lived the party lifestyle when he was young. He turned his life over to Christ in a jail cell.
“I knew I was not being the father, husband or Christian I was called to be,” McDuffie said.
At the end of the rally, he opened the altar to students to renew their commitment to run with endurance and passion or receive salvation.
“It has nothing to do with your ability, but it has everything to do with God’s ability,” McDuffie said.
Students filled the altar as The Advice, who held a concert during the rally, played music.
One student said the night was a reminder “that God has faith in me.” Another was encouraged “to not give up and keep going.”
Everyone left with a prize to remember the day. For a team that got lost on the way to one challenge, it was a Dora the Explorer placemat; for a team that got muddy and messy, it was a sponge.
McDuffie emphasized that while the events are fun, seeing God work at the rallies is what he looks forward to most. The types of events he plans are intended to draw those students who might not attend a church service.
McDuffie started Embark eight years ago after visiting an area school as a youth pastor. He knew there had to be a way to reach the hundreds of students in the area. So McDuffie collaborated with students.
He is no longer a youth pastor but pours into Embark in addition to working full time as an AT&T service technician.
While the race is the biggest event the ministry has hosted, McDuffie is already planning for next year, ready to push students to new extremes.
For more information, visit www.embarkministries.com.
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