Teen walks 500-mile, raises fund for missionaries

A 15-year-old boy cancer survivor had walked 500 miles to inspire other teenagers and raise funds for a youth-initiated ministry that provides transportation and communications equipment to missionaries in over 194 countries.

Greeted by cheers, banners and a small choir of kazoos, 15-year-old Mike Durbin took the final steps of his 500-mile walk from Whitehouse, Texas, to the Assemblies of God headquarters in Springfield, Missouri, on Wednesday, 1 July, Assembly of God News reported.

The idea of walking 500-mile was the outcome of a very fruitful conference for teenagers held by the Speed the Light. The Speed the Light (STL) is the youth-initiated ministry of Assembly of God that provides transportation and communications equipment to missionaries across the nation and in over 194 countries around the world.

Mike Durbin along with other kids were taken by youth pastor Danny Copeland at First Assembly of God Church in Whitehouse, Texas to the Speed the Light conference where director Chet Caudill challenged students to make sacrifices for their faith.

The challenge led Mike to pray asking God to let him do to something extraordinary. Upon learning that the Speed the Light headquarters were located 500 miles from his home in Texas, after much prayer he was felt this will be the challenge for his faith.

Though the challenge was enormous, his parents supported the idea. Accompanied by his father, also known as Mike and Uncle Marccus Durbin, he started the journey 'I Will Walk' officially on 1 June. His dad and his eight-year-old brother Dalton drove ahead and planned out the duo's daily walking itinerary.

Throughout the journey Mike was invited to speak in Churches and have inspired many youths along the way.

What makes this journey even more special was that Mike is a cancer survivor. Diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia at age five, at one time, he was given less than a five percent chance of survival. Mike survived the odd.

Reflecting on overcoming cancer, Mike said: "God doesn't save you from something, He saves you for something. I knew as I was walking that this is what He saved me for."

AG News said 'I Will Walk' had raised approximately 10,000 U.S. dollar, a fund to help provide missionaries with vehicles and other much-needed equipment, Mike explains that this is more about spiritual, physical and emotional sacrifice than it is about money.
"Yes, we want to raise money to help with the mission work of STL, but this is offering ourselves to be used for God's work."

"Yes, we want to raise money to help with the mission work of STL, but this is offering ourselves to be used for God's work."

"I finally understand true sacrifice, as throughout the day I stretched myself physically, emotionally and spiritually," says Mike, who wants to serve as a missionary in the future.

Mike told Tri County Leader newspaper that he has always tried to surround himself with positive people. He has a great support and prayer base at church. He says some of his friends at school have expressed some doubt that the 500 miles will be met, but he says he has no doubt. No doubt that if it is something God wants him to do, it will happen. Not by his efforts, but by God's grace and power.

"I'm nobody," Mike said. "I'm an ordinary kid that God has told to do an extraordinary task. And it's all in His power, not mine."

"I see this as more than just helping out missions," 'dad' Mike said. "In the Christian faith we don't have anything that is like a rite of passage like the Jewish faith and their Bar Mitzvahs. But this is like that rite of passage for him. He has taken a giant leap of faith."

The raise awareness about the Speed of Light Ministry and to challenge other teenagers to do something for God, a Web site was launched; pledges and support can be made at ww.iwillwalk.org