The best non-Christian friend I ever made while making disciples abroad came not through a finely-crafted Sunday sermon, but through running. Robert was a declared atheist. And he was a runner in his spare time. I was a declared follower of Jesus and, at the encouragement of Robert, had taken up running in my spare time. If Robert didn’t want to step into my world, I would step into his. We began working out together and eventually running races together. He always beat me. But the more we ran, the closer we got — both at the finish line and as friends.

I’d like to think that just as I got closer to Robert’s passion for running, by spending time together, he too has come closer to my passion for Jesus. He has certainly encountered Him through me. But we’ve been friends now for 21 years and Robert is still an atheist. Does that bother me? From a spiritual standpoint, it sure does. Sometimes I have wept as I’ve prayed for Robert. But from a personal standpoint, I’m not disappointed. I didn’t step into his world to make him my “evangelistic project.” I stepped into his world to be his friend — and to introduce him to my Friend. If Robert embraces Jesus as a result of our friendship, I’ll be overjoyed. And if he doesn’t, I know at least he had the opportunity and that I loved him as Jesus loves him, with no strings attached.

Javier’s story in “Running Into Grace” is a running story with an amazing ending. When you read it, remember that whether your friend crosses the line in a single day or not for 21 years and counting, what matters is that you get in the race, engaging wherever life happens — even on a running track.

Dale Losch joined Crossworld as a disciple-maker in France in 1988, and has served as Crossworld’s president since 2009. He loves to motivate people to use their God-given passions to make disciples wherever life happens.