Today we’d like to introduce you to Rick Meyer.
Rick, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
This Christian ministry is centered on running and relationships. I also send out, “Running on Faith Weekday Devotions” every weekday morning.
I was born early in life… According to my mom and my baby book, I began walking at seven months of age and running at eight months. I regularly ran between tasks on our Kansas farm, my parents ingrained the significance of always doing your best. This included working as fast as possible while achieving the quality necessary for each task. As an eight year old, I set five major goals. I have achieved the first four, I continue pursuing the fifth. I began running for sport as an eleven-year-old in June 1978. While I loved sports, I achieved meaningful success only in cross country and track.
Due to the tough farm economy, we moved to Manhattan, KS in June 1983. I joined the Manhattan High cross country team. Several of the top runners were passionate about their Christian faith. As a team, we regularly prayed. Several of us also attended at least one Bible study or Christian fellowship every week. I no longer recall all of the activities and details. Kansas State University’s World-class Javelin thrower Ray Hanson and his wife Lisa led one of these Bible studies. In April 1984, Ray heaved the javelin for the world’s fourth-longest throw ever. Unfortunately, he failed to make the U.S. Olympic team that summer. Despite this heartbreak, Ray’s faith in Christ continued growing and strengthening.
Our Manhattan High cross country teams won back-to-back 6A State Championships. At the starting line of the 1984 State cross country meet, Dan Schneider led our fifth and final prayer. “Lord, help us run a race to glorify you, whether a first place or last place.” We were seeking to become the first cross country team in 20 years to repeat as the best in Kansas. The last team to repeat as the best was Wichita East led by Jim Ryun who had run the 1500 meters at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics earlier that fall. Dan’s prayer, along with other teammate’s prayers, put everything in a proper perspective. Teammate Daniel Wallace later impacted thousands of lives while serving at Pine Cove Ranch in Tyler, TX. We did win that day and “The Harrier” alphabetized us among the best high school cross country teams in America.
These two years strongly impacted me in combining my running and Christian faith. I continued running and have now surpassed 136,000 miles with an average doorstep-to-doorstep pace of approximately 6:34 per mile. I have significantly slowed the last few years. The phrase “Running on Faith” popped into my mind in the summer of 1992 or 1993 while running east on 56th street nearing the 17th Ave intersection on the hilly gravel roads north of Kearney, NE.
After being encouraged to attend seminary for nearly 20 years, I moved to Dallas to attend Dallas Theological Seminary in August 2011. I graduated in May 2014. I then felt led to turn Running on Faith into an official ministry. Feedback from past training partners illustrated the power of relational ministry through running along with the consequential friendships. Jesus did not say, “Stop by my office.” Instead, much of His ministry occurred out among the people.
Professionally, I began as a crop consultant. Recommendations are only as good as the observations and data collection. Critical thinking is mandatory. Pondering the depth and breadth of topics and situations. Agronomy requires considering what is literally below the surface, how is the soil mixed and layered. What factors affect vertical and horizontal water flow. What is the history of this field or portions of this field? What are the soil’s physical and chemical properties and levels? What most people view as “dirt” under their feet is a living organism that may have two million microbes (i.e. critters) per cubic inch. This serves as a strong metaphor for life and ministry.
Ministry to individuals is only as good as observations and data collection by listening with the love of Jesus Christ combined with critical thinking.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The road has been fun along with challenges. My strength is the relational ministry, not fundraising. I strive to focus on serving Christ by serving His people. I am anything but perfect!
I simply love people! Relational ministry necessitates trust and keeping your focus on people.
My passion is evangelism, discipleship, serving, helping, and inspiring others. That is serving the Lord in helping people know the Lord Jesus Christ and continually deepen their relationship with Him. Discipleship includes others’ deepening their relationship while transitioning to their ministry to others. Relationships are the foundation of success in all of life.
The greatest component for family, church, community, and business is to love the Lord God with all of your heart, mind, and soul, and to love, to care about, others as much as you love, care about, yourself and your family (Mt 22:37-39). To build any relationship or organization absent the love of Jesus Christ is to build on a foundation of sand (Mt 7:24-27).
Please tell us about your work.
In addition to runners, my business also includes keynote speaking and workshops/seminars. I am nearing completion of my second book.
“What sets me apart from others?”
I don’t focus on comparing myself to others. Just as I run my race in marathons, I also run my race, as directed by the indwelling Holy Spirit, in ministry, speaking, and business. My Dallas Theological Seminary thesis topic was The Holy Spirit’s Guidance in Business. I am blessed to have had Dr. Lanier Burns as my first reader for this paper. In addition to a Th.D. in Theology, Dr. Burns also earned a Ph.D. in Neuroscience which includes post-doctorate work at Harvard.
For many years I read a book a day. I continue reading multiple books a week. I have spoken in every U.S. State except Vermont and Hawaii. I advanced to the Toastmasters Region IV International Speech Contest in 2008. I once spoke to 1st thru 6th graders and maintained their undivided attention for 50 minutes. I am still in shock! I am honored to have received amazing feedback from all ages and backgrounds.
What am I most humbled by?
Whether on stage speaking to thousands or engaged in a one on one conversation, I LOVE people. This love desires Jesus Christ’s absolute best for people! Because physical and mental health enhances relationships, I am also an Independent Business Distributor for an amazing FDA Class II Medical Device that stimulates muscles and increases microcirculation. The device itself does not heal. Rather, the increased microcirculation enhances the body’s ability to heal itself, including reducing recovery time for athletes. Regardless of your activity level, you will love it!
Speaking Topics include:
Running on Faith – Persevering Through Life’s Challenges
If Winning were Easy, Everybody Would Do It (I first said this to my teammates in the fall of 1983 or ’84)
Leader Servant
I tailor each presentation to achieve the needs and desires of your organization.
M.S. Excel – Yes, it is a Leadership tool!
Guidance and Responding to the Holy Spirit (My thesis topic at Dallas Theological Seminary)
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
I have had amazing peers, mentors, teammates, and cheerleaders over the years. Any time we list names, it’s almost certain that someone is inadvertently left out.
I discuss some of the below in my first book “to be Running on Faith: Timeless Principles for Winning Life’s Marathon”, and some in my soon released book.
Family – parents, sister (Sept 1964 – April 2016), and cousins
Bill Congleton – My Manhattan High Cross Country and Track Coach. Hall of Fame Coach.
Charles Gibbs – A friend and business mentor since 1990. An entrepreneur with a professional background in psychology counseling and ministry.
Lyle Claussen – Hall of Fame Coach who has guided my running since the fall of 1990.
J. Lanier Burns, Ph.D., Th.D. – Senior Professor of Theology at Dallas Theological Seminary. His Ph.D. is in neuroscience. I love visiting with him in person as well as running ideas by him via email to assure biblical accuracy.
Charles Baylis, Th.D. – Professor of Bible Exposition at Dallas Theological Seminary. He has proofread numerous ministry newsletters and as well as another who I run ideas by to assure biblical accuracy.
Stanley D. Toussaint, Th.D. – deceased Senior Professor of Bible Exposition at Dallas Theological Seminary. Before his passing, I also ran illustrations by him in class and later via email to assure biblical accuracy.
Larry Waters, Ph.D. – deceased Professor of Bible Exposition at Dallas Theological Seminary. He strongly encouraged my ministry, including encouragement of my ministry deserving fundraising.
Kent (and Cindi) Frieling – President of Feather Petroleum, Grand Junction, CO. A lifelong friend and cousin that includes every possible in-depth definition of a friend.
Dawn Grunnagle – Friend and encouraged the start of “Running on Faith Church.”
Tom Magnuson – Friend, past training partner, and ministry encourager.
Mark Kottmeyer – Friend My first boss out of college, also one of the first to encourage me to attend seminary and engage in professional ministry.
Bryan Danburg – Friend, past running partner, and an encourager to start this ministry
Scott and Kim Ford – Friends and encouragers of Running on Faith Ministry
Duane Newell – Friend and encourager of this ministry
John Mason – World class runner in the 1960s and early 1970s, AAU Cross Country Champion, A childhood hero that I first met in the summer of 2018. He is wearing a yellow shirt to my right in the picture. The other person is Roger Jennings. Roger and I competed as freshmen and sophomores in high school. Roger ran a 4:00.23 mile in 1988 at Hayward Field in Eugene, OR.
All of my teammates, running partners, friends, and ministry supporters over the years. I realize that I am omitting many impactful friends, they know who they are. I could easily list hundreds.
Pricing (listed prices are the discounted prices):
- Keynote $2,950 plus expenses agreed upon by all parties in advance
- Keynote for Non-Profits $1,950 plus expenses agreed upon by all parties in advance
Mention this VoyageDallas article for the discounts. They apply for any booking with deposit by July 31, 2020. The event, including virtual, can be anytime in the next 12 months. Contact us with any questions.
Contact Info:
- Address: 6071 Village Bend Dr. #1003
Dallas, TX 75206-3523 - Website: rickEmeyer.com
- Phone: 214-998-9407
- Email: LeaderServant@rickEmeyer.com
- Instagram: rickmeyer9014
- Facebook: rick.meyer.980 ; Running on Faith Ministry
Image Credit:
The picnic table photo was taken by Dawn Grunnagle. The Boston Hotel is by Brian Skirbe
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