Exponential NEXT Podcast Episode 78
Series: A Called Generation

Hosted by Carrie Williams, Executive Director of Exponential NEXT, this episode welcomes Will Garinger, the visionary founder of Run With Christ (RWC), a movement that’s united thousands of runners in faith and fitness across North America and beyond.

Passion is more than a feeling. It’s a compass pointing you toward your calling.

In this inspiring conversation, Carrie and Will explore how God can take a simple passion, even one you once disliked, like running, and turn it into a powerful platform for purpose and community. Will shares his journey from being a reluctant runner to launching a global ministry that now gathers hundreds every Saturday for worship, prayer, and 5K runs, all while creating space for people to encounter Jesus and each other.

You’ll hear:

• How to recognize when your passion is God’s invitation: Will’s story of starting RWC at just 19, with no formal plan or team, and watching it explode into a movement that’s changing lives in over 30 cities and multiple countries.
• The unexpected ways God shapes your calling: Will’s realization that his past experiences, even the ones that felt isolating, were preparing him to build a community where everyone feels known, seen, and loved.
• The power of showing up: Practical insights on taking bold steps, even when you feel unqualified or overwhelmed, and how God multiplies small acts of obedience into something far greater than you imagined.
• Living a life that glorifies God through your passions: Why Run With Christ is only 20% about running and 80% about ministry, outreach, and creating a space where faith and fitness collide.

Whether you’re searching for your passion, wrestling with doubt, or ready to take the next step, this episode will challenge you to listen to the voice of your calling and trust that God can use your unique story, interests, and even your hesitations to make a lasting impact.

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Host:

Carrie Williams, Executive Director, Exponential NEXT

Guest:

Will Garinger, Founder, Run With Christ

Category: Generation NEXT

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Resources mentioned in this episode:

@runwchrist on Instagram
Website coming soon: runwchrist.org