5k Run in Honor of the Pals Family
A 5K run/walk, previously partnered with the University of Northwestern St. Paul where both Jamison and Kathryne attended and graduated. The proceeds from this run benefited the Jamison & Kathryne Pals Scholarship at the University of Northwestern.
Michael Oh was able to attend the first Pals 5k in 2017 and shared, “Having just completed a race it’s hard not to think of the movie Chariots of Fire. The Academy Award winning movie captures the story of Eric Liddell most well known for his gold medal in the 1924 Olympics in the 400 meter race. What received much less attention was the fact that Eric Liddell was a missionary to China. He was born there as a missionary kid. And eventually lost his life in a Japanese internment camp. Continue reading... According to a fellow missionary, Liddell’s last words were, “It’s complete surrender”, in reference to how he had given his life to God. And I think this is a beautiful description as well of Jamison and Kathryne. Surrender is never easy. And it wasn’t for Jamison and Kathryne. Their pursuit of missions took several years. I first met them when I was speaking at the 2011 Desiring God conference. Jamison reached out to see if they could grab some time with me. He (Jamison) wrote, “We are trying to be very intentional about seeking God’s guidance on ministry opportunities. If you are at all available that weekend, even if it is very briefly, my wife and I would be tremendously honored to hear from you about what the Lord is doing in Japan and the opportunities that there are for serving him there. We hope and pray that God would use you to stir up many hearts, including ours, with a zeal for his glory among all nations.” After the conference Jamison wrote me again and said, “Kathryne and I were truly blessed by the whole conference. I get the sense that it will be one of those pillar moments in life that we point back to years down the road, assuming that we still have years left.” I can picture in my mind if Jamison and Kathryne were at Christ Bible Institute (CBI) today. Jamison in one corner of the Heart and Soul Cafe with some Japanese college kids opening up the Bible for the first time. Kathryne on the side sharing the story of why she’s in Japan to some young Japanese mothers while their cute kids play next to them with Ezra, Violet, and Calvin. Jamison and Kathryne had grown to love the ministry and team of CBI. And we still long for them to be ministering with us. In Jamison’s last email to me last June (2016) he shared some words from a Shai Linne song. “Let me make this plain kids – God is the greatest Jamison and Kathryne longed to make God’s name famous in Japan and around the world. And God is honoring that longing today… as thousands upon thousands hear their story in America, Japan and around the world… and as hundreds of missionaries are inspired to pursue the mission field in Japan and beyond. Jamison and Kathryne have the blessing that we should all long for – to live a life in such a way that it has impact for God’s glory LONG after we are gone. 2 Kings 2 describes Elijah’s passing on of responsibility to Elisha and his being taken up into heaven. “As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.” (v. 11) Jamison, Kathryne, Ezra, Violet and Calvin join Elijah, Enoch and others who faithfully walked with God and were taken up in unexpected ways. I can picture in my mind Jamison and Kathryne out on a picnic maybe even right now in heaven with Japanese brothers and sisters, with the kids playing in golden fields with their little Japanese friends. Eric Liddell once said, “When I run, I feel God’s pleasure” I trust that when you ran today you felt God’s pleasure. God’s pleasure in how He used the Pals Family. God’s pleasure in how He might use your life. God’s pleasure in how He is and will work in the nation of Japan. And God’s pleasure in how He is reaching the whole world with the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
He never changes – His ways are blameless
For His own glory and at different stages
He raises up servants to make His name famous…”