CHAPMANVILLE, W.Va. — Brian Dingess of Chapmanville spent his new year running for a greater purpose.
Dingess says he felt a calling from God to run 100 miles in 24 hours to ring in the new year with a purpose of spreading the gospel and take donations for his church, Morning Star Freewill Baptist Church.
“Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, definitely put this on my heart,” Dingess said Friday on MetroNews Midday. “It was a fundraiser for our church to get out and lean on God and answer him when he’s knocking on your heart.”
“It was way bigger than I ever thought it would be, to be honest,” he continued.
Dingess took to the track of Chapmanville Regional High School on the morning of New Year’s Eve where he started the run. He completed the 100-mile run at around 6 a.m. on New Year’s Day.
While Dingess is no stranger to running, he says his life has taken on a new shape recently.
“I’m a very new ultra runner. My testimony goes way back further than this. God is still working on me,” Dingess said. “He took me running, straightened me out, and I turned into this ultra runner and there’s been so many blessings along the way.
He says he was not always ready to submit to God’s call.
“I’m that tough guy, but when the Holy Spirit comes over you, you might as well forget it and give in,” Dingess said.
Along the way, Dingess and his family welcomed visitors and local children to run with him or spectate. Morning Star Freewill Baptist provided free hot chocolate, popcorn, and other snacks for those that wanted to watch or hear the good news.
He says the whole purpose was to fill the pews in the weeks ahead.
“We don’t know what the number is and it really doesn’t matter as long as God’s word is getting spread,” Dingess said. “Regardless of if you want to know the number, I want to see if we can pack this church Sunday.”