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A lot of people spend Super Bowl Sunday parked in front of a TV set, with cold beer, chips, dips and other snacks within easy reach.
Evangelist Michael Wheeler, 59, has other plans. He’s going to be in Texas on Feb. 6 for Super Bowl XLV but not seated in Cowboys Stadium.
“My goal is to circle the stadium seven times while the Super Bowl is going on,” Wheeler said. “It’s a sports event, but I’m looking at it as a revival. It’s a testimony to the athletes that they don’t have to get caught up in drugs and womanizing, that they can be good role models.”
He plans to carry an NFL Jesus football wearing a Jesus cap, a “Go Jesus” T-shirt and a “Trust Jesus” cape. The evangelist will also be waving a Jesus banner as he runs.
This will be his 15th Super Bowl.
“The first time I went, I think it was for Denver and the Green Bay Packers, I realized that people come from all over the United States to party, from all over the world, and that motivated me to use the gifts God has given me to spread His word,” Wheeler said. “I’ve met some of the athletes and team owners.”
He said that, over the course of years, he’s become a familiar figure at the Super Bowl.
“After all these years, they know me,” Williams said. “Usually there are barricades up and I need to go about 12 blocks around to make a circle, but for the game with the Saints and the Colts, they let me come right in on the grounds to do my runs.”
Before the Super Bowl, he’ll be taking part in a marathon Jan. 16 in Arizona.
“This is a qualifying event for the Boston Marathon in April,” Williams said. “I’ve been to the Boston Marathon nine times before, but the last time was in 2000.”
In preparation for this qualifying event, he’s been training on the track at Pittsburg State University.
“I went a couple of weeks ago to see if I could still run a marathon,” Williams said. “I ran 26 miles, which is 106 laps, and that felt so good that I ran four more miles out on the road in Pittsburg. My pastor told me that the Lord is renewing my youth.”
He said that a few days ago, some PSU football players threw him some passes.
A lot of people spend Super Bowl Sunday parked in front of a TV set, with cold beer, chips, dips and other snacks within easy reach.
Evangelist Michael Wheeler, 59, has other plans. He’s going to be in Texas on Feb. 6 for Super Bowl XLV but not seated in Cowboys Stadium.
“My goal is to circle the stadium seven times while the Super Bowl is going on,” Wheeler said. “It’s a sports event, but I’m looking at it as a revival. It’s a testimony to the athletes that they don’t have to get caught up in drugs and womanizing, that they can be good role models.”
He plans to carry an NFL Jesus football wearing a Jesus cap, a “Go Jesus” T-shirt and a “Trust Jesus” cape. The evangelist will also be waving a Jesus banner as he runs.
This will be his 15th Super Bowl.
“The first time I went, I think it was for Denver and the Green Bay Packers, I realized that people come from all over the United States to party, from all over the world, and that motivated me to use the gifts God has given me to spread His word,” Wheeler said. “I’ve met some of the athletes and team owners.”
He said that, over the course of years, he’s become a familiar figure at the Super Bowl.
“After all these years, they know me,” Williams said. “Usually there are barricades up and I need to go about 12 blocks around to make a circle, but for the game with the Saints and the Colts, they let me come right in on the grounds to do my runs.”
Before the Super Bowl, he’ll be taking part in a marathon Jan. 16 in Arizona.
“This is a qualifying event for the Boston Marathon in April,” Williams said. “I’ve been to the Boston Marathon nine times before, but the last time was in 2000.”
In preparation for this qualifying event, he’s been training on the track at Pittsburg State University.
“I went a couple of weeks ago to see if I could still run a marathon,” Williams said. “I ran 26 miles, which is 106 laps, and that felt so good that I ran four more miles out on the road in Pittsburg. My pastor told me that the Lord is renewing my youth.”
He said that a few days ago, some PSU football players threw him some passes.
“I missed the first two, but caught the third one, and one of the players asked me where I got all my energy,” Wheeler said. “I said the good Lord gives me energy.”
He said that even small details can be a factor for a runner.
“I wear contact lenses when I run, instead of glasses, so I can be a little bit lighter,” Wheeler said. “Every little bit of weight matters.”
Originally from the Kansas City area, Wheeler’s life was touched by violence as his sister, uncle, niece and cousin were all murdered in the city. A U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War, he suffered from deep depression and tried to relieve his pain with drugs and alcohol.
“A pastor prayed for me, and I’ve been free ever since,” Wheeler said.
He has been running for 35 years and doing ministry for 26 years.
“On June 26, in the same week as my 60th birthday, I’ll be inaugurated as a pastor in Springfield, Mo.,” Wheeler said.
He’s been in Pittsburg for several months in support of the Peniel Gateway Fellowship. Anyone wishing additional information about this church may call 913-704-5183.
