Run Your Race 🏃
An incredible story of faith, perseverance and
an “only-God,” against all odds, kind of miracle.
Written by Tyler Moon // @moonfamilyministries
On Sunday, October 6, 2019, I almost died.
I was 25 years old, three months from my wedding day and eight miles into a 10-mile race when I collapsed from an unexpected sudden cardiac arrest. Fortunately, I am here to tell you this story because Jesus saved me (literally).
Shortly after I collapsed in the middle of the race course, God provided a group of about 12 people to give me CPR. They worked together to keep me alive for 10-15 minutes until an ambulance was on the scene with an AED.
The EMTs shocked my heart back into rhythm and they rushed me off to a local hospital.
Over the course of the next few days and weeks, as I recovered mentally, emotionally, spiritually and physically, it was OBVIOUS God’s hand was on my life and in this story.
A few months before October 6th, I heard the Holy Spirit tell me to change my race bib from my name “TYLER MOON” to something about my faith. I was obedient to the Spirit’s call and I changed my race bib to the words, “JESUS SAVES.”
At the time, I was thinking about Jesus saving humankind for eternity, not knowing that Jesus would truly save me physically only a few months later.
BUT, that’s not the only way God showed Himself clearly in our story. A few weeks after my cardiac arrest, a local news article came out that revealed one of the men who gave me CPR, Jesse, was actually legally named Jesus (Hay-zeus), which is spelled J-E-S-U-S. Yes, you read that right. A man literally named Jesus was one of the people who gave CPR to someone with a race bib that said “JESUS SAVES.”
When this fact about the story came out, the national media came flooding to me to learn more about this wild story. Today.com, Daily Mail, NPR and others came to me asking questions about my story. I was able to tell them about how Jesus Christ saved me and my race bib was plastered all over the internet. It was amazing to see how God used a simple step of obedience and turned it into something glorious!
My wife and I started to see the power in this story and how it encouraged people in their relationship with Jesus Christ. Because of this, we decided to start @MoonFamilyMinistries, a ministry with the mission
“to encourage all people to devote their life to Jesus Christ, and to live in authentic relationship with Him.”
We currently speak at different organizations in the Minneapolis area telling our story and pointing them to Jesus Christ, the founder and perfecter of our faith.
When we obey the Holy Spirit’s call on our life, incredible, miraculous, unfathomably beautiful things can happen. God uses flawed people like you and me to bring His love to the lost. What is the Holy Spirit asking you to do today? Where is His prompting taking you?
My prayer for you is that you would obey His voice,
in all things, big and small - you never know the impact you will have on the Kingdom of God when you say “yes!” to His call.
"And let us run with perseverance the race marked
out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he
endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat
down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Consider him who endured such opposition from
sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."
- Hebrews 12:1b-3
- Tyler Moon // @moonfamilyministries
The incredible story of my near-death experience during the Medtronic TC 10 Mile race on October 6, 2019, and the miracle of my 'Jesus Saves' bib, truly changed everything. It started as a personal journey of faith and obedience, and then exploded into a national conversation, even appearing on Daily Mail TV. But beyond the headlines and the shock of being "SAVED BY JESUS" in such a literal way, what really stayed with me are the profound lessons learned about faith, divine timing, and the power of community. When I look back at that day, collapsing eight miles into the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon course, it’s clear that every detail was orchestrated. From the group of 12 strangers who immediately began CPR, keeping me alive until an EMS worker arrived with an AED, to the unbelievable coincidence of one of my rescuers literally being named Jesus – it wasn't just luck. It was an undeniable demonstration of God’s active hand in our lives. This experience wasn't just about physical survival; it was a spiritual awakening that solidified my belief in miracles and the importance of listening to that quiet prompting inside. My recovery wasn't just physical. The emotional and spiritual healing took time, too. There were so many moments of reflection where I wrestled with "why me?" and "what now?" It was through this process that the purpose became clearer. The media attention, from Kare 11 to national outlets, wasn’t just about a sensational story; it was an opportunity to share a message of hope and faith. People were genuinely moved by the idea of an "incredible story of faith" unfolding before their eyes, a testament that even in our darkest moments, there's a higher power at work. This whole journey taught me so much about running my race with perseverance, not just literally on the track, but metaphorically in life. It highlighted how our small acts of obedience can have monumental impacts. Changing my race bib to 'Jesus Saves' felt like a simple, personal act of faith at the time. I certainly didn't foresee it becoming a central, undeniable piece of evidence in my own miraculous survival story that would resonate with so many. For anyone out there facing their own unexpected challenges or feeling like they're in a race they can't finish, I want to share this: keep running. Keep believing. Look for the moments when divine intervention shines through. It might not be a dramatic cardiac arrest and a rescuer named Jesus, but God often works in subtle, unexpected ways. He provides the strength, the community, and the signs we need to keep going. This story, which the Daily Mail and others helped amplify, isn't just about me; it's a testament to how God uses flawed people, ordinary moments, and even a simple race bib to show His extraordinary love and power. Embrace your journey, maintain your faith, and watch for the miracles that are undoubtedly unfolding in your own "run your race" story.
