Christian Peterson: reporter@riverbendnews.org
Each year, the Suwannee Valley area joins forces to remember Callie Jordan, a 15-year-old from Sweetwater, Tenn., who was killed on a mission trip to Guadalajara. On July 2, 2019, Roger Hutto, the pastor of First Baptist Church in Jasper, created the Callie Jordan Mission Fund in her honor. The money in the fund would be used to create a scholarship for children from the Suwannee Missionary Baptist Association. Every year since, there has been a Callie Jordan Mission Fund 5k Fun Run/Walk. This year, the theme of the fun run is “Be the Light,” a reference to Matthew 5:14, which says: “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.” This will be the fun run's third year and, each year, it continues to grow in size. On Saturday, Aug. 12, the race will take place at Heritage Park and Gardens, which is located at 1004 Helvenston St. SE, in Live Oak. There will be a kids' obstacle race and fun zone, chicken and rice dinners available for donations and free pizza for the kids. To start off the evening, there will be a one mile kids fun run at 5:15 p.m. for $5. The official 5k will begin at 6 p.m. For adults ages 14 and over, the cost to register is $30; a virtual 5k option is also available for $25. Registration is open and can be found at raceentry.com/callie-jordan-mission-fund-5k. After the race is over, from 7:15 p.m. until 9 p.m., there will be awards and worship in the park. “Our family is always humbled by the display of love that is shown every year by this community in support of the Callie Jordan Mission Fund 5k,” Amanda Jordan, Callie's mother, said. “Remembering Callie is always special to us, but the encouragement that is shown to the work of our local youth mission interns to spread the Gospel is our priority. We are called to 'Be the Light,' and that's what we hope to do year after year.” For more information about the event, call (386) 362-1110 or email missions@sbalive.net.