Konan Stephens started running in high school, where he found some success in track and
cross country.
A lung collapse during college forced him to take some time off, but his passion for the sport drew him back when, about 15 years ago, he and his brother participated in a sprint duathlon comprised of a run, a bike and another run. Stephens ended up winning in his age group.
In 2007, Stephens completed his first Ironman triathlon, an experience he found to be incredible.
“You wonder if you’re actually going to finish,” he says.
When Stephens was readying for his second triathlon, he asked Gary Fowler to participate.
“He’s a very disciplined guy,” Stephens says.
Stephens, who is one of the executive presbyters in Ohio with Assemblies of God Church and lead pastor of C3 Church in Pickerington, says the process of starting the Pickerington church with Fowler brought the two closer together.
“We took a step of faith,” he says.
The Pickerington church is now nine years old, and Stephens says the he has seen the fitness level of his congregants increase over the past couple of years. For the month of September, the church participated in a life change challenge designed to create healthy habits physically, financially and spiritually.
“You create your habits, and then your habits create you,” Stephens says.
Sarah Sole is an editor. Feedback welcome at gbishop@cityscenemediagroup.com.
