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GREENSBORO, N.C. -
A local pastor set out Sunday afternoon to walk 100 miles to raise money for a youth mission trip to Italy.
Jesse Watkins, the student pastor at The Church at Clifton Road, said he doesn't plan to eat or sleep at any point along the journey, which he estimates will take 36 hours. His route takes him east out of Greensboro to Burlington and then White Cross, near Chapel Hill, for the first half of his journey. Watkins will then turn around and walk through Julian and Climax before ending his trip in Jamestown.
Watkins said he knew a youth mission trip to Italy would require a large financial commitment from the students and church, and he wanted to demonstrate his commitment to the trip.
"With the tough economy, you know, a lot of people aren't able to give what they normally could give," he said as he started out Sunday afternoon. "So I know that people seeing this would say, 'I'd like to give toward students, toward missions.' And I want to make it known that me, as a youth pastor, cares enough about this trip and about these students that I'm willing to do whatever it takes to raise those funds."
On his blog, Watkins said his wife and relatives think he's crazy. But his motto is: "When the going gets tough, the tough goes 100 miles."
Watkins estimates he'll take 200,000 steps, drink 10 gallons of water and lose 17 pounds over the course of the 100 miles.
Jesse Watkins, the student pastor at The Church at Clifton Road, said he doesn't plan to eat or sleep at any point along the journey, which he estimates will take 36 hours. His route takes him east out of Greensboro to Burlington and then White Cross, near Chapel Hill, for the first half of his journey. Watkins will then turn around and walk through Julian and Climax before ending his trip in Jamestown.
Watkins said he knew a youth mission trip to Italy would require a large financial commitment from the students and church, and he wanted to demonstrate his commitment to the trip.
"With the tough economy, you know, a lot of people aren't able to give what they normally could give," he said as he started out Sunday afternoon. "So I know that people seeing this would say, 'I'd like to give toward students, toward missions.' And I want to make it known that me, as a youth pastor, cares enough about this trip and about these students that I'm willing to do whatever it takes to raise those funds."
On his blog, Watkins said his wife and relatives think he's crazy. But his motto is: "When the going gets tough, the tough goes 100 miles."
Watkins estimates he'll take 200,000 steps, drink 10 gallons of water and lose 17 pounds over the course of the 100 miles.
