May 23, 2008
by Melissa Ramirez Cooper,

About 15 members of South Santiago Lutheran Church, Clear Lake, Minn., will participate in the Buffalo Triathlon, Buffalo, Minn., June 1 to raise awareness and funds for the World Hunger Appeal of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).

The church's pastor, the Rev. Jeffrey A. Sackett, is leading the group. Those training include "moms who wanted to get back in shape, youth who were looking for something different to do outside of church" and others, said Sackett. To train, the group runs together after Sunday worship. "We are making new friends, getting healthy, raising money and awareness for world hunger," he said. To support the congregants' efforts, the race director of the Buffalo Triathlon offered to match the first $1,000 raised. "We have far surpassed that goal. So on the day of the big event, we get to step on stage and collect a big check for the ELCA World Hunger Appeal," said Sackett.

Sackett came up with the idea for a triathlon in 2007. "While going through a mid-life crisis, I set out to do something different and challenging," he said. At 45 years of age and having served South Santiago for 10 years, married 20 years and raising three children with his spouse, Sackett set on the idea of participating in a triathlon. "Unfortunately, I found out that triathlons usually take place on Sunday mornings. Bad timing for a pastor," he said. To help get the Sunday free, Sackett offered to raise money to purchase every man in the congregation a "Master Builders Bible for Men," available through Lutheran Men in Mission, the ELCA's men's ministry. "We did it and raised all the money, which gave a great boost to our men's ministry. I loved it," said Sackett.

ELCA News Service