CHURCH PARTNERSHIP

How to participate

1. Pick a Leader

Select a leader within your church who will take charge of organizing and coordinating the church's participation in the Active Witness Challenge (AWC). This person will be your team leader and AWC ambassador. They will register your organization as a sponsor for the Active Witness Challenge. Click the button below to process your registration fee. After payment, your leader will receive a confirmation email with a code to register for an ambassador kit, a code to register your company participants, and access to the AWC Facebook Group. Review the FAQ section for any additional guidance. Please see the attached deck for our corporate sponsorship opportunities.

2. Plan and Launch

Once your company ambassador registers, they will receive an ambassador kit that contains promotional materials and fun swag from our favorite Black-owned businesses. Be sure to join the AWC Facebook group and set up your fundraising page. Share your company code with interested participants so they can get involved too! The Witness Staff is available to guide the leader through every step of the way, offering assistance and answering any questions that may arise. During the month of August, recruit members of your organization to walk, run, or swim the 54 Mile distance together.

3. Walk/Run/Swim

During the month of September, walk, run, or swim the 54 Mile distance together with your community. Encourage participants to capture their experience by taking pictures and sharing them on social media using the hashtag #WeRunBecauseTheyWalked #WillYouBeaWitness or #ActiveWitnessChallenge. This allows room for the celebration of collective participation and serves as a way to generate awareness for the cause.

Note: It is worth mentioning that churches that prioritize outreach efforts tend to attract up to 80% of new participants to their events. This presents an excellent opportunity for community engagement and growth.

4. Celebrate

After completing the 54 mile challenge, invite all participants who walked or ran to your church for a celebration of the impact made through their active witness. This gathering can include a special service, a fellowship event, or a combination of both. On September 30th we will host a virtual event to celebrate the completion of The Active Witness Challenge. Your ambassador will receive a virtual link. It is a time to acknowledge and appreciate the collective effort put forth by the church community and to reflect on the significance of their involvement in continuing the holy legacy of the 1965 March on Selma. The church's participation in the Active Witness Challenge not only supports the work of The Witness Inc. but also strengthens the sense of community and shared purpose within the church.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The Witness Inc. exists to make sure Black Christians are equipped to flourish. We accomplish this through education and philanthropic endeavors to meet the modern challenges of Black Christians today. Our mission is to empower Black Christian leaders and organizations to proclaim and embody God's historical, social, and biblical faithfulness within the Black community in the United States through the creation of credible content on our multi-media platform (BCC) and the provision of financial resources (TWF).

  • In 1965, civil rights activists marched 54 miles from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, to support the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The Active Witness Challenge commemorates this passage as a means to celebrate the success of our ancestors and the passing of the torch to those advancing justice today.

    The protest to support voting rights for African Americans had taken the form of a 87-kilometer (54-mile) walk between the Alabama town of Selma and the capital, Montgomery.

  • Wherever you are! The Active Witness Challenge takes place virtually around the country and it can be done as a "virtual race" where participants get their race kit in the mail or through participating churches. Beginning September 1st, you can join Christians across the country right from your own front door, in your neighborhood or on a treadmill—you can get creative! Visit our corporate partnerships page for more information about leading an Active Witness Challenge team for your ministry.

  • This is your opportunity to invite your family and friends from across the world to join you in sharing our mission to advance justice and equip Black Christians to flourish. Tag them on social media, give them a call, or send them an email with the link to donate and/or participate. Let’s celebrate the impact of the past and your contribution by sharing a picture with the hashtags #Activewitnesschallenge #Werunbecausetheywalked #BeAWitness

  • The money raised will be used to strengthen capacity within our organization. This includes but is not limited to funding our podcasts, articles, conferences, and more.

  • Yes! Courageous children participated in non-violent marches along U.S. Route 80 in March of 1965. We want families and children to participate in this event. Children of all ages can register as a participant to run or walk the 54-mile distance or even just a stretch. Plus, kids 18 years and younger get to register for $25!

  • You can register all the way up to (and on) race day!

  • Send us an email at Daniellew@thewitnessfoundation.co and we'll get you a new one!

  • Keeping your time is up to you! We won't be collecting times, but you can share photos from your day on social media using the hashtag #activewitnesschallenge #werunbecausetheywalked

  • You can use a website like Map My Run to plan your route ahead of time. If you have an iPhone, the Apple Health app can help keep track of your 54 miles.

  • Checks can be mailed to :

    The Witness Foundation

    2093 Philadelphia Pike #1031

    Claymont, DE 19703

    Please write “Active Witness Challenge 2023” in the memo line.

Be a Witness

Whether participants walk, run, or support, we have an opportunity to be active about our witness.

  • 20 participants $1,000

  • 100 participants $5,000

  • 200 participants $10,000

  • 300 participants $15,000

  • 400 participants $20,000

  • 500 participants $25,000

For questions and custom pricing, contact

DanielleDaniellew@thewitnessfoundation.co

Donate now

Donations

Mail donations

The Witness Foundation

2093 Philadelphia Pike #1031. Claymont, DE 19703

Download the AWC church Partnership overview and FAQ document.