Run Your Race

An incredible story of faith, perseverance and an “only-God,” against all odds, kind of miracle.

On Sunday, October 6, 2019, I almost died. I was 25 years old, three months from my wedding day and eight miles into a 10-mile race when I collapsed from an unexpected sudden cardiac arrest. Fortunately, I am here to tell you this story because Jesus saved me (literally).

Shortly after I collapsed in the middle of the race course, God provided a group of about 12 people to give me CPR. They worked together to keep me alive for 10-15 minutes until an ambulance was on the scene with an AED. The EMTs shocked my heart back into rhythm and they rushed me off to a local hospital.


Tyler running on the left in the orange shirt


Tyler lying on the pavement

Over the course of the next few days and weeks, as I recovered mentally, emotionally, spiritually and physically, it was OBVIOUS God’s hand was on my life and in this story.

A few months before October 6th, I heard the Holy Spirit tell me to change my race bib from my name “TYLER MOON” to something about my faith. I was obedient to the Spirit’s call and I changed my race bib to the words, “JESUS SAVES.”



At the time, I was thinking about Jesus saving humankind for eternity, not knowing that Jesus would truly save me physically only a few months later. 



Tyler with fellow runners and CPR team

BUT, that’s not the only way God showed Himself clearly in our story. A few weeks after my cardiac arrest, a local news article came out that revealed one of the men who gave me CPR, Jesse, was actually legally named Jesus (Hay-zeus), which is spelled J-E-S-U-S. Yes, you read that right. A man literally named Jesus was one of the people who gave CPR to someone with a race bib that said “JESUS SAVES.”

When this fact about the story came out, the national media came flooding to me to learn more about this wild story. Today.com, Daily Mail, NPR and others came to me asking questions about my story. I was able to tell them about how Jesus Christ saved me and my race bib was plastered all over the internet. It was amazing to see how God used a simple step of obedience and turned it into something glorious!




My wife and I started to see the power in this story and how it encouraged people in their relationship with Jesus Christ. Because of this, we decided to start @MoonFamilyMinistries, a ministry with the mission “to encourage all people to devote their life to Jesus Christ, and to live in authentic relationship with Him.” We currently speak at different organizations in the Minneapolis area telling our story and pointing them to Jesus Christ, the founder and perfecter of our faith.



When we obey the Holy Spirit’s call on our life, incredible, miraculous, unfathomably beautiful things can happen. God uses flawed people like you and me to bring His love to the lost. 

What is the Holy Spirit asking you to do today? Where is His prompting taking you? My prayer for you is that you would obey His voice, in all things, big and small - you never know the impact you will have on the Kingdom of God when you say “yes!” to His call.

"And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 
fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.
For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its
shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 
Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners,
so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."
- Hebrews 12:1b-3

- Tyler Moon // @moonfamilyministries