A runner’s ‘Jesus Saves’ race bib becomes prophetic when a nurse named Jesus helps save his life during a 10-mile race in Minneapolis.
God shows up in our lives in ways we cannot imagine, turning simple acts of faith into powerful testimonies of His presence. Many of us have experienced moments where God’s perfect timing becomes clear, just like what happened during a 10-mile race in Minneapolis that changed one runner’s life forever.
Tyler Moon, who works at General Mills and played college football, felt God leading him to make an unusual choice before his race. Instead of putting his name on his race bib like other runners, he decided to write ‘Jesus Saves.’ “I thought it was from God and that it should be a profession of faith so that another runner or someone in the audience would see it,” Moon explained, not knowing how prophetic this decision would become.
The morning of the race brought perfect conditions. Moon put on his bright orange Wheaties t-shirt, pinned his ‘Jesus Saves’ bib to his shorts, and joined thousands of other runners at the starting line. He kept a strong pace of eight minutes per mile for the first seven miles, showing no signs of distress. Moon, who had no history of heart problems, ran confidently until the eighth mile.
Without warning, Moon collapsed on the pavement. The fall was severe enough to crack his head and break bones in his face. In that critical moment, God’s perfect plan became clear. A registered nurse anesthetist named Jesus “Jesse” Bueno happened to be running right behind Moon. Bueno noticed Moon’s fall and rushed to help, along with other medical professionals who stopped their race to assist.
“Initially, I thought he was having a seizure,” Bueno recalled. “He showed tonic motions typical of seizures. I turned him on his side to check his condition, then placed him on his back once the movements stopped.” Medical reports later revealed that Moon had experienced ventricular tachycardia, a dangerous heart rhythm that stopped his heart from pumping blood for ten seconds.
The team of runners who stopped to help worked together smoothly, performing chest compressions and assisting with breathing until the ambulance arrived. Their quick response proved crucial, as surviving a cardiac arrest outside of a hospital setting often has low success rates. “It went pretty smooth, in the scheme of things,” Bueno shared, staying humble about his role in saving Moon’s life.
Moon sees this event as more than just a coincidence. “When I originally put ‘Jesus Saves’ on my bib, I hoped it would touch people at the race and in Minneapolis,” he said. “I had no idea how far it would go and how it would impact the world. God’s plans are way greater than anything I could ever think of.”
Moon now uses his experience to encourage others to learn CPR and help those in need. “Thank you to everyone who helped me and thanks to all the runners who stopped and saved my life,” Moon expressed with gratitude. “I believe God placed all those people there at the right time and the right place for His glory.”
