Run It Straight holds Sylvia Park event after South Auckland cancellations
Run It Straight took over Sylvia Park on Thursday night, running giveaways and a meet and greet after two South Auckland events were canned.
Charizma, real name Christian Lesa, was born in Aotearoa and moved to Sydney as a kid. The CEO and owner of Run It Straight told Local Democracy Reporting that a couple of events had been cancelled.
[Thursday] was just about still finding ways to give back to the people, especially with the low economic status happening right now, with everything being so expensive,” Charizma said.
“Like I said in one of the videos: ‘You can stop our events, but you can’t stop our f***ing motion’.”
The group announced on Instagram this week that the Auckland Council had prevented its South Auckland events, saying representatives were “called in and told we’re not allowed to run any on the local field”.
However, council officials deny this, saying no permit requests were ever made.
The Run It events are a social media-driven trend where participants compete in full-contact collisions without protective gear, raising serious health concerns over concussion and injury risks.
Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board chairman Tauanu’u Nick Bakulich opposed two south Auckland events because of the risks of brain and health-related injuries.
But on Thursday night, hundreds lined up outside Foot Locker at Sylvia Park, with the crowd spilling into the car park. The group pivoted to an in-store meet-and-greet, inviting supporters on their social media platforms to come down and join them.
The group said it was giving away $3000 worth of gift cards, T-shirts from sponsor Bad Apples, and $1000 cash.
Charizma said the idea of Run It Straight came to him while he was in the hospital, facing mental health struggles.
“I woke up and my brother was there. Being there and seeing my son, he was crying at the end of the bed. That was the breaking point … This could have all been gone in an instant just because I made the wrong decision,” he says.
“The only reason I’m doing here and I feel good enough about myself is because I’m just being able to chase my dreams.”
Now, he says, he’s using his platform to create visibility for those often underestimated.
“Brown skin, melanin, there’s not many opportunities for us. We’re all looked at as just people who can play sport and that’s it, no brains.”
He says he wants to break down barriers.
“Everyone’s saying this is dumb ... but when we have UFC fighters that are from here and we cheer them on, everyone wants to praise them.
“All of a sudden, we run a sport that has a little bit of risk, we get shut down. So every beginning - and everything that has a great ending - has a rough beginning.”
Responding to safety concerns about the collision events, Charizma said the group ensured it was as safe as possible, with medics and an ambulance on site.
“People are saying our sport is about going until someone gets knocked out. That’s rubbish. That’s b*******. It’s not about that.
“It’s about whoever has the biggest hit moving on to the next round. We’ve had about three knockouts in eight shows. People can say what they want, but, if you’re not there, then you don’t know.”
Charizma said his group was not affiliated with the RUNIT Championships League.
Taryn Crewe, Auckland Council general manager parks and community facilities, says the council has not declined or cancelled any Run It Straight events in Auckland.
Run It Straight organisers had not applied for any event permits or made any requests to book council-owned or managed sites.
Even if an application had been received, it would be unlikely to meet council guidelines because of health and safety concerns and the current high demand for sportsfields, Crewe said.
Miga Tuigamala, store manager at Foot Locker Sylvia Park, says the event was about uplifting the community, supporting Pacific youth, and backing the boys behind Run It Straight.
“The purpose was to represent us as Islanders out south ... just doing what’s right for the Run It Straightguys,” she says.
While acknowledging the risks involved, she likens it to what’s seen on the rugby field.
“Most of the best rugby players come from the islands. What we see them do is what we normally see on the footy field.”
Of the group, she says: “They’re lovely guys. They look big and scary, but they’re not. Most Islanders, we’re all big and scary, but we’ve all got a big heart.”
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The Gospel’s Relevance Today**
The Gospel, meaning ‘good news’, is the cornerstone of the message contained in the Bible’s first four books—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. While these records were written approximately 2,000 years ago, a natural question arises: why is this Gospel still relevant and vital for us today? This analysis seeks to explore what the Bible itself defines as the Gospel and to understand its enduring significance.
**Defining the Gospel: Core Biblical References**
The Gospel is not a vague concept; Scripture provides clear descriptions of its content and focus.
* **The Gospel of the Kingdom:** In Matthew 4:23, as Jesus begins his ministry, he is described as “preaching the gospel of the kingdom.” This immediately establishes that the good news is centrally about a kingdom—the Kingdom of God. His accompanying miracles served to validate the authority of this message.
* **The Gospel of Jesus Christ:** Mark 1:1 opens with, “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” Here, “Christ” is a title meaning ‘anointed one’. Thus, the good news is intrinsically about Jesus: his identity as the Anointed One and his unique status as the Son of God.
* **The Gospel of God’s Grace:** In Acts 20:24, the Apostle Paul speaks of his mission to “testify the gospel of the grace of God.” Grace signifies an undeserved gift. This reveals that the Gospel involves a gift from God, offered not because it is merited, but out of His benevolence.
* **The Gospel of Salvation and Peace:** Romans 1:16 declares the Gospel is “the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes,” breaking down barriers between Jew and Gentile (Greek). Furthermore, Romans 10:15 calls it the “gospel of peace,” pointing to a future state of peace brought about by this message.
* **The Gospel Summarised:** 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 provides a foundational summary. Paul reminds believers of the gospel he preached, “by which also you are saved.” He then states its core historical facts: “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.” The Gospel is therefore rooted in the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus.
In synthesis, the Gospel is the good news of **salvation and future peace in the Kingdom of God**, made possible by **the grace of God** and **the obedient sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ**, and offered to all who believe.
**Old Testament Foundations: The Gospel Preached to Abraham**
A crucial question is whether the Gospel is confined to the New Testament. Scripture shows its foundations were laid much earlier. Galatians 3:8 states explicitly that “the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, ‘In you all the nations shall be blessed.’”
This reference points back to Genesis 12:1-3, where God made profound promises to Abraham: to make him a great nation, to bless those who blessed him, and that “in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” These promises—later reaffirmed to Isaac and Jacob—form the bedrock of the Gospel hope. The good news of salvation through Christ is the fulfillment of how **all nations** would be blessed through Abraham’s “seed.”
**The Gospel’s Personal Relevance: Good News for You Today**
How does this ancient message become “good news for you” today? The application is clearly outlined in Galatians 3.
* **Access through Faith in Christ:** Galatians 3:26 declares, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” The promise made to Abraham is now extended to anyone with faith in Jesus.
* **The Role of Baptism:** Verse 27 explains, “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” Baptism is the God-appointed act of faith that identifies a believer with Christ’s death and resurrection.
* **Unity and Inheritance:** Verses 28-29 reveal the glorious outcome: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Through the Gospel, all barriers are removed; believers become spiritual descendants of Abraham and heirs to the promises of the Kingdom.
This Gospel was once a mystery hidden in God’s purpose (Ephesians 3:3-9). Now, it has been revealed: the unsearchable riches of Christ, offering salvation to all who heed the call, believe the message, and are baptised into him.
**Conclusion: An Enduring and Open Invitation**
The Gospel is far more than a historical account; it is the living, powerful good news of God’s plan for salvation. It is rooted in promises to Abraham, accomplished through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and open to all people without distinction. It offers a tangible hope—the hope of resurrection, peace, and an inheritance in the coming Kingdom of God. This is why the Gospel remains profoundly relevant. It is an invitation to listen, believe, and stand firm in this hope, linking our lives today to the eternal purpose of God.
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