Wesley Foundation sponsors Bikers for Jesus again in 2006

Seventeen cyclists representing Wesley Foundation at Purdue University in West Lafayette took the idea of a spiritual walk up a notch this past August in a 430-mile ride they called "Bikers for Jesus." The foundation plans another ride this year.

The bikers gathered pledges and have raised more than $5,000 - contributions toward the $10,000 goal are still coming in - which is being split evenly between Wesley and the United Methodist Committee on Relief.

The biking group comprised 11 college students and six adults. The adults were a student's father and two Purdue faculty members, plus Rev. Glen Robyne and Rev. Lana Robyne of Wesley-Purdue and Rev. David Jennys of West Lafayette First UMC. Another student drove the support vehicle for the week.

United Methodist students from Indiana included: Sarah Roberts of Fort Wayne Covenant UMC, Olivia Kitterman of Romney UMC, Lynn Rostron of Haubstadt UMC, Sean Hoos of Fort Wayne St. Joseph UMC, Brian Mathews of Fort Wayne St. Vincent UMC and Becky Hanna of South Bend Grace UMC.

The Rev. Glen Robyne, pastoral leader of the project, said such a trip is a powerful experience and he strives to help students fully embrace it.

The Bikers for Jesus is one of the programs members of the Wesley Foundation are engaging in this year.

"The value of Bikers is the spiritual and personal growth of the participants," he said. "There's nothing like a retreat experience where you're moving every day. It takes you out of your comfort zone. Part of it is receiving hospitality and being reliant on others in the Body of Christ.

"Biker's for Jesus is one of the many innovations over the years that we refer to as student-staff initiatives. The importance of these innovations is that they arise out of a student ekklesia, a student church, a solid group of worshiping student disciples prayerfully learning and discerning how to be in ministry to a huge campus of 38,000 students. This is the leadership incubator of campus ministry - students working in partnership with campus ministers to create ministry that impacts their context. This creates leaders for God and the Church."

The Bikers for Jesus is one of the programs members of the Wesley Foundation are engaging in this year, including winterization (started in 2005), which involves preparing the homes of the elderly and disabled; a spring-break mission trip to the Gulf Coast in March for hurricane recovery and a trip to Africa University from February through July to help establish a campus ministry.

Last updated on 25 Apr 2008

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