I remember when I took our church through the Life on Mission campaign. I knew that most of our people understood that, as Rick Warren says, “there are only two things we can do on earth that we can’t do in heaven. Sin and tell people about Jesus. Which one do you think he left us here for?”
But I also knew that “telling people about Jesus” is something that freaks everyone out. Because it conjures up an image of doing something hard and uncomfortable with people you don’t even know. Life on Mission is about using the connections you already have. It’s about just doing the simple things to get connected to people who might need Jesus.
I encouraged our people to just do something. One of them took a unique approach by fixing up old bikes and giving them away.
He wrote,
I wanted to give you an update on our bike ministry. Back when you had the sermon series “On Mission” and your book, I started a bike ministry through your encouraging sermon series. The following is a year-end newsletter on our efforts. For Christmas we were able to supply 59 bikes to foster kids and those in need.
A year later, we are up to 400 bikes given at no charge to those in need.
We collect and repair used bicycles for distribution, free of charge, for children and adults, that are in need. Our mission is to meet the basic transportation needs of those who may depend on bikes for recreation and also to get to work, school, etc. For these individuals, their quality of life and ability to participate in our community and church are enhanced when our mission is achieved.
He closed with this scripture.
Acts: 20:35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak, and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
I believe that most of us want to live our lives on mission. We know why we’re here. We just believe that we need to turn into Billy Graham to be effective.
Maybe you could just fix a bike?
