ABWE | Association of Baptists for World Evangelism

August 19, 2009Adventure in America Brings Aid to Africa

Ryan James trains for his cross-country bicycle trip.

By Ryan James

Sometimes God puts the most interesting ideas our minds. For me it was actually two ideas: Cycling across America and a short-term missions trip to Africa. Let me tell you how they are connected.

After graduating from college, I walked straight off the platform and into a plane headed to South Africa. Once in Durban, I met up with my cousins and their parents, Dale and Karen Marshfield, who have been ABWE missionaries for 25 years. As we traveled through this amazing country, my heart was struck by the sheer amount of needy people. The same thought kept running through my mind; The hope and joy they could have if only they knew about Jesus.

At one point during the trip, we connected with a church that my uncle had planted in an Indian community called Phoenix Fellowship. I was overwhelmed by the kindness of the people there and amazed how God was using that church. After leaving South Africa I had a strong desire to return and serve at Phoenix Fellowship. Not wanting my emotions to get the best of me I settled back into my life in America and made Africa a matter of prayer.
More than five months later, however, I couldn’t shake my desire to return. Finally, I discussed this with my uncle Dale and found that there was many ways the church could use me.

Selvan Govender, pastor of the Phoenix Fellowship church, has a vision to set up a medical/health clinic. Government hospitals in this region of Africa are understaffed, and overcrowded. Additionally, many people can’t provide food for themselves. Govender’s idea is to create a clinic that would initially focus on feeding, proper nutrition and life skills/ spiritual counseling. The church sees a clinic as a way to show Christ’s love while addressing the physical and spiritual needs of the lower income people in this community. They already have qualified people to staff the clinic, but the church needs to raise money to outfit the clinic.

That’s Where I Come In

One day as I bumped along mowing my parents’ lawn, an idea crossed my mind. What about a cross-country bicycle trip? There was only one problem. I didn’t even like bicycling! Not to mention that I had no idea where to start and finish, or what a bike trip had to do with a short-term missions trip.
As I continued to seek God’s guidance, it became clear that the cross-country bike trip could be a great way to raise support and minister to people in the process. It also occurred to me that I could raise funds for the clinic along the way.

Where to Begin

I decided to call my two adventure-seeking friends, Jonathan Engelhardt and Caleb Price. Before I could even finish explaining my idea, they said, “We’re in!” They saw the trip as an opportunity to minister to people we may meet along the road and a great way to support a mission in Africa.
As I started researching, I found a detailed set of maps laying out a 3,100-mile bicycle route from San Diego, California, to St. Augustine, Florida. For 45 days, we plan ride across the country, stopping at churches and schools and asking for their prayer and support for the African clinic.

In the End

It has been awesome to see God working His idea (remember, I was not a bicycle enthusiast) into a missions trip that will allow me to return to the people who have left such an impression on me. I can’t wait to see how God will use me at The Phoenix Fellowship church. However, my mission trip really begins when I check my bike and saddle bags on the plane to California. It excites me to think of how God will use my friends and I, as we bike across America. Maybe when we stop for lunch people will ask the question, “Why are you doing this bike trip?” This would open a door for us to share God’s love.

That is our goal—to minister to people we meet along the way, and to raise support to meet the needs of people we may never know.

To learn more about Ryan’s trip visit him on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=105301051161&ref=ts. Or email him at: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

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