What do bicycles and food baskets have in common? And how do the two combine to form a creative outreach in a com-munity?
Jason and Jennifer Butler of Martinsburg, Pa., can answer those questions enthusiastically.
To connect the bicycles, food baskets, and outreach, you need to go back to 2007. It was then that Jason and a good friend, Dan Garwood, started a group that got together to fellowship and ride bikes once a month.
“But the bigger goal was always to find a way to incorporate ministry, service, and reaching out to our community,” says Jennifer.
The Martinsburg community is impor tant to Jason and Jennifer because they both grew up there. They were away for a few years, during which Jason served in the U.S. Navy. But since 2000, they’ve been back in “The Cove” (Mar tinsburg area). They now have three children, Jabon, 6, Jarrin, 4, and Jaycie, almost 2. Jason is a stay-at-home dad and Jennifer is the financial controller for a local shoe manufacturer. They are members of the Martinsburg Grace Brethren Church (Kurt Miller, pastor).
The bicycle group that Jason and Dan started is known as MGBC Cycling, a reference to the congregation that spon sors the group. A year after it began, Jason and Dan were joined by Chris Brooks and Gordon Hockenberry. The four work as a team, planning and co ordinating the cycling events.
“The purpose of our group is our motto, ‘Do great things for others, while doing what you love,'” say the Butlers. “Our group is passionate about God and passionate about biking, and our goal is to create an environment that cultivates both. Our group verse is Colossians 3:17: ‘And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus.’
“We have monthly group ‘road rides’ where we meet and fellowship, then hit the road. We always have several ride-length options so that we can attract a wide variety of age and skill levels. We typically have 10 to 15 regular riders. After the rides, we have a BBQ and more fellowship.
“We also have a few family ‘rail trail’ rides and picnics during the summer. In our area, we have railroad beds that have been turned into bike trails, and they run through some beautiful wood ed areas. It’s a fun way to get families and young kids out to enjoy some time together.” In addition, the group spon sors mountain bike group rides at what the Butlers call “some awesome single track trails” at nearby Raystown.
“In 2009 we started an annual ‘Moun tain Challenge’-a 50-mile road ride that covers four mountains in our area. This is intended to be an outreach to attract and get to know riders from our area. Free lunch, t-shirts, ride support, other promotional items, and Bibles are given to each rider. In 2009, we had 17 riders participate.
“We have been able to meet and fel lowship with folks in our area that may have never otherwise come to our church.
“We also have some new service proj ects that are starting in 2010. We are participating in Pennsylvania’s ‘Adopt a Highway,’ and our group will be responsible for helping to keep a two-mile stretch of a local road cleaned up. We are also starting a Bike Sign-Out Program. We have bikes, helmets, and bike racks available for the community to borrow (free!) for a day or two.”
The group’s largest outreach is its Christmas Wheels of Joy.
“Since Christmas 2008, we have been giving bikes and household gifts to families in our area that need some ex tra help,” note the Butlers.
“The local school district teachers and administration put together a list each year of families in need. Christmas 2008, we were able to help 17 families. Christmas 2009, this ministry just exploded. We helped 26 families, with a total of 66 children. Forty-four of these kids got new bikes and helmets. The other 22 received Toys “R” Us gift certificates and other gifts. The families received laundry baskets filled with food and household items… [and] gift cards. All received Bibles and informa tion about our church.
“Obviously, part of this outreach was to help meet some basic needs, but the more important part was to reach the families with God’s love. More than half of the 26 families were ‘adopted,’ which meant a family, Sunday School class, or other group in our church helped make the delivery, and then have the responsibility of following up with the family throughout the year, inviting them to church, etc. It seems as though the school district virtually handed us a list of our mission field.”
The Martinsburg church family has come alongside this developing work. “As the list of families and children kept growing during Christmas 2009, so did our faith,” say the Butlers. “Every time we didn’t think we could pos-sibly get one more bike or one more gift card, someone else would hand us a check.”
One problem the couple faced were boxes of unassembled bicycles that had been donated.
A man in the Martinsburg church is a trainer/activities coordinator at a local prison, explains Jennifer and Jason.
“He suggested that we haul the bikes [to the prison], and have a group of prisoners assemble them.”
Ultimately, approximately 10 to 15 prisoners assembled about 30 bikes. “The guys from our cycling group were able to go to the prison and help-and in doing so, really got to have some good conversations with the prisoners,” remembers the couple.
Adam Johnson, youth and young adult pastor at the Martinsburg GBC, sees first-hand what effect the group has had.
“The impact from the cycling ministry that Jason and Jen started has had a ripple effect that runs much fur ther than just cy cling enthusiasts,” he says.
“Wheels of Joy… distributes bicy cles and helmets to families all over the area that normally would never be able to purchase those things for their children. Now, they have started a ministry of going and getting these kids to attend our Wednesday night and Sunday morning activities,” he adds. “Young people in our community are coming to Christ because Jason and Jen put their passion for Jesus into action. We are so very blessed to have them as a part of this local extension of the body of Christ.”
Not only has MGBC Cycling affected the community, but it also has had a personal impact on Jason and Jennifer.
“Pastor Kurt has been challenging our church to make a personal transforma tion and also to start transforming our community for Christ,” notes Jennifer.
“Jason has also been reading a lot of books that are challenging him to get out there and make a difference. We’ve been challenged to really love people, to work enthusiastically for God, and to help motivate others to do so as well. Our hearts are overflowing.”
Editor’s Note: Judy Daniels was the editor of Grace Magazine for 11 years. Now a freelance writer, she lives in Winona Lake, Ind., with her husband, Denny.