Transforming lives near and far through cycling

Imagine you're a youth living in a rural village in Thailand. Your parents tell you they are sending you to a nearby city to get an education. When you arrive, you end up living in a hostel with 50-100 other youth with only 1-2 adults caring for you. As time goes on you notice, due to reasons like dropping out of school, 20% of the girls living at the hostels are forced into sex trafficking. This is a very real scenario for youth living in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Not to mention, upwards of 97% of the country does not know our Lord and Savior, Jesus.

Our friends and YouthHOPE partners, Prosperous Youth Foundation, are not okay with this. They are doing youth ministry outside the walls of the church in Chiang Mai. In March 2014, God allowed us to bring 70 people together to raise awareness and funds for their ministry. We called it the 3rd annual Key West Bike Ride: To the Ends of the Earth (KWBR2014).

In 2012, our ride began with 13. You probably remember we rode for youth ministry in Bulgaria. In 2013, God brought us 32 cyclists and 7 support staff for youth ministry in Zambia. This year, He has blown us away. 42 cyclists, 10 runners, 18 support staff along with our 5 kids made the 300 mile journey from Ft. Myers to Key West. He also brought us 20 participants who joined us for the first day!

Putting on the KWBR2014 was no small task. It took 11 months of planning and praying. All of it was worth it for sure. Especially on the fourth night, seeing my new friend, Chris, come to the altar and surrender his life to Jesus. The very next night, we had Chris share his story in front of everyone. He said,

“I got in front of many of God's children in Key West and got to tell my testimony. It was hard for me, and Jesus helped me through it with the help of two special friends. I thought it would be embarrassing, but it was vitalizing. I now have a new look on expressing my true feelings and hope I can reach just one person with my story and help them turn their lives around."

Chris coming to Christ was the product of months of prayer, reaching out, visiting him in the bike shop and hospital, and more. Ultimately, we know that we do not save anyone, only Jesus does that, and we give Him all the glory! Please continue to pray for Chris and all of the KWBR2014 participants.