Ministries take all sorts of forms whether they be preaching to the masses or feeding the hungry. Mercy Today Ministries, based in Cañon City, has taken the concept a step further with a special bicycle ministry.
Conceptualized in 2013 by church leader and bike ministries leader, Brian Stockard, and executive director, Becky Rollins, the program has grown to reach all parts of Fremont County.
Stockard himself has traveled by bike for many years and, after his bike spontaneously split in two, he approached the Mercy Today congregation for a used bike. Almost immediately, three members came forward, each offering a bike to Stockard.
"I felt that I had to take all three, I didn't know why at the time," Stockard said. "After a few days, I just felt, 'I think there's something supposed to be something happening with these other two bikes.'"
He was right.
He reached out to Rollins and, together, they realized the vision of creating a bicycle program. Rollins was already interacting with ex-offenders in their after-care and had come to see their need for transportation.
"I was basically shuttling them from where they lived to social services, police department, social security," Rollins said. "I had talked to an organization that I was needing bikes and they said, 'Yeah, go here.' And I went to that place and they said, 'No, we don't do that.'"
Little did Rollins know that Stockard would help her bring all the pieces together.
Currently, Mercy Today's bike ministry works closely with Solvista, the Department of Human Services, and other local agencies to provide bikes for those in need of transportation. They focus mainly on those who have lost driver's licenses and still maintain some form of employment.
The application process is simple and many people work alongside their case managers to obtain a bike from Mercy Today.
In 2021, they gave away about 40 bicycles, each donated by community members and reworked to be road-safe by Stockard.
As the program has grown, Stockard identified the increased need for various bike replacement materials, such as tires, pedals, handles, etc. In an effort to increase their ability to fix more bikes, Stockard set up a GoFundMe account, where he and the rest of the team at Mercy Today hope to raise $5,000 strictly for new bike parts.
"We need financial resources to continue this bike program for Brian to be able to do it. That money will be used to buy his pedals and handlebars and seats and tires," Rollins said.
Whenever possible, Stockard prefers to purchase materials locally and loves the ability to pour finances back into the community he loves.
Many people who participate in the program are ex-offenders and come from troublesome backgrounds. Stockard does all he can to show them they're not alone.
"I explain to them that when you have a fall in your life and you think there's no getting back up, no moving on...I point out that this bike was renewed and your life can be renewed and you have the help and get the help to be new," Stockard said.
Mercy Today Ministries has many services available to those who may need some help, including a prison outreach, soup kitchen and food bank, clothing, and weekly worship services.
"It's all about trying to work together and helping one another as well as help our clients, our neighbors, everyone," Stockard said. "It would be wonderful to keep on giving, that's what we want to do."
To donate to the organization's bike fund, visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/donate-to-help-mercy-today-bicycle-program?member=20685701&sharetype=teams&utm_campaign=p_na+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer
For more information about Mercy Today Ministries or the services they provide, call (719) 276-9242 or visit https://www.mercytodayministries.com/
No comments:
Post a Comment