MENNONITE YOUNG ADULTS ‘ON THE WAY’ BY BICYCLE TO PARAGUAY GLOBAL ASSEMBLY: GROUP TO RAISE FUNDS FOR GLOBAL YOUTH NETWORK

November 5, 2008 | posted by Lars under press | Leave a Comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MENNONITE YOUNG ADULTS ‘ON THE WAY’ BY BICYCLE TO PARAGUAY GLOBAL ASSEMBLY:

GROUP TO RAISE FUNDS FOR GLOBAL YOUTH NETWORK

November 4, 2008—As a part of BikeMovement Americas 2009, several Anabaptist young adults will bike from Harrisonburg, Virginia, USA to the Global Youth Summit and Mennonite World Conference Assembly in Asunción, Paraguay, from January to July 2009. Throughout the two-wheeled pilgrimage the group will seek to learn from and serve those they encounter, and to connect with Anabaptist congregations and service workers along their approximately 7,000 mile route through the American continents. “We hope that our journey will encourage and add to an intercultural conversation about discerning and living Christ’s call with integrity,” says project co-coordinator Lars Åkerson, of Harrisonburg, Virginia.

As they travel, the group will update an interactive, dynamic website to creatively document conversations, stories, and photos of their experiences as an invitation for broader conversation and dialogue. Persons are welcomed to join the self-supported touring group for sections of the ride—whether for a couple of miles or a couple of days. “Biking together is a great way to build relationships, and it’s exciting to have the opportunity,” comments project co-coordinator Jonathan Spicher, a Lancaster, Pennsylvania native and a student at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. A map of the group’s route, which passes through the southeastern United States, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Paraguay, is available on their website:  http://americas.bikemovement.org

Beginning in January 2009, the group hopes to arrive in Asunción six months later in time for the fifteenth Mennonite World Conference Assembly and second Global Youth Summit, July 10-19, 2009. The youth summit’s focus is “Service: Live the Difference,” while the Anabaptist assembly at large will “Come together in the way of Jesus Christ,” with Philippians 2:1-11 as the theme text.  More than 220 young adults from 28 countries gathered for the first Global Youth Summit along with nearly 7,000 who attended the general assembly in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, in 2003.

Working with AMIGOS (the world conference youth committee) BikeMovement Americas hopes to raise $30,000 in the months leading up to the ride to help emerging young leaders from around the world attend the summit in Paraguay. Over the past three years, AMIGOS has raised over $75,000 toward this goal, but $30,000 remains to meet its goal for providing grants.

Details about how contributions can be made toward either AMIGOS or the BikeMovement Americas riders are available on the website at http://americas.bikemovement.org/give.

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Contact:

Lars Åkerson

americas@bikemovement.org

(540) 421-3709

http://www.americas.bikemovement.org

download the press release: .doc

JOVENES MENONITAS “EN CAMINO” POR BICICLETA A ASAMBLEA MUNDIAL EN PARAGUAY: GRUPO A RECAUDAR FONDOS PARA CMM AMIGOS

November 5, 2008 | posted by Lars under press | Leave a Comment

PARA PUBLICACIÓN INMEDIATA

JOVENES MENONITAS “EN CAMINO” POR BICICLETA A ASAMBLEA MUNDIAL EN PARAGUAY:

GRUPO A RECAUDAR FONDOS PARA CMM AMIGOS

4 Noviembre 2008 — Como parte de BikeMovement Americas 2009, unos jóvenes anabaptistas biciclarán desde Harrisonburg, Virginia, USA a la Cumbre Mundial de la Juventud y Asamblea Mundial Menonita en Asunción, Paraguay, empezando en Enero y llegando en Julio 2009. Durante toda la peregrinación en dos ruedas el grupo tratará de aprender de y servir a los que encuentren, y a conectar con congregaciones y misioneros anabaptistas por el viaje de aproximadamente 11200 kilómetros a través de los continentes de América. “Esperamos que nuestro viaje alentará y aumentará una conversación intercultural sobre discernir y vivir con integridad el llamado de Cristo,” dice coordinador del proyecto Lars Åkerson, de Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Mientras viajan, el grupo realizará un sitio web dinámico y interactivo para recordar las conversaciones, las historias, y las fotos de sus experiencias como una invitación a conversación y dialogo más amplia. Personas están bienvenidas a unirse al grupo autoestable para una parte del viaje—sea unos kilómetros o unos días. “Viajar juntos en bicicleta es una buena manera para construir relaciones, y me anima tener la oportunidad,” comenta coordinador del proyecto Jonathan Spicher, de Lancaster, Pennsylvania, y un estudiante en la Universidad Menonita del Este (Eastern Mennonite University) en Harrisonburg, Virginia. Una mapa de la ruta, que pasa por los Estados Unidos sureste, México, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panamá, Ecuador, Perú, Bolivia, y Paraguay, está puesta en el sitio web http://america.bikemovement.org.

Empezando en Enero 2009, el grupo espera llegar en Asunción después de seis meses por la decimoquinta Asamblea del Congreso Mundial Menonita y la segunda Cumbre Mundial de la Juventud, 10-19 Julio 2009. El foco de la cumbre de la juventud es “Servicio: Viva la Diferencia,” mientras la asamblea anabaptista en general celebra que “Sigamos juntos el camino de Jesucristo,” con Filipenses 2:1-11 como el texto temático. Más de 220 jóvenes de 28 países se juntaron para la primera Cumbre Mundial de la Juventud y casi 7,000 asistieron la asamblea general en Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, en 2003.

Junto a AMIGOS (la comité de la Juventud de CMM) BikeMovement Americas tratará recaudar $30,000 en los meses antes del viaje para apoyar a líderes jóvenes emergentes de todas partes del mundo a asistir la cumbre en Paraguay. En los últimos tres años, AMIGOS ha recaudado más de $75,000 a esta meta, pero $30,000 queda para llegar al objetivo de proveer las becas.

Detalles en como se puede donar a AMIGOS o a los ciclistas de BikeMovement Americas están disponibles en el sitio web: http://americas.bikemovement.org/give.

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Contacto:

Lars Åkerson

americas@bikemovement.org

+11 (540) 421-3709

http://www.americas.bikemovement.org

descargar el comunicado de prensa: .doc

Bikes, BINGO, and Beyond

October 27, 2008 | posted by Jon under preparation, updates | Leave a Comment

Over Fall Break Lars and I decided we were going to set out on a practice run for our trip. Destination: Lancaster, PA. We planned to attend my church, Community Mennonite Church of Lancaster, and make some announcements, maybe talk to some conference leaders, and just do some publicity in general. It turned out that that plan was never realized. After leaving late on Friday we only rode 30 miles to the Getz Farm (est. 1796) north of Forestville, VA. The Getzs’ were very hospitable and gave us their yard to sleep in as well as a wooden spoon we used to cook our pasta that evening. Sitting around the MSR Dragonfly we realized were weren’t going to make the remaining 170 miles the next day. So, being flexible, we changed our route. We were headed to Washington, D.C.

The following day was 100 crowded and busy miles, and we got onto the Metro with all of our belongings just as it began to get dark. We ended up at the WCSC house that EMU owns, where Becca Yoder and Co. were more than hospitable, giving us food, clothing, and a warm dry place to sleep. The following day, Sunday, we spent visiting a church plant in Anacostia that Lars’ aunt and uncle attend. We were greeted warmly by many there and we also received a plate full of food just for showing up. “I’m glad you’re here,” was a common phrase used in church that morning. After church we had lunch with Lars’ aunt and uncle, and left there with stomachs full of pupusas and a bike map of Washington, D.C, which we used on our way home. We had dinner than night at a hip coffee shop/bookstore/restaurant called Busboys and Poets with some friends before coming back to the WCSC house to make cookies as a way of saying thanks for their hospitality. We ended up going to bed at 2 AM or thereabouts.

Monday morning we left the WCSC house around 10 and rode mostly on bike trails for a good 30 miles. They were wonderful trails, and it was an adjustment “rubbing shoulders” with traffic again after such nice paths. We put in 84 miles that day, and ended up in the town of Amissville on Rte. 211, sleeping at the Amissville Volunteer Fire Company’s fairgrounds. It was BINGO night at the fairgrounds, and we learned just as much about Amissville culture as we did about BINGO variations. They didn’t let Lars leave without at least 2 hamburgers, one of which I ate the following morning for breakfast.

Tuesday we were on the road by 9 AM with two daunting climbs ahead of us: crossing over Skyline Drive and Massanutten Ridge via the New Market Gap. We slowly but surely made it up over these hills and had very enjoyable rides down the other side; fall colors are especially enjoyable cruising at 30+ mph. After a jaunt of Rte. 11 south of New Market, we up the 60-some miles by riding into Harrisonburg, sprinting to try to beat the light cycles, glad to be back home.

Overall it was a good trip. I think it has a lot to teach us about the much larger trip that is ahead of us. First, things won’t always go as planned, and we’ll have to be flexible. Second, hospitality will present itself in the form of clothes to wear other than bike shorts, hamburgers from BINGO night, or the phrase “I’m glad you’re here.” And third, we cannot go where God is not.

Carpool, Bike, or Walk to Church, Sunday, Oct. 12!

October 1, 2008 | posted by Lars under on the way together, press | Leave a Comment

Bike to church! Walk to church! Carpool, unicycle, or skateboard to church! On October 12, members of Virginia Mennonite Conference churches are invited (encouraged!) to connect with others from their church and decide together whether they’ll use 4, 2, (1,) or no wheels to get to church. As a part of the Body of Christ, this is one way to witness to the healing and hope of Jesus Christ, and not comply with the frenzied, isolated, and consumptive patterns of the world.

It’s not a new idea. People have been re-imagining transportation for a long time — for some, using alternative transportation to get to church is old hat — and for that, our hats are off to you! You’re our role models here! But, for many, the idea of walking, biking, or even carpooling to church is new, so here are some reasons to try it out on October 12.

Most notably, this is an opportunity to practice caring for all of God’s Creation. Noticing and reducing consumption is one way to exercise good stewardship of the natural world and to begin living at peace with others, since many wars are fought over scarce resources, like oil.

Less obvious is the gift of change. The simple act of altering the routine can provide a new perspective on the ordinary. Often, it is in these moments of heightened awareness that God speaks and appears most vividly.

Starting with the money saved, participants can help young leaders from the global south attend the Global Youth Summit and Mennonite World Conference Assembly in Paraguay next summer. AMIGOS, the global network of Anabaptist young adults, is trying to raise a final $30,000 to provide assistance to youth from the global south who would like to participate in the gathering as delegates of their church conferences. While the cost for one youth delegate to travel to and attend the summit is approximately $2,500, together, by sharing resources, the church can help make this happen.

Contributions can either be made here, or by mail to Virginia Mennonite Missions, Attn: ‘on the way, together’, 901 Parkwood Drive, Harrisonburg VA 22802.  Virginia Mennonite Missions will pass all funds on directly to Mennonite World Conference AMIGOS.

Printed in the October, 2008 issue of the Virginia Mennonite Conference Connections.

Promotional material is available on the press page.

You have heard it said …

May 23, 2008 | posted by Lars under preparation, updates | Leave a Comment

…that a group of young adults are biking to Mennonite World Conference in Paraguay. And I tell you, it’s true. Jon Spicher and I are organizing this project and, with the help of many of you, we’re just getting off the ground.

The idea sounds crazy, but it’s one that has been rumbling around in conversation for quite a while now, and we’re not the only ones talking. Here, the idea has evolved like this:

Two summers ago, a group of North American young adults biked across the country, calling themselves BikeMovement. As they biked, they reflected on and talked about their experiences with the church. Their conversations took place in churches, on bikes, and around campfires. They wanted to encourage the North American church to re-envision what ‘church community’ looks like, with the reminder that the early disciples of Jesus were a very organic and motley crew.

We followed them vicariously across the country, and when some of our friends on that trip returned, we continued the conversation. As we talked, we began to recognize that the voices present in the conversations that summer were largely those of white, middle-class young adults - and only a fraction of the church as a whole.

So the need for a broader conversation about being a community relevant to Jesus’ teaching and call seemed clear. The idea of biking to Mennonite World Conference assembly in Paraguay has floated around prior to this, but we think that the action of listening to and sharing stories of the church as we ourselves journey towards the global gathering has the potential to edify and connect the church as a whole - first the Anabaptists, but really all believers.

So, we’ve been actively exploring the possibilities of riding our bicycles over approximately 7,000 miles and 7 months from Harrisonburg, Virginia to Asunción, Paraguay as a way to foster this sort of storytelling and listening, appreciating and critiquing. As an extension of the experiences, we will find creative ways to record our conversations and share them on this website to invite others’ engagement. For the adventurous individuals, we welcome cyclists to join us for sections near their communities; we’d love to hear from you if this vision and journey get you excited like they do us! And of course everyone is welcome to participate by commenting on posted material and continuing to listen, tell stories, and converse about how we can be a family that is radically relevant to God’s Word.

As with the first BikeMovement, we also will be raising money for AMIGOS, so that young adults from all over the world can attend the assembly in Paraguay. In 2006, AMIGOS set the goal of raising $100,000 ahead of the assembly, the remainder of which - $30,000 - we want to raise.

The Church is global and the Church is organic. We hope this project will remind us of that and stir us - together - to follow Christ more faithfully. But this is too much for us alone, for we are only the (two-wheeled!) vehicles.

Together, we follow…

Anabaptists around the world

May 23, 2008 | posted by Lars under mwc, preparation | Leave a Comment

well, not quite, but it’s at least a map showing the distribution of Mennonites, Brethren in Christ, and related churches around the globe.

Check it out: http://www.mwc-cmm.org/Directory/worldmap2003.pdf

Paraguay 2009

May 23, 2008 | posted by Lars under assembly, mwc | Comment (1)

Information about Mennonite World Conference Assembly 15 in Asunción, Paraguay next summer and how to register can be found on their website, here.

Denver Steiner produced this nice video on the history of MWC Assemblies and the upcoming gathering
read more…