Shared sacrifice to accomplish a common purpose forges lasting relationships.
It’s one of the huge benefits of joining a team like the one that’s forming around FRONT RANGE FREEDOM TOUR ‘14. When you laugh, work, and sweat together as part of something bigger than yourself, I think you get a glimpse of connection as God intended it to occur.
We delighted that Carmen Cheek, one of our friends from a previous trip (that’s her in yellow next to the bald guy), will travel from Dallas to join us for this tour. We asked Carmen to share a bit of her story and the impact bike touring has made on her journey.
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Growing up in church, I heard a lot about “God’s perfect plan” for my life. I’ve been taught how to “seek” God’s will, how to somehow navigate this perfect plan.
But as I’ve grown I’ve wondered: what if God is a bigger dreamer than that, and instead of handing out plans, He’s holding out invitations?
Those are the kinds of questions that have led me to where I am today: a Women’s Studies grad student and social worker at a domestic violence/sexual assault women’s shelter. Neither Women’s Studies nor social worker were ever a part of my grand life plan, but one day I chose to abandon my plans and go an adventure with God. I decided to ride my bike.
As I learned about the global injustice of human trafficking, my heart was grieved and I knew I had to move. In 2012, I connected with Venture Expeditions and rode my bike 500 miles on behalf of oppressed individuals around the world. My team of 25 sacrificed our legs and our lungs in the belief that no person deserves to suffer through life at the hands of an unjust pimp, trafficker, land owner, or master; all people deserve a life rich with opportunity and freedom.
Riding my bike 500 miles as part of IJM Freedom Tour 2012 sounds like a weird way to bring rescue to the enslaved and connect with the Spirit of God, but it works. I don’t know how it works, I just know it works. God loves to see us abandon our plans and step out in obedience, into a place where we are completely dependent upon Him, and go on a walk with Him in order to seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with Him.
I am so excited to be able to say that this summer, I’m doing it again. I’m teaming up with Rich and Becky Dixon. A team of riders will do FRONT RANGE FREEDOM TOUR ‘14 to benefit U COUNT Campaign and Project Rescue’s Home of Hope in New Delhi.
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God has cultivated in me a passion for women through my own story of pain and abuse. I used to live in fear, walk in anxiety, and breathe in hopelessness just from the idea of sharing my story. But training for my 2012 tour changed all of that. God’s freedom and grace came crashing down onto me and I began speaking and haven’t stopped since.
At 14, I was molested and abused for two months by a teacher. I blacked out most of those memories and have been dealing with them resurfacing ever since. I quickly became the quintessential sexual assault victim: eating disorder, suicidal, partying all the time, perpetually scared and shaken. Then, a few years later, a boyfriend raped me. I have been on a healing journey ever since, not a glorious or beautiful one where people eat rainbows and crap butterflies, but a hard one where every day hurts and feels hopeless. But, the Lord has been with me, faithful every step of the way.
My passion for women is rooted deep within my soul. God has shaped my life in such a way that my heart yearns for all people, but especially women, to be full of hope, life, freedom, and joy. I want all women to have the opportunity to enrich their lives by being able to work a steady job, take care of their children, own their land, and not live in fear of violence. That is why I’m getting a degree that will enable me to work in a shelter for trafficked victims, it’s why I’m currently working in a shelter with abused women and children, it’s why I’m sacrificing my legs and lungs to seek justice on behalf of the bruised and broken.
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What if God’s “perfect plan” for your life is an invitation to go on an adventure with Him? Micah 6:8 makes it pretty clear that all God really cares about is that we “seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with [our] God.” What could that look like in your life? A bike ride? A new job? An art piece? Writing a book? Climbing a mountain? Going to counseling? The possibilities are endless because our God is endless.
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Thanks, Carmen, for your perspective and courage. Can’t wait to see you!
There are lots of ways to join this adventure. Check out the possibilities.
It’s gonna be a blast!
Please leave a comment here.
