At the FREEDOM TOUR we’re motivated by God’s demand for justice.
Our Motivation Statement,We cycle to bring hope and freedom to kids rescued from human trafficking, was inspired by these lines from Micah.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8)
We need to be careful, though, when we talk about “bringing hope and freedom” as though we’re coming to the rescue, saving those poor, underprivileged children. Words matter, and that’s absolutely not what we believe.
We’re a group of broken, messed-up people trying to work out our own lives. We bring nothing to the table except what we’ve received as a free, undeserved gift. We wish only to be a conduit, to pass along what’s been given to us–because it’s not ours anyway.
And those “poor, underprivileged children”? Jesus loves them more than we can possibly imagine. He’s already caring for them in every way that matters. We are not “saving” anyone.
Don’t ask me how that works–I don’t know. I know He offers us the opportunity to be part of a story bigger than ourselves, to join Him in the work of providing for the care and safety of these kids. We get to do that by riding bikes, by inviting folks into the circle, and by sharing a bit of what’s been so freely given to us.
We’re building a community of imperfect people, because that’s what we have to work with. Along the way we have some fun, work together, and trust God for the results.
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I write a lot about cycling and the FREEDOM TOUR because that’s my context. I hope you see past my sometimes myopic focus on riding bikes.
Of course I would love to get you into the circle of the FREEDOM TOUR. I would love to have you join this remarkable community and discover the joy of shared sacrifice and servant leadership you’ll encounter.
I hope you’ll visit the website ( www.frontrangefreedomtour.org/ ) or send an email.
But life is bigger than cycling and bike tours. I hope I don’t get so consumed by “cycling as a metaphor” that we lose sight of the big picture.
I’m happy you’re part of this journey of hope, whatever that journey means for you. I hope you’re stepping out of your comfort zone, facing our fear, following your God-sized dream.
I hope you’re a bit frightened. Probably means you’re headed in the right direction.
Take Courage. I Am. Don’t Be Afraid. ~Jesus