LCMS World Mission Blog

“In the spring of 2008, the University Lutheran Chapel at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, began to collect bikes to be fixed and given away to international students. We wanted to serve international students in a relevant and practical way and we felt that this was one way we could do that. We were blessed to receive an outreach grant from LCEF which greatly helped us in this effort. Each student who received a bike received a brochure listing the activities at the Chapel.

“While we were hoping to collect and give away about 30-40 bikes, God had much bigger plans for us. We have currently collected, fixed, and given away more than 85 bikes to students from 16 different countries and five different continents. We have given out 17 Bibles and eight ‘Jesus’ DVDs to students who have asked for them after receiving a free bike. We have also met Christians from China, Singapore, Korea, and Mexico and have been able to connect them to the ministry here at the Chapel. The really interesting thing about a project like this is that often you do not see the majority of fruit until many months or years later. Please pray that God would touch the hearts of the students who have received a bike and that He would bring them to saving faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Praise God that more than 20 new international students have gotten connected to Bible studies or Sunday worship through this ministry.

“Luis is a new student from Mexico. He was helped by a member of Messiah Lutheran who picked up some furniture for him and then mentioned that we had free bikes. Luis called us and asked if he could have a free bike. When I met him the next day, I invited him to join us at our barbeque and I told him, ‘Feel free to invite some friends.’ He mentioned that he was new here and did not have many friends yet. I invited him to come to church on Sunday, since it would be a great way to meet new people. After this, Luis has been coming regularly to church at University Lutheran Chapel, meeting many Christian friends, and getting connected to the ministry.”

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This story was originally published in the “Mission Fields Nebraska” newsletter, published by the Nebraska District of the LCMS.