From Maine to India
- Ends of the Earth Cycling
- Jul 12, 2021
- 6 min read
Updated: Sep 28, 2022
Written By: Metro Missions, India
In 2018, the Lord led Ends of the Earth Cycling to ride for the youth of India on our New England Bike Ride. We saw 30 world-changers (18 cyclists and 12 support staff) ride 300+ miles that week. They prayed, raised awareness and funds to promote and resource youth ministry in India through our partners, Metro Missions.
We can't believe it! Funds raised in 2018 are still being used today [in July 2021]! Below are some of the fruits from their efforts! To God be the Glory!
India is the 10th most dangerous place to be a Christian in the entire world. (Source: OpenDoorsUSA.org) The stories below were written by our friends at Metro Missions. We have been given permission and their blessings to share this information.
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOLS
March - May 2021 we were able to host Vacation Bible Schools (VBS) in India thanks to the prayers and funds raised from the 2018 New England Bike Ride.
VBS’s Conducted: 38 places
Total number of children participated: 3224
We thank you, and appreciate your sacrificial giving and fervent prayers that upheld us greatly throughout the VBS season! May the Lord reward you richly as you partner with us in serving these little ones to whom the Kingdom belongs!
Below are some stories from youth that were impacted from attending the Vacation Bible Schools.
Mani
Mani* [name obscured for added security] is part of one of our Metro Clubs in Chennai. Before he came to this club, he lived in a free government home. His own parents placed him there simply because they could not discipline him out of his mischievous behavior. Our Metro team that visits this home for ministry since 2004 had opportunities to spend time with Mani, the prayerful counseling sessions our ministry team had with him began impacting his life. Soon, Mani was a transformed person by the love of Christ. His changed behavior and character eventually paved the way for him to return to his family.
Even after returning home, Mani continued growing in Christ by attending one of our Metro Clubs held right in the slum where he lived. When Metro VBS was held in that club during the first week of May 2019, Mani was so excited to attend all the 5 days. It so happened on the first day, as he was getting ready to leave home for VBS, one of his best buddies asked him if he would accompany him to the beach for a swim. Since Mani loved swimming, it was a big temptation. He had to think and make the right choice. As he pondered, he felt like God was leading him to say ‘NO’ to his friend and go to the VBS. At the VBS, Mani simply enjoyed all the teachings, songs and activities.
On the very first day itself, he made some fresh decisions to get closer to Jesus. When he returned home in the afternoon after VBS, he had this huge disappointing news: his friend who went swimming got swept away by the waves and died! In fact, it was such a sad piece of news for the whole community in his slum. Mani was deeply upset. But on the other hand, in the midst of those sad moments, he realized how he could have also been swept away by the waves if he had not obeyed the leading of the Holy Spirit. On the last day of the VBS, when he gave this powerful testimony about the way God protected him, everyone was awestruck! Mani now realizes that his life totally belongs to Christ and he wants to live wholly devoted to Him for the rest of his life.
Amanda
Amanda* [name changed for additional security] has been part of one of our Metro clubs from a very young age. When she was in high school, she was diagnosed with pancreas dysfunction. As a result, she could never eat anything solid. If she did, she would throw up. Due to acute stomach pain, she suffered sleepless nights.
At one point even sleeping pills stopped working. She had to be on strong painkillers. The private hospital where she was admitted initially administered some unneeded medications, which complicated her health condition. Eventually, she had to be shifted to a local government hospital. Once a month, she had to endure a painful endoscopic procedure. During one such procedure, a part of the tube got stuck in her stomach, which worsened her situation. Through the year 2018 she was literally bedridden! Unable to see the daughter’s suffering, her mom often suffered with suicidal thoughts. Amanda had to miss out on two years of schooling, And during those years she could not be part of our weekly meetings as well.
Despite all the negative medical reports, our missionaries regularly visited her and prayed with her. Amanda's unshakable faith in the Lord paid off! Since the beginning of Jan 2019, she started experiencing a gradual but sure healing in her body through the power of God. She started gaining back her weight and becoming healthier by the day! One of her prayers from the beginning of the year was that she would be able to participate in Metro VBS, which she had missed the previous year. When our VBS season began during the last week of April, she became strong enough not only to participate, but also serve as one of the teachers for the Beginners.
One of the emotionally painful experiences Amanda had to endure during her ailing period was the rejection she faced from her neighbors. Some of the parents of the children in the neighborhood stopped them from even going close to Amanda’s house. They were fearful if the disease that Amanda suffered from would affect their kids as well. None of those things dented her faith in Christ.
Now in the VBS this year, some of the kids she taught were those who
were restricted by their parents from even going near her home. Truly, Amanda’s life is a powerful testimony to the healing power of God. She is now all set to resume her studies as well. Amanda sees herself as a full time children’s minister in future. We are sure God has amazing things in store for her in the days to come. Amen.
TEEN Leadership Meetings
Teen Leaders Meetings
As a ministry, we are committed to preparing teens in our Metro Clubs to be leaders for Christ – in their community, in their homes, and in the school. Our goal is to hold 10 teen leadership meetings before the end of the year to train about 500 young leaders.
The two fold purpose of these meetings is to help the teenage boys and girls in our weekly clubs to become committed disciples for Jesus, and to empower them with practical leadership skills and biblical principles needed to increase their influence in their community for the glory of God. Since the month of May 2019, we have completed 2 such meetings. In both the meetings we have seen God do some amazing things among those who participated. We covet your prayers for the upcoming meetings.
As a ministry, we are very grateful to the organization, The Ends of the Earth Cycling, for their sponsorship that helped us conduct 15 Teen Leaders Retreats from March 2019 through February 2021. Our initial goal was to conduct 10 retreats, to reach around 500 boys and girls by the end of the year 2019.
Unfortunately, due to various reasons, we could only conduct 6 retreats in 2019. But, despite losing a major portion of 2020 to the pandemic, by February 2021, we could complete 15 Teen Leaders Meetings reaching 738 boys and girls in total.
Below are some stories from individual youth that attended the Teen Leader Meetings.
Name: Jem
Area: Virudhunagar
11th Grade
I am Jem* [name obscured for added security] and I come from a Christian home. I praise God for the opportunity that I had to attend Metro Missions’ Teens Meeting held on the 16th of January 2021. I learnt many valuable lessons from all the teachings on that day. I enjoyed all the games, songs and the interactive sessions very much. This was an entirely new experience for me. The highlight of the meeting was the encounter I had with the Holy Spirit. During the final prayer session, for the first time in life, I experienced the anointing of the Holy Spirit on me.
During that moment, I felt like the Holy Spirit set me free from a demonic influence over my life. Up until that day, I was really addicted to gadgets. I was all the time glued to my mobile phone, and my screen time was without any control. My parents were very upset with my unrestricted digital life, and they often used to shout at me. The group discussion time at the retreat was very meaningful. The leaders gave us many practical tips and useful counsel on how we can overcome these distractions with the help of the Holy Spirit. After this retreat, my priorities in life have changed significantly. My screen time is limited now, and I am able to spend more time at the Lord’s feet. I want to honor Christ through my holy living and serve Him with all my life.
Help us tell the story of cycling for Global Youth!
Share a Google Review.
Comments