Youth begin collecting bikes for UMCSC Annual Conference Bike…

Youth from around the South Carolina Annual Conference have an opportunity to make a huge difference as part of a mission opportunity in conjunction with Annual Conference 2017, and conference leaders have identified point-people in each district to coordinate efforts.

The Annual Conference Youth Bike Initiative is partnering South Carolina youth ministries with Bikes for the World, the South Main Mercy Center in Anderson and the Triune Mercy Center in Greenville to collect 1,200 bikes and $12,000. Bikes will be sent around the world through Bikes for the World and be given to those in need in the Anderson and Greenville communities.

Bikes collected can be new or gently used.

“In order for this God-sized dream to become reality, we thought it best to spread the challenge to the district level and challenge the youth in each district to collect 100 bikes and $1,000 sometime between now and Annual Conference 2017,” said Christ Lynch, congregational specialist focusing on youth ministries.

Lynch has identified the following youth worker point persons to spearhead the collection effort in each district:

Anderson: Patrick Griffey (Trinity UMC, Anderson)
Charleston: Cathy Musselwhite (Mount Hibben UMC)
Columbia: Elizabeth Murray (Lexington UMC)
Florence: Nate McMurphy (Central UMC, Florence)
Greenville: John Fahrney (Buncombe St. UMC)
Greenwood: Michael Keltz (Grace UMC, N. Augusta)
Hartsville: Sarah Horace (St. Mark UMC, Oswego)
Marion: Jennifer Hupko (First UMC, Myrtle Beach)
Orangeburg: Jimi Whitesell (St. John UMC, Aiken)
Rock Hill: Val Kenney (St. John UMC, Rock Hill)
Spartanburg: Skipper Brock (St. James UMC, Spartanburg)
Walterboro: To be determined

Each point person coordinates the bike initiative in their district. They are working to energize and mobilize youth and youth workers in the district to make a plan to collect the 100 bikes and $1,000 between now and Annual Conference 2017; to identify a means to have the collected bikes delivered to the appropriate location; and to document all the efforts with pictures and video to be shared at Annual Conference.

The Anderson District’s bikes will be delivered to the South Main Mercy Center in Anderson, and the Greenville District’s bikes will be delivered to the Triune Mercy Center in Greenville. All other districts will deliver their bikes to the Bikes for the World warehouse in Hanahan.

If your congregation has youth that want to be a part of this effort, please contact the point person for your district.