Wednesday – May 26 3:30 pm to 6:00 pm
Meet Paula (ventriloquist) and Sunny (puppet) Sharing the Message of God’s Love, through Jesus Christ
Concession Stands – hot dogs, popcorn and slushies
Bike Obstacle Course Bike Decorating StationBike Repair StationBouncy HouseBubblesFace PaintingPlus much more!
Bring a bike for a person (any size) in need! broken (we will fix) or used
Why is this mission needed?
Based on the people that are connected to New Heart U.M.C. in one way or another, approximately 40% of these persons that are of driving age either walk, ride a bike or take a bus, due to their lack of financial means or other hardships. Transportation is a challenge for many people in this area. When the near by Krogers grocery store closed, it was the talk of the town. The people in this area felt emotionally overwhelmed, as they considered how they would get to a grocery store. When Walmart announced that they would no longer offer their community bus to take them to their store, it was again the talk of this community, as it challenged them to find new ways to commute to places of need. Therefore, when winter is over, bikes are considered a desired primary mode of transportation for people of low income. For you and I bicycles are a leisure, relaxing and fun experience. However, for impoverished people, riding bicycles is a way of life that improves their quality of life.
Our first Community Outreach Bike Celebration was in 2019. We had over 215 persons attend. We asked for the children to bring their bikes, so they could participate in the bike decorating and obstacle course. When the children arrived, we saw first hand the great need for more bikes, as the 21 bikes we had went quickly to children in need. In trying to meet this need, we wrote down names and contact information for children that were in need of a bike, which was over 20 bikes in just one evening. The need continues. All used bicycles for children, youth and adults are welcome and needed! Please consider donating a bike, even if it needs repair. To date we have been able to give over 200 bikes to children, youth and adults in need of a reliable bicycle.
The children that attend the Community Outreach Bike Celebration weren’t asking for a new bike or a bike with a specific color or anything else a bike could offer, they were children that just wanted a bike that was in working condition! When Ed Hannum from Midland 1st U.M.C., heard of this great need, he refurbished and delivered bikes to New Heart Outreach for distribution.. Even though these were used bikes, to these children they were priceless, as their smiles spoke volumes of their great appreciation! In other communities, a used bike would be frowned upon, but here in Southwest Saginaw, a bicycle brings great joy and appreciation when you do not have one!
We are very thankful for the out pouring of Christ’s love that the Thursday Bible Study Class at Midland 1st UMC has shown the impoverished and spiritually lost people of Southwest Saginaw in Jesus name. We also want to extend a big thank you to Ed Hannum for saying “yes” to God’s calling in refurbishing these bikes. We are encouraged that Frankenmuth UMC youth, under the leadership of Pastor Ryan and Pastor Bruce, will be offering community bike repair, throughout the year. Giving these youth, an opportunity to build relationships with the children and youth in SW Saginaw, in Jesus name! A community of care will be established, through prayer and the word of God, upon the repair and giving of bicycles. The children and youth in the inner city of Saginaw are seeking to know, the God of love, hope and joy!
Please consider the Bike Block Party on Wednesday – May 26 from 3:30 pm to 6:00 pm. If you can help at this event, please register, as a leader by calling 989-839-4798. A variety of hands on opportunities awaits you and any financial support is greatly appreciated. We are an approved district mission project site for the Michigan Conference/Central Bay District, as we serve Hispanic, African American and Caucasian people of all ages! We served over 7 200 people in 10 mission outreaches in 2019 (of course, 2020 year of Covid isn’t a relevant reflection. If you would like to be apart of this local mission field, please let me know.
Pastor Melene Wilsey
New Heart Mission Projectof Central Bay District1802 W Michigan Ave
Saginaw, MI[email protected]
989-839-4798