NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) – Wayne Carter* had a plan. But that plan took a turn July 5, when the Georgia pastor’s bicycle wheel caught in some loose sand on his trek through East Asia. Carter, whose passion for cycling has joined that of sharing the Gospel, slammed into the ground, ending a planned 236-mile ride for missions.
Yes, it was disappointing. His son had pulled ahead in an accompanying Range Rover to set up lunch for the group of seven. Plans were to join his dad on the ride that afternoon. The journey itself was to conclude the next day.
Except for a few miles at the beginning, the ride took place on pocked roads made of dirt and rocks traversing the countryside. Carter had just made his way down a fairly challenging descent and was in the process of navigating a smaller one when he heard a car approaching from behind. He saw a black Prius approaching that wasn’t giving space.
With no other choice, Carter moved to the right. He felt the wheel give and the bike begin to fall.
Then the world went dark.
Passion into purpose
The fall brought two cracked ribs and the ride’s end. It won’t diminish Carter’s desire to share the Gospel through cycling.
In Asia, he coordinated his trip alongside a host and others with the International Mission Board. The ride brought him into contact with many locals who became curious about the American, opening doors to Gospel conversations.
“The bike was an entry point,” he said. “I was really disappointed about the injuries and felt I let everyone down. Our team had put a lot of hard work into this.
“But then I started thinking about the people I met. I won’t know the impact of those times. I spoke with a youth group, handed out Bibles and went into people’s homes. Even when I wasn’t necessarily preaching, I was sowing seeds.”
Two teenagers, about the same age as Carter’s daughter back in the U.S., in one home spoke fairly good English. The mother shared that she wasn’t very familiar with Christianity, though someone in her family had worked for a Christian at one time. When the father arrived, Carter presented him with a Bible.
“They were very open [to the conversation],” said Carter. “We prayed with them before we left.”
Support for the trip was raised primarily through his church, with logistics handled through the IMB. The experience affected his outlook on missions.
“It really stirred a hunger in my heart for this particular country,” he said. “You could see the darkness and lostness, man-made structures that point to spirits.
“Experiences like this show how you can shape your passions into a purpose,” said Carter, whose love for cycling has made the sport a vehicle for gatherings with local believers in his city. “We’re planning on traveling overseas again, maybe get our church involved to help host some Vacation Bible Schools. At home, we’ve built a cycling community that includes Bible studies. It’s been pretty good and shows how we can do so much more together.”
*Name changed
