For Cycle of Love 2011 (Nov 5-6) our bike shop team has five teens plus two volunteers and me embarking on this life-changing journey. We are asking for donations for our youth development program at $1/mile (or more if you’d like). You can sponsor as many miles as you would like!

Our first pledge came from GA state representative Margaret Kaiser for $1/mile for the entire trip. Please join Mrs. Kaiser in supporting the at-risk youth of South Atlanta by supporting the work we do!

As we were wrapping up today’s shift (with six police officers volunteering) this image was taken, capturing the unlikely trust being built between these caring officers and urban youth of South Atlanta. THIS is why the South Atlanta Bike Shop partners with the Atlanta Police Department – so that this is the only way the officer is ever driving with the young man in the back seat.

This year we decided to ride more than double the distance. Our goal is to ride from Birmingham, AL to Atlanta, GA (approx. 174 miles) on the weekend of Nov 20-21. A larger group of friends has assembled, each using the event to raise money for a ministry where he/she works or volunteers. We decided to call this event the Cycle of Love 2010 (cycleoflove.org) as we all share a love for our neighbor – our community of Historic South Atlanta.

I chose to represent the South Atlanta Bike Shop – a youth development program/ministry I started 5 months ago. I shared the story and heart of this program in our last family newsletter, which you can read here on our blog . In short, the program allows youth from our community to work in the bike shop and with the points they earn they can purchase a bicycle of their own. In the process they work alongside a Christian mechanic/mentor that holds them to a high standard of work ethic and performance.

Joining me on this trip will also be Evan and Devin, two of the boys that have been participating in the bike shop. I am so excited about this because these two will spend two days on the road riding their bicycles alongside black and white urban ministry leaders, an experience that cannot be substituted with any afternoon activity.

As I prepare for the longest bike ride of my life to represent the ministry of the South Atlanta Bike Shop, I wanted to ask that you prayerfully consider supporting this ministry in a two-fold way, both components of which are equally important in order for the ministry to function:

1. Contribute towards the operation of the bike shop (rent, tools, parts, helmets, bike locks)
2. Contribute towards our family support account to allow us to dedicate time to this ministry

Thank you for your continued support whether financial or through prayer. We could not do the work we do without you.

Andrej, Jessica, Kaiya, Tobi and Eli

As Metro Merge is working to empower local entrepreneurs to strengthen and grow businesses, I don’t have to strain to imagine what kind of challenges a small business owner may be facing – keeping books, writing proposals and contracts, maintaining client relationships, planning cash flow. This gives me a completely different level of credibility when interacting with other small business owners in our neighborhood.

Recently my neighbor across the street, Ray, started his own commercial cleaning business and already employs four others. With the high unemployment rate in our neighborhood (unofficial numbers say 40%) people like Ray are crucial in re-establishing economic health. That’s the reason Metro Merge strives to empower local business owners.

Over the last several months, Ray and I have had many conversations on our front porches, speaking into each other’s lives – both vocationally and personally.

In the afternoons a group of teens hang out around the South Atlanta Marketplace, a store operated by a partnering ministry. The store is not a suitable place for teens to spend large amounts time, but there is no other place that could involve these kids in a positive activity.

During a 65-mile bicycle trip on which I joined our pastor last December, I rediscovered a passion for bicycling and God began stirring my heart to create a similar bike shop here that would give these teens something positive to do.

After much prayer and encouraging feedback from partnering ministries, our church, neighbors, neighborhood association and The Motion Initiative in Grand Rapids, we decided to move forward. I started with a few of my own tools, but no budget, no bikes and no space. However, God provided. I was given a space to use rent free for the rest of 2010, some neighbors donated tools, toolboxes, rags, and a couple of bicycles. Two other volunteers joined me to serve as mechanics/mentors.

A few weeks ago, I opened the South Atlanta Bike Shop and have five boys enrolled in the program. They are working hard and are on their way to earning their own bicycles.

Last week we saw God provide again. Jessica’s parents brought a truck and trailer full of bicycles donated by members of Good Hope Baptist Church. We barely have space for all the bicycles, which should keep the guys very busy. We are incredibly grateful!

All of the bicycles we repair will be placed for sale at the South Atlanta Marketplace for affordable prices ($15-$30). The boys can purchase any of these with the points they earn. The proceeds from the sales will be used to buy inner tubes and other replacement parts, which I would also like to stock at the South Atlanta Marketplace, making it the first place in our neighborhood where you can buy them. Currently one has to go miles outside of our neighborhood to buy a replacement inner tube or tire.

I am excited to be working with the youth in our community to help them improve their job readiness skills. Youth from communities like ours are often disadvantaged in the job market because of lack of teen employment opportunities and leadership skills. We are going to be intentionally creating opportunities for the youth to take on leadership with different areas of the bike shop. We are also planning to take a few bike trips this summer.

Participating in the community garden is another highlight for our family. When we go over to water and weed our plot, many of the kids that live on that street come running to play with our kids and lend a hand. From these activities to sharing meals with neighbors, to simply playing with the neighborhood kids, neighbor has become a verb for our family.

Andrej oversees the operations of Metro Merge and recently started a new venture, the South Atlanta Bike Shop. As a family we pray for our community and strive to be very intentional as we journey alongside our neighbors. God has blessed us tremendously, and we are so thankful for you, your prayers and financial support as we work to bring change in this city.