Have you registered to join RAGBRAI’s 50th-anniversary bike ride with the #BeUMC team? #BeUMC is a grassroots effort built upon powerful stories of congregations and individuals living their faith while celebrating what draws people to The United Methodist Church and what United Methodists collectively aspire to be.
Register today and select the #BeUMC team. Riding with the team gets you indoor overnight sleeping, most of them in local churches in overnight towns, an outdoor shower trailer, a support vehicle to carry your gear, and most importantly, you will be a member of a team made up of United Methodists pastors and laity who want to #BeUMC and show Christ in the Community during the week-long ride.
RAGBRAI, Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, is more than just a bike ride. It is an epic eight-day rolling festival of bicycles, music, food, camaraderie, and community. It is the world’s oldest, largest, and longest multi-day bicycle touring event.
Also, if you would like, we encourage our team members to create sponsorships by asking friends and family to pledge money toward each mile you ride. That money will be part of Bishop Kennetha Bigham-Tsai’s initiative to raise funds for Africa University scholarships. Think about if we had 20 riders who get pledges of $1 per mile; we could raise $10,000! The annual cost to educate one student at Africa University is $5,565, which covers tuition, basic meal plan, accommodation, medical care, technology, student union, and registration fees. Learn more about Africa University.
Make sure to stop by our #BeUMC booth at the Expo on Saturday, July 23, in Sioux City, where we will be giving away #BeUMC beverage holders, a customized Iowa United Methodist Church map with the route, and UMC stops along the way, a place to drop a prayer request and a sign up for some free giveaways.
We also have available, for a limited time, customized PRIMAL bike jerseys and shirts that are now selling through May 15. We also have custom t-shirts for purchase through our Shopify store for your group to wear to show your support for #BeUMC.
Are you a United Methodist who is hosting a food stand or event? Let us know by June 1 to add you to our map. Even if your church is teaming up with other churches or community stands, we want to know so we can help you publicize and get folks to stop by.
United Methodist Communications has graciously provided The Iowa Annual Conference with a $6,500 grant for local church advertising and #BeUMC giveaways.
Call us with any questions at (515) 974-8907.