A few years ago, a Pioneer in the UK was getting to know a new Syrian friend and asked what he enjoyed doing for fun. The man paused before quietly replying, “My whole life has been about survival.”
That conversation stuck. It opened the eyes of Chris, a Pioneer in Plymouth, to the power of shared interests—and the need for spaces where refugees could experience both community and hope. Out of that realization, Cycle 4 The Nations was born: a ministry that uses cycling as a bridge between local believers and refugees, creating opportunities for friendship and faith to grow.
For Chris, cycling wasn’t just a hobby. “God used cycling in my life in a powerful way, to bring me freedom from terrible anxiety. It became a quiet space for me to commune with God, to take my mind off of all that was triggering my anxiety and a place to heal with the Lord”. “Since God used it so powerfully in my life, I wanted to use it for His glory.”
“Cycling is a great space to get to know people, facilitating an atmosphere to have spiritual conversation and share my testimony with those who have never heard of Jesus and how He changes lives.”
Now, those same rides serve as platforms for gospel conversations. Through local English conversation groups, Chris and his teammates invite refugees to join rides, to share their stories and to build friendships.
On a recent ride, a new Afghan friend opened up about his experience with the invading Taliban, which led to him and his family fleeing and seeking asylum in the U.K. During the chat, he expressed deep pain from what he had gone through and a disenchantment with the world of Islam. “It gave us the chance to share about Jesus—the freedom He brings and the relationship with God He makes possible,” Chris says. “We’re still meeting with him, and God seems to be moving.”
Cycle 4 the Nations seeks to partner with local churches by inviting them to participate in the rides, helping to build bridges between believers and the refugee communities around them. “It’s an approachable way to engage the nations right on our doorstep,” Chris shares. “A few people on bikes, some shared miles, and good spiritual conversations—it’s powerful.”
Beyond the U.K., Cycle 4 The Nations also supports global missions. Each year, Chris participates in ultra-endurance cycling races to raise awareness and funds for missionaries serving among the unreached—from the Quechua people in Peru to Muslim-background refugees in Europe. He visits local churches to share about how God is moving among the unreached both near and far.
“I want to see the heart of the church turned more toward the completion of the Great Commission,” Chris says. “It’s not that God needs our money—but our giving often reveals where our hearts truly are.”
The vision is growing. The team hopes to expand their local rides, provide more bikes for refugees, and see participants come to faith—and eventually lead others through the same platform.
“I hope every rider sees Jesus in us,” Chris says. “That they experience His love in a way that challenges what they thought they knew about Him.”
What about you?
Maybe God has already given you a passion or hobby that could become a bridge to others. Could your own interests—cycling, cooking, teaching, or something else—become a pathway for gospel conversations?
Sometimes ministry begins not with a program, but with a simple question—and a willingness to listen.