Wheaton

Wheaton College

In 2011 HWI had a Christian Formation and Ministry (CFM) graduate student internship with us.

In 2011 Grant, a Christian Formation and Ministry (CFM) graduate student did his internship at His Wheels International’s headquarters. Grant grew up hanging out in two California bike shops his dad owned. He has a passion for bikes, he knows how to fix bikes, he is a great organizer, and he is interested in the possibilities of combining cycling and ministry.

Grant did a literature review on the Principles of Non-Profit Management. It had so many helpful components in the paper that Alice encouraged Grant to pursue publishing it in a professional journal.

He also provided constructive feedback about our bicycle program. His insights were instrumental as HWI’s board worked on refining the ministry focus, which in 2013 included ending the bicycle division so we could focus our undivided attention on the global trike division.

Here is a short summary by Grant of his internship that appeared in our our March 2011 newsletter. “Each morning, one or more of the volunteers greet me heartily as I walk in the shop door … The next 3 hours is taken up helping volunteers with repairs, sorting parts, bikes, checking in with Alice, praying together, and interacting with people picking up or dropping off bikes.

Throughout my internship I have been focusing on a developmental theory, which emphasizes that the whole person is important…. The tasks of working on bikes, teaching others how to fix bikes, and giving bikes away are what we do in a physical sense.

Hearing from others during our prayer and update time are the times we connect spiritually. Talking and having fun while working is the environment of the shop. It is never results first and relationships second. The way Alice says it is: ‘If we give away a thousand bikes, but burn out our volunteers, then I don’t want to do this. HWI has to serve those serving within the organization too otherwise it isn’t furthering the Kingdom.’

Alice has challenged me to find the skills and gifts people have. Then to encourage them to contribute in those ways, while steering them away from work that they may not be contributing much through. This kind of strength identification is learned as a leader. I look forward to continuing to learn how to do this.”