The following is a weekly recap from Don on the road:
We were told that perhaps there were 4-6 million people watching the CBS Morning Show when we started our Ride for Mobility campaign April 21. Chris was one viewer. He is a pastor at the Vineyard Church in Wheeling, West Virginia. He was moved. He contacted our office, as he wanted to meet us in Pittsburgh. Pam, our dear ride coordinator went one bold step further, and suggested that we meet him at his church instead. Well, one thing led to another, and Pastor Chris cleared the way to dedicate his Saturday night service to the Free Wheelchair Mission. It is a small church with a congregation of 600 adults.
The congregation loved our mission. They asked great questions. We talked to them for another hour. Senior Pastor John had a message all planned for the next day, but he said he was really moved to talk about getting behind our mission in his three services on Sunday. He called it his “leaving with empty pockets” message.
As we drove back to Pittsburgh I added up the donations - $2635!
Here is a message I got from Pastor Chris Sunday afternoon:
It was a really moving morning here at the Vineyard. John and I did tag team preaching and it was all about you guys. Well, really it was all about what God is doing through you guys. John woke up around 3am which is unusual for him, and felt like God was speaking to him about the service today: that we were to scrap our plan and let our folks know what you are doing and ask them to give, and give big. We collected pledges, cash and checks. I won't have a total till Tuesday, but I know that it will be more than $2635.
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Sr. Pastor John Rasz and Pastor Chris Figaretti
It was such a privilege to get to tell your story and share the vision. Lots of tears, and lots of people wanting to be a part.
Have a great ride today, and keep me posted. I will let you know what our total for the weekend turns out to be. We want to raise enough for a container!
Here it is Wednesday and Pastor Chris just called to tell me the results, after he asked me to sit down. $103,796.60 so far in collections and pledges, and they are not finished!
It makes me want to ride my bicycle down this road and stop the next person I meet and tell them about the Free Wheelchair Mission. ~
Who's Blowin' into The Windy City?
We are heading to Chicago now. We will be in the Chicago area attending events on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday May 9th, 10th and 11th. If you know anyone in Chicago that we should meet, let them know we are coming. Our schedule of events is included below:
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
Mayor Daley Proclamation for Free Wheelchair Mission
12:00 noon – 1:00 p.m.
The Richard J. Daley Center – in the Plaza
50 W. Washington Street
Chicago, Illinois
Open to the public
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Free Wheelchair Mission Reception
Mesón Sabika Restaurant
1025 Aurora Avenue
Naperville, Illinois 60540
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
RSVP to Kathy: 630-983-7292
kastredney@comcast.net
$20 per person
Friday, May 11, 2007
Free Wheelchair Mission Reception
SRAM / World Bicycle Relief
World Wide Headquarters
1333 N. Kingsbury, 4th Floor
Chicago, Illinois 60622
5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Reception
RSVP to Pam Ortega at (949) 273-8470 x213
Distinguished Guests attending the events:
Don Schoendorfer, President and Founder of Free Wheelchair Mission, and co-founder Dr. Mike Bayer, invite you to join them, along with their special guests, to celebrate the life transforming gift of mobility.
Chris Waddell - Para Olympian. Chris has won more Paralympics medals (12) than any male skier in history. He’s one of the few athletes ever to win Paralympic medals in both Winter and Summer Games.
Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah - of Emmanuel’s Gift. Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah, was born in Ghana. His story was told in a heart-warming movie entitled, Emmanuel’s Gift. He also participated as a runner last February at the Pacific Shoreline Run for Mobility in Huntington Beach, California.
Please join these four inspirational men as they share with us their stories and images, of hope and good works around the globe. |
