Grace in Motion: Bicycles Help Open the Door to Hope and New Beginnings

August 28th, 2026 Newsletter

For many people, a bicycle is simply a way to get from one place to another. But for someone working to rebuild their life, it can mean so much more. Bicycles can provide reliable transportation to work, recovery meetings, and other opportunities that help create a brighter future.

That’s the heart of Midwest Mission’s partnership with the MBK (My Brother’s Keeper) Bike Ministry in Springfield, Illinois. Together, we help remove transportation barriers by providing bicycles to individuals who are working hard to move forward.

Two recent recipients, Bob* and Joe*, are reminders of how a simple gift can make a lasting difference.

Bob is celebrating 37 days of sobriety and is living at a local sober living house. His job is several miles from where he lives, making dependable transportation a daily challenge. Thanks to the gift of a bicycle, he can now get to work and his recovery meetings more easily. Bob has also demonstrated a servant's heart by volunteering with the MBK Street Ministry and helping move the ministry into its new home at the Dream Center.

Joe is 56 days clean and had been faithfully walking nearly 50 minutes each way to work. His bicycle will help him get to work more quickly, attend recovery meetings, and take on a second job to help provide child support for his children. After battling meth addiction for 25 years, Joe was recently baptized and now volunteers every Monday evening with the MBK Street Ministry while continuing his own recovery journey.

Bob and Joe's stories remind us that meeting a practical need can open the door to lasting change. A bicycle is more than transportation. It can mean a steady job, continued recovery, opportunities to serve others, and hope for the future.

Do you have a bike you’re no longer using? Donate it to Midwest Mission or volunteer to help repair bikes in Illinois or Iowa. Your time or donation could help provide someone with reliable transportation and a new opportunity to move forward.

*Bob and Joe are fictitious names used to protect the identity of the recipients.

Back to School Sales: An Opportunity to Give

As students head back to school, stores are filled with discounted school supplies. For many, it’s a familiar sign that summer is coming to an end and a new school year is beginning.

Back-to-school season can also be a reminder of something bigger: every student deserves the opportunity to walk into a classroom prepared, confident, and ready to learn.

At Midwest Mission, we believe practical resources can be a powerful way to show God’s love. Through donated supplies, dedicated volunteers, and generous supporters, items that may seem simple can become meaningful gifts to students and families who need them.

When you see those back-to-school sales this year, consider picking up an extra item or two to donate. Your gifts can become part of a larger effort to provide students with the supplies they need to learn while helping families carry one less expense.

Back-to-school shopping can help you save money. This year, it can also help you give.

Invite your family to choose something together, or encourage your church, school, small group, or community organization to collect supplies.

This back-to-school season, let’s make room for generosity and help students begin the school year with hope, confidence, and the tools they need to succeed.

Looking for a practical way to help? Use the Student Kit as your guide! Click here for the Student Kit shopping list.

OCI Therapy 5K Will Benefit Midwest Mission — Join Us!

The Orthopedic Center of Illinois has chosen to support Midwest Mission through the proceeds from their annual 5K in Rochester, Illinois!

If you’re in the Springfield area, we’d love to see you there! Grab your friends, family, coworkers, or running buddies and join us for a morning that supports a great cause.

The race is on Saturday, October 3 at Rochester Community Park in Rochester, IL. Check-in is at 7:00 AM and the race starts at 8:00 AM.

Whether you run, walk, cheer from the sidelines, or simply share this with friends and family, you’re helping make a difference for people in need around the world and right here at home.

Click here to register or learn more. Can’t make it or prefer not to run/walk? You can still support Midwest Mission by making a donation here.