Join the International Christian Cycling Club now
             | 
Home arrow Local Clubs arrow *Start Your Own Spoke* arrow IC3 Spoke Development
IC3 Spoke Development
Written by IC3 Web Team   
Monday, 01 August 2005
Why Start a Spoke?
A Spoke has tremendous advantages in that the members can more effectively participate in ministry and evangelism working as a team, and the support and fellowship of Christian cyclists united in purpose is a wonderful blessing.  But, remember, individuals can be IC3 members and have great impact on the cycling community, wherever they are, and even 2 or 3 or 4 members who ride and fellowship together can enjoy some of those benefits.

What does it take to start a Spoke?

A Spoke is a little like a new church “plant”.  A strong core group of dedicated IC3 members is needed. When there are enough active IC3 members riding and meeting together to consider becoming a Spoke (8-10 is a good start), one of them will become the “Spoke Director”. IC3 headquarters will help all we can, pray for you, visit you, advise and encourage you, but generating active local membership and knitting it together into a club that serves the LORD together is done locally.

Wow! Why such requirements?

It’s important to realize that calling a new local IC3 initiative a “Spoke” doesn’t make a Spoke appear or last. A firm foundation and staying power are important- just like in training on the bike or our own faith journey. Stability and longevity are important. If you were starting a local cycling team, you’d make plans to have reliable, active teammates before you unveiled the new team. You’d get a core group of excited teammates and take steps to insure that the team would last several years. It’s the same here. We don’t want to see new Spokes appear and then disappear in just a few years.

How do we get started, even if we’re just thinking about it?

It’s a simple, step by step process that begins with as few as two or three IC3 members riding, praying, and fellowshipping together. 

This plan works!

  • YOU join the IC3, buy a jersey and shorts, and start telling your Christian cycling friends about IC3. Other cyclists will notice the new uniform in town and ask about it. Tell them why you’re excited about the IC3 and riding for the LORD. Pray for opportunities to share your excitement.
  • Encourage interested Christian cyclists to join the IC3. Look to the IC3 website and ask headquarters whenever you need ideas, help or encouragement. Ask for a “Local Starter Kit” from IC3 headquarters. Here’s what you’ll get:

    • IC3 brochures and membership forms
    • IC3 Business cards
    • Some casual clothing to help you advertise the club

  • Pray for a nucleus of dedicated IC3 members. Talk it up at your church, other local churches, and local Christian organizations. Consider putting out an ad in the local cycling rag, posting about IC3 on a local online cycling forum, and always show your uniform at bike swap meets, bike shows, rides, and races. Talk to IC3 Executive Board members about your local needs and we’ll help and encourage you. We’ll do our best to visit you- many times a Spoke Director or Exec Board member will travel on business or pleasure and visit local members.
  • Develop a core group of 4-6 or more active IC3 members in your locale, so you can meet, ride, socialize, and even “do ministry” together. When you make this much progress, you are ready to really let folks in your area know you’ve “arrived”.
  • Headquarters will send you a new IC3 banner to display whenever and wherever you attend cycling events.
  • Ask IC3 headquarters to have an IC3 leader visit you locally to encourage and advise you (and, of course, go on a terrific ride with you!). We’d love to visit, and we love to ride!
  • Enjoy the new growth and new relationships you’re experiencing. Spoke or no spoke, having several IC3 teammates is a terrific blessing you’ll cherish, an oasis of faith and strength in your cycling “world”. Pray with thanksgiving!
  • By now, you’ll have a sense of whether the local Spoke initiative is taking off or leveling off. If it’s taking off, you probably already have a leader who is the best candidate for “Spoke Director”. The requirements are the same as you’d want for any church leader. Contact Cody at christiancycling@aol.com for spoke director information. Just come to an agreement about which member should lead, have her/him apply, and headquarters will make a decision. Normally, if you’ve come this far, you’ve got a new Spoke Director and a new Spoke!
 
  • New News
  • Popular
  • Events
Hosting and Design by HolyWebMaker.com