Reverend Chuck Monts is on a mission to help those in need.
The seeds for “Biking for the Bowery Mission” were sown down during Monts’ first cross-country trek in 1978, after graduating from Princeton Seminary. He and a friend biked from Philadelphia to San Francisco to raise money for a hungry charity and raised $7,000.00. His fundraising goal for the Bowery Mission is much more ambitious today. He hopes to surpass 100,000.00!
All proceeds collected are given directly to the Bowery Mission in Manhattan, where Rev. Monts recently retired. This mission, founded in 1879 in order to give shelter and assistance to those living with homelessness, is very similar to the Fort Wayne Rescue Mission.
The co-sponsors include Union Rescue Mission in LA, who donated $13,000 including 2 bikes, and Tacklehunger.org that includes 25,000 food charities.
With his wife Deb, a nurse, traveling with him as his roadside assistant, first aid responder, motivational support and much more, Monts, 61, hit the road from The Union Rescue Mission in Los Angeles on June 5th. He plans to arrive in New York on August 4th.
In order to keep expenses as low as possible, Monts has relied on the charitable spirits of churches, most of whom are PC(USA,) and non-profit organizations along his route. This has been a wonderful opportunity to see the denomination’s Matthew 25 initiative in full force!
Pastor Monts reached out to First Presbyterian Church Fort Wayne asking if he could stay at our church, they carry cots and bedding along in the van Deb drives. It was presented to the Missions Committee, and it was decided by a gracious donation from Beth Iserman and Tony Borton that they stay in their Bed & Breakfast. They arrived in Fort Wayne on Friday July 16th.
In true Presbyterian style, bread was broken, and a meal was shared. Pastor Carrie, Harmony Patterson, Hayden Patterson, and I took them to J.K. O’Donnell’s or carbs and conversation. You never know how these things will go, but from the time they walked in, they were like family. We had a nice dinner and a lot of discussion about his trip, the wildlife he saw, the mountains he climbed, the desert he crossed, and much more. We left inspired and lifted up! The Monts where very thankful for a bed to sleep in, a great meal, and wonderful conversation and support from First Presbyterian.
If you would like to follow him, please look him up on Facebook where he posts little videos and pictures along the journey. He also still gives a sermon every Sunday morning that he writes when riding along. If you can help him with his goal, please go the link below. Or send a check to the church and we will get it to them.
Thank You Church Family!
Bill Patterson
Donate here: https://my.bowery.org/fundraiser/3166566