Sequim is a home and destination for a wide variety of cyclists — from the weekend hobbyist to race and/or expedition minded enthusiasts. Recently, a chapter of ChrstianCycling has opened up in the area! Read on to learn more about this ministry and cycling in Sequim. 

Sequim Offers a Perfect Location for Cyclists

The Reason Sequim has welcomed so many cyclists has to do with its relatively dry climate, along its diversity in cycling opportunities. A big draw for the community is the Olympic Discovery Trail, which offers 130 miles of paved riding, with views of the Olympic Mountains, the Straight of Juan de Fuca and the many farms, streams and forests along the trail. Beyond the Olympic Discovery trail, are the relatively flat roads of the Dungeness River Valley and the backcountry logging roads, which offer picturesque landscapes for. 

ChristianCycling in Sequim Washington

ChristianCycling is an international ministry that exists "to share Christ and celebrate cycling through riding, service and fellowship." Bryan Nelson is the current Director of ChristianCycling in Washington State. Being a resident of Sequim, and member of Dungeness Community Church, he has naturally created a local “Spoke,” which is benefiting the local community. 

A Word from the Washington State ChristianCycling Director - Bryan Nelson

“I have been associated with ChristianCycling.org (formerly InternatIonal Christian Cycling Club) for over 35 years as a Category 3 racer with USA Cycling (formerly USCF-US Cycling Federation) racing both locally and nationally mostly in California and Washington and Utah. I just recently became involved as Director of WA state for ChristianCycling.

The Sequim Spoke's primary focus is to be an outreach to the state, sharing the Gospel, and serving cyclists, their families and friends who may never, otherwise, put their foot through the door of a local church. Secondary mission is to be a discipling ministry through fellowship with other Christians.

All of our bike donations we receive are repaired and donated to the homeless, or financially strapped families / individuals. All money donations go to our general fund which is used to buy bicycle parts or put on cycling events.”

 - Bryan Nelson - Director of ChristianCycling Washington State

Click to Learn more about ChristianCycling

Building Local Awareness of ChristianCycling

The Sequim Spoke of ChristianCycling is looking forward to just become more visible in the cycling community by pitching our canopy at certain organized riding events already on the calendar such as Tour de Lavender (Aug 6) and Hurricane Ridge ride (Aug 7).  There are many large cycling clubs on the Peninsula that we ride with to advance the message of the Gospel.  We also organize a local monthly or semi-monthly Saturday ride.

Interested in other ways to get out and enjoy the Peninsula?
Click for a List of Hiking Trails on the Olympic Peninsula

Bike TuneUp Project

Bikes, like cars, need tuneups. More often than not, folks let their bikes go a long ways before getting a proper tuneup. One of the ways we build relationships and provide value is to offer complimentary tuneups throughout the year. 

We offer tuneups downtown at Sequim City Hall on Thursdays, and are beginning to offer tuneups in surrounding communities. Early this Summer we did a tuneup/repair event at DCC. We are planning to follow this up up with another Sequim tuneup event in August or September.

Join Us on The Trail!

If you are interested in going on a ride, making a donation or getting further involved with ChristianCycling, call the church office during business hours, or send us a message.

Sunday at 4:30am it was raining hard, but it stopped for the beginning of the race at 7:30am.  Our relay team completed the full marathon and crossed the line together.  It was a great site. Other participants completed the ½ marathon. Thankfully the rain held off until our relay team had finished the race.  Then came the wind and rain!

During the day Team Living Water had a booth set up at the finish line, for folks stopped to inquire about Living Water International. It was a great opportunity to raise awareness and share what we are all about. Contact Martin Murray If you are interested in participating next year.

A Letter From Julie & Jordan of Living Water International

"Thank you so much to Martin and the team at DCC for your incredible efforts this past weekend in the North Olympic Discovery Marathon! It was a joy and honor to join together with all of you to provide water, for life, in Jesus’ name and even more fun to watch you exceed your fundraising goal! Thank you for choosing to endure for the thirsty and for all the hard work that went into making this event a success. I witnessed people stepping in to help out all weekend and it was clear this was truly a team effort! You are all a blessing to Living Water and are already looking forward to next year!"

 

- Jordan Griebner - Living Water International - Director of Trips & Affinity Groups

  

"I (and on behalf of Living Water) am so grateful for DCC and each race participant, each person who made a gift, every volunteer and advocate. Each person, gift and step ran/walked matters for the thirsty; sharing in this work and community together is a true gift. Praise God!"

 

- Julie Hill - Living Water International - Director of Philanthropy, West 

 

In July of 2021, David Piper travelled to Guatemala to help distribute wheelchairs with DCC Global Partner, Bethel Ministries International. David sat down for an interview with Britt Hemphill, who is the Family Ministries Pastor for DCC as well as the chair for DCC's Global Outreach Committee. Watch that video here, along with excerpts from David's personal blog about the trip. 

If you would like to learn more about the Global Outreach Committee at DCC, reach out to Britt Hemphill. He can include you in our DCC on Mission newsletter. 

On March 18 2021, the Sequim Gazette published an article on Rosalie DiMaggio and her team at Dungeness Community Church. Their efforts are providing wheelchairs, walkers and other mobility equipment to families in Chimaltenango, Guatemala. We are thankful for the opportunity we've had to collaborate with Bethel Ministries International and Mission Mobility in this way!

An Active Community Response

Amazingly, within a day of this article being published, a local gentleman called from out of the blue to offer a wheelchair he had recently acquired. He had no use for it, but saw the opportunity to salvage it -- in hopes an opportunity would show itself -- and it did! Terry Sage, our custodian, got to quick work cleaning the wheelchair. 

The following Monday, the Penninsula Daily Newspublished the same article. We were flooded with phone calls, pick up requests, and drop offs of equipment! 

As you are all aware, our short-term mission to Guatemala earlier this year was canceled because of coronavirus.  A decision was subsequently made by the DCC team leaders, supported by church leadership, to allow the $15,000 sent to Bethel Ministries International from DCC for the team to be used for projects the DCC team was going to be involved in.  Here is how that money has been utilized;

On behalf of the DCC Global Outreach Committee, I wanted to share a super important development about our short term mission trips to Nicaragua and Guatemala planned for 2021.

In a 2012 message shared at Bethlehem Baptist Church, pastor John Piper said; 

"Missions exists because worship doesn’t. Missions is our way of saying: the joy of knowing Christ is not a private, or tribal, or national or ethnic privilege. It is for all. And that’s why we go. Because we have tasted the joy of worshiping Jesus, and we want all the families of the earth included." 

“All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you.” - (Psalm 22:27) 

"Seeking the worship of the nations is fueled by the joy of our own worship. You can’t commend what you don’t cherish. You can’t proclaim what you don’t prize. Worship is the fuel and the goal of missions."

Here are some of the things DCC is doing to partner with God in the grand task of missions for the sake of worship among the nations this coming year… 

Our Adult ministries at Dungeness Community Church provide opportunities to build relationships, study the Bible and serve others all with the goal of learning to live in love with Jesus.