By Sarah Owens, international member of ÅVM
FOR DANSK VERSION SE BUNDEN AF SIDEN⬇︎
A new initiative: Bike Workshop and Friday Bar. No-one knew who would turn up or what the vibe would be. It turned out to be cosy and calm, fun and yet simple.
The amazing volunteer team of 5 bike experts fixed around 35 bikes between them, and selflessly continued working until all those who had come could ride safely home again.
Inside standing by the bar, I could feel that the non-fussy, invitational format, coupled with openness and acceptance of the volunteer team meant there was a space for people to feel calm and comfortable and just enjoy being blessed by the bike team.
Non-church goers, new internationals in town and visiting ÅVM’ers came by when it suited them and while some were glad to meet new people, others just wanted to enjoy a friday beer and game of table football with their friends.
“We didn’t know there was a church here” – was a phrase I heard multiple times that afternoon.
“It doesn’t really look like a typical church” would be my usual reply – but that’s exactly why this kind of event is necessary. It gives us an opportunity to meet and greet and show practical care for people in our local area, regardless of whether or not they decide to come again.
One non-Dane I talked to had been brought up in a toxic church environment and had therefore left the church and not been back since. Perhaps her belief that God exists meant she was open to visiting us, but we just enjoyed having a chat over a drink and a shared chocolate bar! Who knows if this experience could have sown a seed in her life, by displaying the freedom there is in Christ, rather than the controlling Christianity that she grew up with.
Overall a lovely way to spend a Friday afternoon, whether a visitor or a volunteer!
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Af Sarah Owens, internationalt medlem af ÅVM
Oversat af Maria Kjær Jensen
Et nyt initiativ: Cykelværksted og Fredagsbar. Ingen vidste hvem, der ville dukke op, og hvordan stemningen ville blive. Det viste sig at blive hyggeligt, sjovt og simpelt.
Det fantastiske frivilligteam, bestående af 5 cykeleksperter, reparerede cirka 35 cykler i alt, og arbejdede ihærdigt indtil alle, der havde medbragt en cykel, kunne cykle sikkert hjem igen.
Indenfor i baren kunne jeg mærke, at det rolige og inviterende format blandet med åbenhed fra frivilligteamet skabte et rum, hvor folk kunne slappe af og bare nyde at blive hjulpet af cykeleksperternes arbejde. Kirke-uvante, nye internationals, og besøgende ÅVM’ere kom forbi, når det passede dem. Nogle var glade for at møde nye mennesker, imens andre bare ville nyde en fredagsøl og spille bordfodbold med deres venner.
“Vi vidste ikke, der var en kirke her” – var en sætning jeg hørte mange gange den eftermiddag.
“Det ligner ikke rigtig en typisk kirke” var mit typiske svar. Men det er præcis derfor sådan en begivenhed her er nødvendig. Det giver os mulighed for at møde og vise praktisk omsorg for folk i vores lokalområde, ligegyldig om de kommer igen eller ej.
En ikke-dansker jeg talte med var vokset op i et usundt kirke-miljø, og var derfor stoppet med at komme i kirke. Måske er det hendes overbevisning om Guds eksistens, der gjorde hende åben for at besøge os. Vi hyggede os med en snak over en øl og en chokoladebar! Hvem ved om den her oplevelse kan have sået et frø i hendes liv, som viser hende den frihed, der er at finde i Kristus, i stedet for den kontrollerende kristendom, hun voksede op med.
Alt i alt en skøn måde at bruge sin fredag eftermiddag, både som gæst og frivillig.