Berlin – On 22 May, the Baptist Racing Team of bicyclists passed its initial test during Berlin’s Škoda Velothon – Europe’s next-to-largest bike race. Among the more than 11.000 racers, this 14-person team finished in places ranging from 1.796 to 1.810. The team’s captain and coach, Andreas Lengwenath (Elstal near Berlin), Chief Financial Officer for Germany’s Federation of Evangelical-Free Churches, assured EBPS that the team crossed the finish line in a group as planned. The team needed 1,51 hours for the 60-kilometre (40,2-mile) race, which meant that the average speed was nearly 35 kilometres per hour. That was a much better result than the group had anticipated. One requirement for participating had been that one was able to ride at 28-kilometres-per hour for extended periods.

Lengwenath sees mutual consideration as the reason for their success: ‘Stronger athletes helped the weaker ones along and allowed them to ride in their slipstream.’ Lengwenath describes this tactic as symbolic for his own church: ‘I hope for the same kind of things in the lives of our congregations: that strong congregations might assist weaker and smaller ones.’

Lengwenath was especially pleased that PR efforts before the race awakened a desire on the part of other Baptist members and friends to help out next time. Next year, the team hopes to consist of ‘no less than 25 members.’ The team’s first appearance included the finding of sponsors to support a good cause: 2.000 euros were collected for the ‘city quarter (Kiez) partnerships’ of the Baptist congregation in inner-city Berlin-Wedding. This congregation offers teaching aid to children and youth of non-German origin.