Meet the Present: Hope Team

Thanks for your interest in the Present: Hope Tour. Below is some basic information about the team.

WHO:  Rev. Aaron Brown

ABOUT:  Pastor of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Joplin, Mo. Husband and father of two beautiful girls.

WHY I’M RIDING:  For my community. For the people in my congregation that lost homes and love ones. To share our story with the country and say thanks for the support the nation has already given.

 

WHO:  Tom Roepke

ABOUT:  Married 32 yrs to my best friend Melinda, father to Sarah, Jedidiah and Emmah, pastor to students at New Hope Coummunity Church, follower of Jesus.

WHY I’M RIDING:  I’ve seen the devastation in AL personally and want to add my place in the Story to engage others-friends, family, students and the Church to make a difference.

 

WHO:  Christina Kee

ABOUT: I’m a native Minnesotan that has migrated to the country of Texas, I love being here with my husband, puppy and great friends.

WHY I’M RIDING:  I’m riding because my neighbors are in need and this is something I can do to help – and, I’m not going to lie, it sounds like a good time.

 

WHO:  Gary Warkentin

ABOUT:  A few years ago we moved from central California to San Diego to be near our children and grandchildren and serve as Finance Manager at Calvary Chapel San Diego.

WHY I’M RIDING: My desire is to do everything, including cycling and going on the Hope tour, for the glory of God.

 

WHO:  Gunnar Johnson

ABOUT:  My name is Gunnar Johnson and I am a pastor as well as avid cyclist.

WHY I’M RIDING:  I am riding in the Hope Tour combining two of my passions, cycling and helping people.

 

WHO: Stephen Hosmer

ABOUT:  I am an avid cyclist and Christ follower (not in that order), attempting to lead my family, my company, and those around me, to a deeper understanding of our need to glorify God, the Holy, loving creator of all that exists.

WHY I’M RIDING: I am riding the Present:Hope tour, with the blessing of my family, so that we can following the example of Christ in John 9 by making known Gods glory out of difficulty in a fallen world, by taking action in His strength to restore that which had been lost.

 

WHO:  Deb Go

ABOUT:  I live in Lake Forest, California and studied Appropriate Technology and International Development at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

WHY I’M RIDING: Geographically removed from the effects of the recent tornadoes, I am riding out of a desire to partner with those who are living and coping with these realities on a daily basis and be present and active in their time of recovery.

 

WHO:  Jeff Jansen

ABOUT:  I am a graphic designer from Shakopee Minnesota.

WHY I’M RIDING: I’m riding to bring awareness to the ongoing struggles that the people of Joplin Missouri and Tuscaloosa Alabama are still facing.

 

WHO:  Ben Skoda

ABOUT:  I live in Chicago, ride bikes, play music with my friends, fiddle with Apple products, and look for adventures… and evidently my life sounds like that of a 12-year-old boy.

WHY I’M RIDING: I am riding on the Present:Hope Tour because it represents so many great things: serving, obedience, healing, sacrifice, teamwork, adventure, and bikes; I’m privileged to be able to be partner with so many great people and organizations.

 

WHO:  Brad Godwin

ABOUT:  I am a 29 year old newlywed who loves adventures and making a difference in the world.

WHY I’M RIDING: I am riding because I dont merely want to be a hearer of the word but a doer!

 

WHO:  Paul Hurckman

ABOUT:  I am part of the Venture Staff, part of the Hurckman family, and part of the Present: Hope Team.

WHY I’M RIDING: I choose to respond.

 

WHO:  Jay Perske

ABOUT:  Jay lives in Lakeville, MN, has five children Nick, Nastassia, Josiah, Elijah and Zack, married to Cynthia for 26 years, and has followed Jesus for 31 years.

WHY I’M RIDING: ”In Mark Batterson’s book “In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy day” talks about two types of regret, “regret of action” and regret of inaction” and this bike ride was something that i could tangibly do to be involved with the hope that convoy is bringing to Joplin and Tuscaloosa.”