A trio of Charleston-area Christian bandmates recently bicycled more than 500 miles to Washington, D.C., to raise awareness for the homeless.
From May 30 to June 6, T Culler, Tyler Jordan and Jonathan Robinson rode a bicycle and a tandem bike up the Eastern Seaboard, stopping at four homeless shelters and performing concerts along the way before completing their journey at the White House.
It was a remarkable feat for a group where none of the members are cycling enthusiasts. T Culler is a singer/songwriter who has a single that has spanned the globe and was nominated for Song of the Year. He leads worship for the contemporary worship service at Charleston Baptist Church. Guitarists Jordan and Robinson are graduates of Charleston Southern University. Greg Murphy, stage and sound assistant, took a week of vacation to drive an RV as their support vehicle.
Along the way, they were covered by several media outlets and found sponsors to help out with the tour. In Washington, they were able to meet with congressman Henry Brown’s staff and with the deputy director of the Interagency Council for the Homeless. Culler described both meetings as “very fruitful.”
“We let them know that we believed that a relationship with Jesus Christ is the most important part to getting the homeless on the path to recovery,” he said. “We let them hear the voice of the people we had heard along our way, and they listened attentively.”
Tyler Jordan, T Culler and Jonathan Robinson“Homelessness is a growing concern all across this nation, and is reaching into the lives of almost everyone. There are people losing their homes due to circumstances they never thought could happen to them. Some are homeless due to abuse and divorce. Some are veterans who have served our country, and now cannot afford to have a home due to injury or illness. They are men, women and children.
“Most I have encountered do not want to be in the situation that they find themselves in,” Culler said. “They want to see their lives restored to one of dignity and security that they once had.”
Stevenson is a volunteer with the college ministry at Charleston Baptist Church.