California pastor celebrates International Bible Society's 200th anniversary with coast-to-coast bicycle trip

Contact: Lynn Waalkes, IBS-STL Global, 719-867-2626

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., April 1 /Christian Newswire/ -- Dipping his bicycle tires in the Pacific Ocean at Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro, California, 56-year-old California pastor Randy Gardner will begin his Biking for Bibles cross-country bicycle trip on Monday, April 20, 2009. The ride combines two of Gardner's passions: cycling and supporting the Bible translation and outreach ministries of International Bible Society (IBS).

The trip commemorates the 200th anniversary of International Bible Society, an affiliate of IBS-STL Global. Gardner hopes to raise awareness of and funds for IBS's mission to provide Scripture resources to people worldwide who need the life-changing message of God's love and mercy.

IBS traces its history to an evening in December 1809, when a group of men met in a home located in lower Manhattan to launch the New York Bible Society, later renamed International Bible Society. Nearly 200 years later, on Friday, May 29, 2009, Gardner will end his trip in this same area of Manhattan, along the historic waterfront of Battery Park.

Weather and health permitting, Gardner will average more than 100 miles daily, with one double-century day (200 miles) on his 3,600-mile journey. This exciting -- and grueling -- adventure requires Gardner to successfully wheel his way through the California desert, over the Rocky Mountains, through Tornado Alley, across the Ozarks, and over the Mississippi River. Part of his route will include the historic Underground Railroad.

Accompanied by a support team, Gardner will cycle through 14 states: California, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. Daily destinations are indicated at www.bikingforbibles.com, where viewers can view Gardner's itinerary, check his progress, read his blog, and learn more about IBS ministry. Riders are welcome to join along the way and ride at their own pace.

This is Gardner's second cross-country bike ride for IBS. In April 2003 he pedaled from Cabrillo Beach to Victory Monument in Yorktown, Virginia, raising awareness for IBS' translation ministry.

About IBS-STL
IBS-STL Global is one of the largest Bible and Christian literature ministries worldwide, translating the Bible into major languages and distributing Christian resources to engage people with the life-transforming message of Jesus Christ. It is the translation sponsor and copyright holder of the New International Version® (NIV) of the Bible, the world's most widely read contemporary English translation. IBS-STL also holds the copyrights to the Today’s New International Version® (TNIV), Nueva Versión Internacional® (NVI), and 45 international Bible translations. For more information on IBS-STL Global, visit www.ibsstl.org.