Biking blessing: Chance meeting leads to joyful fellowship

Riding a bicycle from morning to dusk is a difficult task under any circumstance, but when it is a hot summer day and the sun is beating down on you, it can take an immense physical and mental toll.

As Zak Knopp wound his way through Tuscarawas and Holmes counties with nearly 80 pounds of equipment strapped to his bicycle on Tuesday, June 9, that scorching sun and many miles of travel on his excursion from Florida to his hometown in Toledo, Ohio was doing a number on him. He pulled over to the side of the road between Dover and Sugarcreek, where NewPointe Community Church member Pat Gibson saw him resting alongside the road.

Gibson was on his way to church to help a group do some mulching, and when he arrived, he asked Jay Bedillion, NewPointe head of exterior facilities support team, if they could take this bicycling gentleman some water because he looked totally spent.

By the time they returned with the water, Ohio State patrolman Thompson also was on the scene, making sure Knopp was OK.

According to Bedillion, they invited Knopp to the church so he could take a shower and get a meal. He obliged, and Thompson gave him the VIP treatment as he escorted Knopp to the NewPointe entrance to make sure he arrived OK. Once Knopp found out they were mulching, he wanted to assist.

“He dove right in and worked really hard,” Bedillion said of Knopp. “What took place was a really neat evening of fellowship, one that none of us would have imagined when we got there. (Zak) touched every one of our lives in such a positive way. It really felt like in reaching out to help someone else, we were all equally blessed by his presence. It was such a neat God moment, and he was such a great person to be around and to connect with. The way it all came together was really awesome to experience, and I think it really showed God’s love as we communed.”

Knopp began his biking journey in Florida, and he said his experience led him to many wonderful people and experiences along the way. He wasn’t raising money and didn’t want to make a big deal out of his journey, but the blessings seemed to be spurring him on as he experienced life in a unique and beneficial way.

“This journey has made my spirit grow,” Knopp said. “It has been humbling and invigorating, and my experience at NewPointe was incredible.”

During a time when social distancing is the norm, taking a solo journey of this magnitude may be considered as social distancing as it comes. However, even during that time it seemed as though Knopp was finding ways to meet new people and experience life in ways he never expected.

One of those ways became visible from a chance meeting and someone taking the time to care and show compassion.

“It doesn’t take a lot to be kind to someone, to be a friend and to reach out to others in need, no matter how big or small it might seem,” Bedillion said. “We simply shared what we had to offer and were incredibly blessed because of it. It was an incredible night.”

Bedillion said Gibson admitted to him that he wasn’t overly excited about being there that evening, but he soon realized how fortunate he was to come in at that exact moment. His act of kindness tuned into a blessing for everyone involved.

While Bedillion said they offered him their church for the night, Knopp wanted to get to Millersburg and camp under the stars for the evening, which he did accomplish.

Bedillion said they sent Knopp on his way after presenting him with a NewPointe T-shirt and something more valuable.

“One of our church members, CG Dayton, is a pretty quiet guy,” Bedillion said. “It surprised us when he went up to Zak and asked if he could pray for him. It was an unbelievable moment that touched us all deeply.”

It added one more chapter in a book of many chapters for Knopp, who said he has been blessed during his journey in so many ways. However, he said the real joy might come after the trip is over and he gets to look back on the experience, relive it through photos and write to the many people who came in and out of his life.

“I think the biggest impact will be when I get home and start to write letters thanking all of the people who touched my life along the way,” Knopp said. “It’s been an amazing experience for me.”

And Knopp’s experience swelled to others as he shared his life and joy with those he met along the way.