Nuns, Tinder, E-Bikes, and Jesus: Carola Mehltretter’s Christian Travel Project Is Anything But Ordinary
What’s it like to turn an E-bike into a ministry?
Ask 29-year-old Carola Mehltretter.
Two years ago, the German-born, English-speaking adventurist spent an entire year traversing Europe. Her sole purpose? Meeting other Christians.
Putting an advertising career on hold, Mehltretter launched the project “Rooted as One”.
What began as an idea turned into an inspirational journey, documenting the hearts and hearths behind the depth of European Christianity.
Meeting Family Across the Continent
The name, she says, originates with her view of the Church as being an adopted family.
“I believe that this is how we as Christians relate to each other,” reads the introduction on her website. Think Romans 8:15.
“Like any family, although we might not agree on everything, it shouldn’t keep us from supporting (and rooting for [wink emoji]) each other.”
“Rooted as One” sprang up from her sojourning childhood. Mehltretter’s family moved around a lot, she said. This “exposed her to many different Christian denominations early on in life.”
“Going to a church in a new place always felt like finding a home and a family far away from home.”
Hence, the idea of connecting with Christians by E-biking around the continent.
Some of Mehltretter’s travels introduced the world to unique expressions of the Ecclesia. Such as Rev. Samuel Cianelli’s Surf Church in Portugal, and a Greece-based church with Christian refugees from Afghanistan.
In another video, she meets up with NERCH, a Nerd Church in Frankfurt, which aims to bring the gospel into the gaming world.
Carola Mehltretter: Down-to-Earth Content Creator
Mehltretter also hitch-hikes on a private jet, shares coffee with nuns, and tests the dating site, Tinder, to see if it can connect her with a local guy willing to take her to Church.
From videos documenting the challenges of full-time travel to breaking bread with French Christians over brunch, the content is deep and intentional.
There is no product placement. Neither are there lengthy, carefully edited, emotional speeches calling for subscribers to donate.
Noticeably absent is the usual blob fest, featuring fast, polished animated loudspeakers repeatedly screeching, “be sure to like, subscribe and comment.”
Instead, every video ends with Mehltretter humbly inviting her hosts to submit their prayer requests.
While lateral and edgy, the full-time Christian travel vlogger manages to keep her project inside the lines.
With 75 YouTube videos already catalogued, the project has built up a small following on TikTok and a steady number of interested travellers following her on Instagram.
Despite the sound social media presence, Mehltretter isn’t an influencer. She has a day job, and like the rest of us, manages her own content.
Publishing a Book on Her Exploits Discovering ‘This Beautiful Christian Family’
A book recounting the journey was published in May by Germany’s 224-year-old Herder family publishing.
In a video marking the book release, Mehltretter explained that working through all she encountered “was hard to do.” E-biking for Christ was an emotional ride, she added.
The hardest part was the time “it took to match the whole journey with the right words.”
“I feel like God is giving me some platforms to use and share this story that He is writing into my life.”
“I just want to be honest about what that story looks like to me. I feel like I’ve proved what I set to do.”
This was to show that “no matter where you go, you can always find people who will treat you like family because you have that connection in Jesus in common.”
Mehltretter said the purpose of writing the book was to record her travels. The focus here is more on the Church, the people she met, their hospitality, and love for Christ, than on herself.
Written in the style of a memoir, the book is part testimony, part travel guide.
While currently only in German, Mehltretter, who is bilingual, said other translations are on the wish list.
Mehltretter also plans to keep her new ministry alive, albeit at a better pace.
Signing off on this part of the project, Mehltretter said she “hoped her journey helped inspire others to keep exploring this beautiful Christian family we get to be a part of.”
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Image via Instagram/Carola Mehltretter.
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Thankyou Rod for this very inspiring story about Carolina…it’s amazing that she has set out across Europe to meet her faith family (members of various churches) to connect with them and to learn more about their lives. her life is truly an adventure of faith by E scooter.
I loved the insights into the Nerds church -thanks for reseraching it- it sounds unique but a vital ministry for a church to consider.