The Lebanon Star – Episode 14 | Extravagant Kindness with Kevin Schwieger of Luke 5 Adventures Episode Summary In Episode 14 of The Lebanon Star, John and Amy sit down with longtime friend, pastor, neighbor, and adventurer Kevin Schwieger, founder of Luke 5 Adventures. For more than 30 years, Kevin and his family have quietly impacted Lebanon, Ohio through ministry, Upward Basketball, missions, mentorship, and now a global adaptive hiking ministry that takes individuals with mobility challenges into some of the most breathtaking corners of God’s creation. The story begins with a woman named Debbie in a wheelchair and a “conversation that never happened” at church — a moment that the Holy Spirit used to spark a completely new calling. That led Kevin to discover a specialized off-road chair, later named ROSY in Debbie’s honor, and to launch Luke 5 Adventures with one simple goal: hike with people who can’t hike on their own, not for them. Since that first hike at Caesar Creek in 2019, Luke 5 Adventures has completed well over 2,000 hikes, launched multiple chapters across the United States, partnered with organizations like Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, and created their signature “Hike of a Lifetime” experiences in places like Red River Gorge, Mammoth Cave, Hocking Hills, Pikes Peak, the Grand Canyon, and even Israel. Along the way, volunteers called “Sherpas” have discovered what Kevin calls extravagant kindness — the joy of refreshing others and being refreshed themselves. This conversation is packed with powerful stories of hope, faith, and perseverance, including families who had stopped dreaming because life with disability felt too hard, and how Luke 5 Adventures helped them start dreaming again. You’ll also hear the biblical inspiration behind the name “Luke 5,” the vision for future chapters, and practical ways you can step in, raise your hand, and say, “Here I am.” Watch & Listen Watch on YouTube: (https://youtu.be/warHFXrubWw) Listen on Spotify – The Lebanon Star: https://open.spotify.com/show/2jmqUf4BoYeDsaoHrnma4F Visit The Lebanon Star: https://thelebanonstar.com/ About Our Guest – Kevin Schwieger & Luke 5 Adventures Kevin describes himself as a “target versus tool” kind of guy: the target never changes – introducing people to a loving Creator – but the tools can be anything from sports to bike trips to hiking. Luke 5 Adventures is the latest tool in that calling. Through the ROSY chair (part unicycle, part wheelchair, part rickshaw) and teams of trained Sherpas, the ministry takes hikers with mobility challenges into rugged trails, caves, mountains, canyons, and parks that would otherwise be impossible to access. What started with one piece of equipment and one woman in an assisted living facility has grown into an expanding network of chapters around the country. Luke 5 Adventures now partners with hospitals, disability organizations, churches, and families to offer local hikes and life-changing Hike of a Lifetime trips. Along the way, they’ve seen stories of restored hope, families finally taking inclusive “whole-family” photos in places like Mammoth Cave, and even deeply personal journeys, like returning to the exact spot in Zion National Park where a husband and father passed away so that his wife and daughter could experience that sacred place together. The name “Luke 5” comes from the Bible story where friends refused to let obstacles stop them from bringing their paralyzed friend to Jesus. When they couldn’t reach Him through the crowded doorway, they went up on the roof, opened it, and lowered their friend down. That same creative, relentless heart drives Luke 5 Adventures today: doing whatever it takes to help people encounter God’s creation and God’s love in ways they never thought possible. Get Involved with Luke 5 Adventures Official Website: https://luke5adventures.org/ Volunteer as a Sherpa: https://luke5adventures.org/volunteer Donate to Support Hikers & Hike of a Lifetime Trips: https://luke5adventures.org/donate Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/luke5adventures Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luke5adventures Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Luke5Adventures Key Topics in This Episode The “conversation that never happened” with Debbie and how it sparked Luke 5 Adventures Finding and funding the first ROSY chair and honoring Debbie Rosen through its name Early hikes at Caesar Creek and partnerships with Cincinnati Children’s Hospital How Luke 5 Adventures grew into thousands of hikes, multiple states, and international trips The difference between “charity” and hiking with someone, not just “for” them Stories from Grand Canyon, Pikes Peak, Mammoth Cave, Hocking Hills, Israel, and more What “extravagant kindness” looks like in real life The heart behind Luke 5: creative, persistent friends who will stop at nothing to help someone encounter Jesus How to volunteer, give, pray, or help launch future chapters Subscribe to The Lebanon Star Podcast Don’t miss future conversations with the people who make Lebanon, Ohio such a special place to live, work, and serve. Subscribe and share with a friend who loves this community! Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheLebanonStar Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2jmqUf4BoYeDsaoHrnma4F Visit the Website: https://thelebanonstar.com/ Episode Hashtags #Luke5Adventures #HikeOfALifetime #ExtravagantKindness #SherpaStrong #AdaptiveHiking #AccessibilityMatters #LetEveryHikerHike #OutdoorInclusion #SeeTheCreation #MobilityAwareness #DisabilityInclusion #HikingForAll #HereIAm #Luke5 #AdventureForAll #OneWheelOneMission #ROSYChair #MakeADifference #VolunteerSherpa #FaithInAction #AdaptiveOutdoors #GiveHope #TheLebanonStar #LebanonOhio #LebanonOH #WarrenCounty #OhioPodcasts #LebanonCommunity #LocalStories #LebanonLocal #OhioSmallTown #OhioLife #LoveLebanon
