According to an interview with the evangelical publication Medienmagazin Pro, German Christian content creators completed a year-long journey through 12 European countries on e-bike, exploring and promoting unity among followers from diverse backgrounds.
The YouTube channel founder, Carola Mehltretter, has launched the initiative with the belief that Christians are called unity because they are rooted as one. “If you don’t know much about each other, how can you become one?” she wrote on her website. “This is where you can contribute something on your YouTube channel.”
Starting in March 2023 and ending in March 2024, her journey has passed through Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Netherlands, Belgium, France, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, England, Spain and Portugal. Traveling solo on e-bike, she relied on the hospitality of her local church and family, documenting stories of her faith, community and shared beliefs.
“I just left, asked questions I had and took others on this journey of discovery,” Mehltretter told Pro. “I was already involved in ecumenical projects, but I realized how little we know each other very well.”
During her trip, she filmed and published bi-weekly videos, carrying only mandatory clothing, laptops and camera equipment. Stops were often placed at the last minute, requiring flexibility and openness from both her and her host. She described it as a deep and enriched way to join families in everyday life, attend local churches and interview with longtime members and church leaders.
Her experiences vary from region to region. In Sweden, relationships formed more slowly, and in Ireland some contacts quickly blossomed into a large support network. Despite differences in culture, worship style and theology, she said one thing remains constant: “Jesus was always at the center.”
“Whether it’s a Surf Church in Portugal, a Saili in Scotland or a quiet village church in Denmark, the love for Jesus was tangible everywhere,” she said.
One of her most challenging moments was in the UK countryside. There, the battery on her e-bike was almost exhausted, and flat tires threatened to leave her on a steep hill. “I prayed, ‘God, send me help. It will be a good time,’ she recalled. A moment later, a woman appeared walking her dog, drove her email tretter and bike to the nearest repair shop, and narrowed everything down to a small car. “That was the moment I realized. I can’t do everything on my own, but God will send the right help at the right time.”
Mehltretter said the journey has deepened her faith greatly. “Cycling was physically and mentally exhausting, but I learned over and over again what God has to offer. It’s always enough, not what I expected.”
Her channel’s name is rooted as one and reflects both her spiritual vision and biblical inspiration. “‘Rooted’ symbolizes spiritual connections between Christians,” she said. “In the Bible, trees often represent the deep roots of God. At the same time, “eramination of someone” means encouraging them. That’s the purpose of my project. ”
Mehltretter continues his project beyond his first bike trip. While she no longer travels full-time on E-Bike, she is now exploring Christian communities across Europe, using platforms to share stories and building digital bridges across her sectarian lines. She regularly shares content on YouTube, Instagram and Tiktok under Handle @RootedaSoneOfficial.
“My vision is to raise awareness that all Christians are part of the global community that they belong together,” she writes. “We don’t have to agree with everything, but we can respect each other and stand together.”
Her experiences have also been filmed in books, a year, ten countries, and in my life challenges. The book contains QR codes that link readers to specific episodes.
For Mehltretter, the journey is not over. “I don’t measure number success anymore,” she told the pros.
