Atlanta, Georgia -- George Silva didn't wait until the last minute to embark on his journey to a major religious convention in Atlanta. He began pedaling last August--in Brazil.

The 49-year-old biker completed his 8,600-mile odyssey Thursday morning at the Georgia Dome, site of the world session of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. His itinerary covered 11 countries through northern South America, most of Central America and five southern-tier states in the U.S., where he was greeted by fellow church members from around the world awaiting his arrival between the Georgia World Congress Center and the Omni Hotel.

Silva, who is married and has two teenage children, converted to Christianity after depression and despair in his youth. This is his seventh in a series of cycling "missionary trips," totaling more than 18,000 miles, on which he proclaims his belief in the soon return of Jesus.

For this trek, he departed Boa Vista, Brazil, on August 12, 2009. His route covered portions of Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico and the United States. From Mexico he crossed into Texas, then Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia.

The 59th General Conference Session is a business meeting of the global Seventh-day Adventist Church from June 24 to July 3, 2010, in Atlanta. Occurring every five years, General Conference Session gathers representatives from the church around the world to elect leadership and determine the focus of mission. Expected attendance at the Atlanta Session is 70,000.