Yesterday morning, I received a very encouraging Bible verse from a friend before I started cycling, 1 Corinthians 9.23-26, verse 23 stuck out most to me, “I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.” (NLT) This verse helped me to keep pedaling even when I didn’t want to anymore. I knew that by riding my bicycle, money would be raised for Teen Challenge through Speed the Light. This verse stuck in my head around mile 180 where my body felt like it was closing up shop for the day…I keep reminding myself that verse…Everything that I do, I do it to spread the Gospel!
One year ago to the day, I was running 12+ hours for Speed the Light and supporting missionaries to Cambodia, the Lovelace’s – over $5,000 was raised through the run. I am so glad that God has placed a passion for supporting missionaries through Speed the Light inside of me and as long as I am on this Earth I am going to be doing whatever I can do give towards it and be apart of something so much greater than myself – helping missionaries have what they need to see lives changed & souls saved!
Some people, when they heard that I was still riding past the 200 mile mark asked, “Why are you still riding?!” I felt like if God was giving me the strength to continue to ride, why wouldn’t I want to keep moving forward to share the testimony about how God strengthened me to do something I couldn’t do on my own. The farthest I had ever rode before this was 100 miles – about 4 weeks ago. God gave me supernatural strength to keep moving forward…I didn’t want to stop at 200 if He was giving me the strength to move forward. I wanted God to receive all of the glory for what was taking place! I remember calling my parents, (who by the way are some of my biggest supporters and encouragers in life, love you guys!) and telling them how I was feeling right around noon. My dad said something that stuck with me while I was riding the rest of the day, “Steven, if God is giving you the ability to ride further for His glory…do not stop! Keep on riding until you can’t ride anymore!”
You see, I greatly enjoy riding my bike in my free time, but I do not enjoy the thought of riding for 15 hours. The thing that I do enjoy about this however is the outcome – money raised so that lives can be changed! Teen Challenge works with at risk students who have had pasts involved with drug and alcohol abuse. I know that through this ride, I am part of students coming clean in life and hearing about the Gospel message. I may not be the person telling them but I am part of the process, and that is what matters! I would gladly get on my bicycle again and ride as far as I could to see lives changed and money raised for Speed the Light! Here are a few pictures from the day…
(Here is my buddy, Jason & Me riding inside of Realife just before 6am)
(Here is Rick, Dick & Myself before hitting the road out in Rogersville)
(Charlie, Myself & Bruce as we got ready to head out on a loop on the bike course)
(My Garmin showing me how many miles I had logged…hit 200!)
(Here are some of the riders who met me at Realife to crank out what was supposed to be the final 10 miles…turned into being miles 218-228)
(Me in front of Realife just before cranking out miles 228-262)
(My Garmin showing the final distance logged for the day – 262.5 miles in 15 hours & 5 min)
(Here I am minutes after 6pm just outside of Realife where I got back from cranking out the final miles with my buddy Gary)
These are just a few of the pictures from the day. Medley’s sorry I don’t have any pictures that were taken on my camera with you – greatly appreciated you coming out to ride with me as well! Wade, you were my main man with Charlie in organizing a lot of the details for the ride, wish I would have gotten a pic with you on my camera – THANK YOU for all of your help and support throughout the ride, you are truly a blessing my friend! Diane, thanks so much for coming on out to see all of the riders at Realife, it was great seeing you, so appreciated your support! Thanks again to all of the riders who came out and a special thanks to the students from 7eleven Life Group – loved riding with you guys!
So far, over $4,500 has been raised for this cause towards the $7,000 goal towards Speed the Light. I know that there have been a few people that have mentioned they were going to be sending a check in the mail this week or giving online. If you would like to give towards the goal of $7,000, click here to give online or mail a check to James River Assembly, 6100 N. 19th St. Ozark, MO 65721. Thank you for your support!
Steve
