Cyclists pedal 500 miles for River of Life Church expansion
Elk River Star News
A group of cyclists pulled into River of Life Church in Elk River on Aug. 3, having just completed a 500-mile trek from the church to Duluth and back to raise money for the church’s “Expand the House” initiative.
Each rider trained and raised funds to support the first phase of a three-part expansion project, which will begin with new space for children’s ministries, including classrooms, an indoor playground and sensory room.
Ten cyclists, including seven who completed the entire ride, were welcomed by children and families who stayed after church services this past Sunday for a “Cycle Celebration.” Many in attendance had also just wrapped up a successful weeklong Vacation Bible School camp.
At the celebration, youth completed a five-lap bike ride of their own in the church parking lot. Families also enjoyed music, food, yard games and vendors selling wares and promoting causes. The children raised nearly $6,000 during the week, which was donated to Main Street Family Services, a nonprofit in Elk River that will use the money to give away backpacks for the upcoming school year. The organization’s executive director Julie Schultz was in attendance to answer questions about their services.
The riders returned at 12:45 p.m. from their weeklong trip, which they dubbed the “Next Gen 500” and “Pedaling with a Purpose.”
Senior Pastor Dave Johnson, who has served River of Life for more than 30 years, led the group across the finish line and let out some excitement. “We made it!” he told the cheering crowd.
The ride proved to be an effective fundraising tool that brought riders together and united the congregation behind the $12 million building project, which will be built in three phases. The second and third phases will include new worship spaces for youth and the congregation.
River of Life has a long history of offering children’s ministries, including Wednesday night programming that draws both church members and nonmembers.
The church’s mission is Equipping Like Jesus … In Community, for Community.
“We’re joining God where he’s already moving,” Johnson said. “Part of that equipping is a tool, and that’s where this whole building project comes from. It’s a tool to equip more people.”
The church attracts between 500 and 700 people each week, depending on the time of year.
“We want to bless our community,” said Jessica Hills, River of Life’s executive administrator. “We want to create a space where parents can bring their kids and teens and know they’re cared for well.”
How the ride began
The idea came from church member Craig Prange, who transferred to River of Life from another church that once operated out of the Handke Family Center. While there, he helped organize a similar fundraiser — a 1,000-mile ride from Memphis, Tennessee, to Minneapolis — to raise money for a building project. That money helped create a church in Monticello.
“My wife (Jerolyn) and I met with Dave and Ann Johnson last fall to talk about the building project,” Prange said. “I thought, ‘I can help more by doing this activity than just writing a check.’ The idea was to get outside the church. Most people are tapped out in what they give. This was a way for people to post a link or QR code on Facebook and reach others who care about the cause.”
Before Johnson handed the concept over to Prange and Hills to execute, Prange looked at the senior pastor and said, “I want you to go on it. You’ll lose 20 pounds.”
Johnson, 65, admits he initially thought he was too old — and that his friend had just found a polite way to call him overweight.
The two laughed about it, but Johnson agreed to train and attempt the 500-mile trek.
“If you can get the lead pastor to lead the charge, that’s going to create more enthusiasm,” Prange said. “And when Dave decides to do something, he’s all in.”
Johnson even sought support from local business owners who were not church members. Those conversations proved fruitful. “People want to invest in children,” Johnson said.
Training and teamworkJohnson and other new riders trained for 10 to 12 weeks. Johnson said he logged 73 miles one day just to prove to himself he could handle the daily distance.
“I wasn’t sure if I would be able to do it six days in a row,” Johnson said. “I was pleasantly surprised. No accidents. No major setbacks.”
Prange, a cyclist for 15 years, said the week on the road built strong camaraderie among participants, some of whom had never met before the ride. His wife joined for about half the trip.
“Spending seven or eight days together, you get to know people really well,” Prange said.
Two volunteers, John and Marcia Cullinan, followed the riders in a support vehicle, staging food and water stops 15 to 20 miles ahead. “We went through over a dozen watermelons and I don’t know how many hard-boiled eggs,” Prange said. “They were fabulous — very gracious.”
One young rider nearly quit after the first day but pushed through. “The long rides become about mental toughness,” Prange said. “You can do a lot more than you think you can.”
Stories from the road
Along the route, strangers offered encouragement. Johnson said people often stopped on rural roads to ask what the group was doing, then handed over cash when they heard the answer.
Prange recalled a moment at a hotel in Virginia, Minnesota, when a woman named Rita — who he believes had very little — gave the group all the cash she had in her purse after learning about their cause. “That was very touching,” he said.
The riders stayed in hotels along the way, stopping in Mora, Cloquet, Virginia, Grand Rapids, Walker and the Brainerd/Baxter area. Upon reaching Foley, they shuttled home to sleep in their own beds before making the final push back to River of Life.
Looking ahead
The ride raised $65,341 as of Aug. 11, with donations still coming in. Many contributors pledged $1 a mile, meaning a $500 donation if the rider completed the full route. One rider suffered an injury and couldn’t finish, and three others joined later in the journey to tackle part of the distance. Ten riders crossed the finish line.
The goal is to have the $1.6 million Phase 1 paid off before starting Phase 2. The cyclists are planning a 100-mile “century ride” later this year.
“This whole thing has rejuvenated my faith life and put wind in my sails,” Johnson said. “It’s been really encouraging.”