Ride for a Miracle

April 12, 2006

By Duane Lowell

The summer prior to my senior year of high school, a pastor from a nearby church spoke to our youth group. She challenged us to use the talents God had given us to help support missionaries.

I’ve always loved the outdoors and especially mountain biking and cycling. I decided to ride my bike 65 miles to that pastor’s church in Burlington, Vt. I would ask people to donate financially, either per mile or with a single contribution.

I trained through the summer and held the ride in October. It was a rainy and dark 60-degree day. Leaving my residence in Woodbury, Vt., at approximately 8 a.m., I completed the ride in just four and a half hours, despite the rain and a heavy wind.

There was no name, mission or vision statement for that venture, just a basic idea of riding a bike 65 miles and asking people to make donations.

The following year I enrolled at Zion Bible College in Barrington, R.I. The bike ride did not take place my freshman year, but it was not forgotten. My sophomore year, I settled on the name “Ride for a Miracle.” I decided the whole purpose behind raising funds was so that people could come to know Jesus Christ and the freedom that resulted from His death upon the cross and His resurrection, the greatest miracle of all.

Back in Vermont on August 14, 2004, I prepared to “Ride for a Miracle” with a significant increase in distance, from the initial 65 miles to 120 miles. My reasoning was simple — more miles meant more money for missions.

After packing up all the gear, food (power bars) and water that I would need, I placed them in the car that would be accompanying me on the ride. Heading out on the road at 8:30 a.m., I looked up into the crisp, blue sky. I knew it was going to be a great day.

Riding to Morrisville was a peace of cake, taking around 45 minutes. From there I rode to Montpelier. At this point I was approximately two and a half hours into my ride. As I neared Hardwick, the town from which I had originally departed, I was definitely feeling the 65 miles that I had just pedaled in four and a half hours. I still had 55 miles to go.

I had set a goal of completing the ride without taking any breaks. Ignoring the pain, I continued on to Morrisville for the second time. From there I embarked on a direction away from the loop I had just completed and proceeded to Underhill, making it there after roughly seven hours of consistent pedaling.

With only an hour to go, the adrenaline began increasing, so I sprinted the remainder of the 120 miles and concluded my ride in Essex after a total of eight hours. The feeling was incredible. Most important, supporters of the ride donated $3,000 to missions.

A friend and I rode together in 2005. I dream of the day dozens of riders will join us. But I share this to encourage you as that pastor encouraged me in high school — find a way to use the talents God has given you and do your part in the Great Commission.

Duane Lowell attends Zion Bible College in Barrington, R.I.