I knew Praise Church in Pueblo would be special when Pastor Darron met us as we pulled into the parking lot.
“We’re taking good care of your friend Jim. It’s the first time we’ve had a buck-naked bike rider in church.”
Thursday, June 27
I guess I should explain. Jim succumbed to the extreme heat a few miles earlier (check out the bank thermometer). The support van brought him to the church to cool off and rest. I went to check on him—he wasn’t completely naked, but he was a little tired of people waking him up to ask how he felt.
So we headed back to check on the rest of the team. An hour or so later a group of hot, tired riders pulled into the parking lot. While they headed off for a much-welcomed shower, three angels showed up.
Okay, maybe they weren’t drop-from-the-clouds-with-wings angels, but in our eyes they were even better. After a long, hot day of cycling that included one pretty tough climb, these wonderful ladies were about to prepare a home-cooked spaghetti dinner.
When Pastor Darron offered the church as a place to sleep, we didn’t expect nursing care for overheated, partially-dressed riders. And we certainly didn’t expect a team of generous cooks to provide an amazing meal. But since they were already here, it would have been rude to turn down their hospitality.
As we stood with our hosts to pray, I reflected on the incredible bonding effect of this simple act. All around the world, Jesus’ followers stop to say thanks before meals. Across languages and cultures, it’s a reminder that we drink from wells we didn’t dig and eat the fruit of trees we didn’t plant (Deuteronomy 6).
The heat of the day faded over huge plates of spaghetti and meat sauce with garlic bread and salad followed by home-made cookies. Laughter and stories of conquest replaced weariness as we prepared to tell our story to some folks who gathered to hear about our journey.
I was a little concerned. We’d been so busy riding bikes that we hadn’t organized a formal presentation. So we just showed a short video produced by U COUNT (watch it here) and each member of the team talked about the ride and what it meant to them.
Some riders showed photos of rescued girls they’d carried every mile of the ride. They explained that this was personal, that they rode for individuals rather than numbers or causes. They related personal experiences and opened their hearts about why they’d decided to tackle such a difficult task.
A wonderful conversation developed between guess and hosts about the faces behind the facts and programs of human trafficking. I’m absolutely sure the ripples from that evening will be felt far beyond our time together.
Turns out you don’t need a fancy presentation when you trust Jesus for the words.
And Jim? He got his wish—we let him sleep, and he ate cold spaghetti later. Like the warrior he is, he was back on his bike, singing and cranking toward Trinidad the next morning.
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