RAGBRAI 2011 Reflections by Gary Verhoef

I asked Gary to write some reflections on this year's ride across Iowa

What a great cycling year again.  Although I’ve done many RAGBRAIs, this one had an added dimension….Pastor Rick was part of our Pella team.  The added dimension is what he termed “Pedal for Prisoners”.  I subtitled it “Pedal with Purpose”.  You see, Rick challenged us to use this opportunity to build financial support for his ministry.  In this way, we could be a catalyst in spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  In practical terms, that meant raising funds to enable the New Life to present the gospel to those behind bars in Iowa.

So the miles that we rode had a deeper sense of urgency than ever before.  And getting through the challenges of the ride took on new meaning.  The oppressive heat of the week long ride was the greatest challenge.  It would be easy to succumb to the easy way out, and go back home to air conditioning.  But our team stayed the course.  The relentless hills on some days were a second challenge.  I kept thinking of how those hills represented precisely the challenges of ministry.  Again, it’s easy to give up and retreat to easy street.  In ministry, God doesn’t promise things will always be easy.  He does promise that His plan is not only right, it’s for the furtherance of his kingdom and also for our personal spiritual wellbeing.

Finally, there is always a goal; an end.  For RAGBRAI, that goal was dipping our bike tires in the Mississippi, after starting  a week earlier at the Missouri River.  And that sense of accomplishment, that reward, is something that God puts in us to help us along the way of life, as well as in ministry.

Corinne and I are pleased to be a part of Rick’s ministry in this way.  I challenge you to become part of New Life, too.  Maybe you can Pedal with Purpose next year and at the same time Pedal for Prisoners.  God be praised!  

by Gary & Corinne Verhoef