Progress

Wow...so we thought we would exercise and spend time away from work today, but that definitely didn't happen! We have been dreaming, planning, researching, debating, diagramming, scribbling, praying, talking...working none stop since we woke up this morning.

We've changed courses at least three times, completely scrapped everything at least twice, and then gone back to it again after rethinking the ideas.


So far, this is where we stand:


Saddle Lights will be a ministry focused on college students that integrates a physically and mentally challenging cycling experience with studying the Word of God. By partnering with Precept Ministries in their material and inductive study methods, our goal is to instill a life long habit of studying the Bible daily through topics pertaining to their road experience and life beyond. The goal is to teach this generation to know Him, to lead others, and to walk in obedience.

By partnering with Universities (limited to a focus on five, initially), we can create more visibility for the trips, and in turn, deepen and mature the faith of the student body over the summer months.

The coast to coast trips will last 7 weeks, and average 90 miles a day on riding days (a sabbath will be taken every week). The endurance cycling idea is the concept of challenging your body and mind to be pushed beyond limits, while studying the Word inductively on topics created by this challenge, such as faith, fear, self-sufficiency, self-centeredness, prayer, and love. This blended challenge in the midst of the incredible beauty that's seen en route creates a softer heart and open ears for learning, growing, teaching, encouraging, correction, and reproof (as 1 Timothy says).

We know that if we can teach them to be in God's word daily, and inductively study, they will have the knowledge, understanding, and confidence to pick up their Bible and dive in to find answers and lessons on their own, as well as lead others; this will change their futures, and their families futures forever.

After immense amounts of research, we have figured out start-up costs and trail fees based on a one trip per year plan (we'd eventually have many more) with 60 students and 6 staff per trip for a coast to coast route.

1.)We estimate we'll need just under $100k to start-up. This covers the truck & trailer needed for sag support, a rolling kitchen for cooking meals (appliances, pots & pans etc), a sag vehicle for road and group safety, bike repair tools, propane tanks, pipe portable showers, insurance, logos, and professional fees
2.)With providing bicycles for the students to keep (and train on), shorts, jerseys, helmets, Inductive Study Bibles & materials, ID Tags, duffel bags, stuff sacks, lodging, 2 meals a day, road support, gas, maintenance, business insurance, compensations for the 6 staff, benefits etc, we can get the entire trail fee down to $4-5k per cyclist. Our prayer is to get an endowment and yearly donations to subsidize this cost, making it more affordable for students to go.

So, right now, we need your prayer and support as we continue this planning process. We need wisdom and direction to make Godly choices, and to be people of prayer. We also will need donors to get this started. We have so many things left unanswered that we will continue to explore and look into. For right now, though, we really need your prayers, every day, to make this happen God's way. We appreciate you!

Thanks! Jes & kel