Ride for the Dominican 2025 — North Dakota

 

I am apparently much better at riding bicycles than I am at keeping this blog updated.

So, before we start talking about another Ride for the Dominican, I need to go back and fill in a pretty significant gap: the 2025 ride through North Dakota.

Last year we once again loaded up the bikes and headed out for several days of riding. Our route took us roughly 350 miles through North Dakota, continuing a tradition that began more than a decade ago when we first decided to use our love of cycling to support the ministry of our friends in Santiago, Dominican Republic.

As always, the miles were only part of the story.

Why We Rode

Our goal for the 2025 ride was to raise $5,000 for two specific needs in Santiago.

Part of the money was designated to support a Theology School at Central Baptist Church, where men and women are being trained to better understand and the Word of God. At the time they had 10 participants in the school. Supporting the school looks like buying books and the things needed for class nights and supporting the various pastors that traveled from throughout the Dominican Republic to help teach the classes. 

The other portion was designated for cement work at Central Baptist Church.

The church sits on a hill and has a rock wall on one side and this cement covered side. The picture above is the sealing work that was necessary up top and the picture below shows the sealed concrete after the work was through. 

One of the things we have appreciated about our relationship with the church in Santiago is that these are not projects created to give Americans something to do. The church is there every week preaching the gospel, discipling people, serving its community, and training believers. We simply get the privilege of coming alongside them and helping with some of the needs they already have.

That has been the heart of the Ride for the Dominican from the beginning.

The Ride

The 2025 route took us through North Dakota on Highway 5, covering approximately 353.42 miles from Westby, Montana, to Minnesota border near Hallock.

This year was different in that the Morken family did not ride, but Michael Kohlmann joined me (Matthew) in the journey. Michael is an excellent rider and a brother in Christ from Veritas Church. 

As anyone who has followed these rides knows, bicycle touring has a way of producing stories. Some are great. Some are miserable while they are happening and become great stories about two weeks later.

A few things that stand out from this ride:

• Day 4 was the most intense headwind I've ever ridden into in my life! 22 miles into 25+ MPH wind. It was exhausting
• On day 5, we had an incredible tail wind! Fully loaded we were going 20 MPH!
• There was no rain in the forecast so Michael slept without his rainfly on the tent. When he got up to take a quick shower, it down poured for about 5 minutes. 
• We met so many wonderful people. Columbus, North Dakota is the place to BE!
• On the last day we dropped into the Red River Valley just east of Cavalier, North Dakota. What a beautiful descent! 

We also continue to learn that riding is about considerably more than accumulating miles. There are long days, tired legs, meals eaten wherever we can find them, campgrounds of varying quality, unexpected kindness from strangers, and a whole lot of time turning the cranks.

Those are some of the reasons we keep doing it.

What You Helped Accomplish

By the end of the ride, friends, family, churches, and supporters had given $4,939.48 toward the work in Santiago.

We are incredibly thankful.

Every year I am reminded that while our family(and a friend) may be the ones turning the pedals, this has never been something we have done by ourselves. Hundreds of people have prayed, followed along, shared our posts, encouraged our kids, and given generously over the years.

By God's grace, those miles have helped provide tangible support for ministry in the Dominican Republic.

And that is ultimately why we keep getting back on the bikes.

One More Ride in the Books

So, very belatedly, Ride for the Dominican 2025 is officially in the books.

About 352 miles across North Dakota.

$4,939.48 raised.

Theological training materials for 10 people. Teachers fully supported. 

Work at Central Baptist Church shoring up the concrete in the front of the building. 

A lot of miles ridden and another state accomplished.

And another reminder of God's kindness to us through the people who continue to support this strange little combination of bicycles, adventure, and ministry.

Thank you to everyone who was part of it.

And now that I have finally written about last year's ride...

it's probably time to tell you where I'll be riding this year.