Students from Arkansas bike into Cape Girardeau on Tour de Faith

When students from Arkansas State University biked into Cape Girardeau Tuesday after a 70-mile ride, no crowds lined the streets. They weren't greeted by fans or given yellow jerseys.

The group of 19 students and three leaders is on a different tour.

These members of the Wesley United Methodist Campus Ministry are just past the midway point of their 280-mile trek from Jonesboro, Ark., to St. Louis. Once there they will meet another Tour de Faith group from Purdue University to work in a soup kitchen for the weekend.

"This is a faith journey," said Dave Sutton, the group's leader. "Our goal is to serve both the communities and churches on our way."

The students spent the months leading up to the trip raising funds, making preparations and seeking local support.

The group's bikes are on loan from a Jonesboro bike shop, an arrangement facilitated by the Jonesboro Chamber of Commerce.

The riders got pledges per mile ridden from church members to offset costs of the trip. Any leftover funds will go to a local family who could not afford their child's lengthy hospital stay, according to Sutton.

No one got on a bike Wednesday, but the group was far from idle.

After putting the finishing touches on a Habitat for Humanity home in the morning, half the group did maintenance work on a church building while the others prepared for a 6:30 p.m. worship service.

"It's work, work, every day," Sutton said.

The group left Jonesboro on Mother's Day and has covered more than 160 miles since. Sutton said Methodist churches and ministries housed the bikers after their eight-hour days.

Ashlee Wiseman, 22, of Searcy, Ark., has participated in each of the three Tour de Faith's the Arkansas State Wesley Ministry has sponsored.

Wiseman, who recently graduated with a theater degree, said that getting away from the bustle of her final semester has been the best part of the trip.

The riders usually start around 8 a.m., according to Wiseman. A truck drives behind the group, and a van with a support team and all the group's supplies rides in front.

"There is a lot of encouragement among the bikers. The people in the van are always cheering us on, too, and that helps on some of the tough hills," Wiseman said. "They squirt us with water guns once we reach the top."

Corey Shannon, 21, of Jonesboro, is on his first Tour de Faith.

Shannon is part of the support team, which arrives at the riders' destination beforehand to cook meals, unload the riders' bags and set up service opportunities.

"I feel a little left out, 'cause they're doing the tough part," Shannon said, "But you don't get to do this kind of service often and everybody's got a job."

Wiseman said the group is exhausted, but happy with how smoothly the trip has gone overall. She said that only one bike has gotten a flat tire, and besides a couple of minor spills, there have been no injuries.

"I don't ride much," Wiseman said, "So I just say a prayer and hope I get there."

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