ON A BIKE AND A PRAYER

Eager Bikers | Left group: Tripp Perry, Wilder Zickos, Pressley Deal, Medley Perry, Buck Davis, Weston Flail Front row: Maddison Flail, Wyatt Lincoln, Brooks Womack, Avera Graves, Cat Alday, Jack Graves, Charlie Kemp, Mae Lincoln, Birdie Davis, Caroline Stump, Ruby Cochran, Margaret Perry Back left group: Jack Stump, Ben Cochran, Davis Monroe, Tom Watt, Mollie Slaughter, Harrison Womack, Charlie Watt Back middle group: Maddie Slaughter, Eliza Jane Monroe, Sidnee Slaughter, Susan Jordan Back right group: Brooklyn Flail, David Lincoln, Caroline Smothers, Griffin Womack, Mason Harrell, John Jordan, Frank Woodall, Peyton Deal

Caroline Smothers, Maddie, Mollie and Sidnee Slaughter, Susan Jordan

4th graders, Brooklyn Flail and John Jordan

and a On a Bike Prayer Friday Morning Bikers from Eager Subdivision Pedal to School After Prayer

STORY AND PHOTOS BY LEE MAYHEW SMOTHERS

Every Friday at 7:45 a.m., up to 35 elementary-age boys and girls in Eager Subdivision hop on their bikes and pedal down the street to the Jordan family's home. There they socialize for a few minutes before prayer, then head down the road for a short bike ride to Crossroads Baptist School. It is quite the scene, and many neighbors wait outside to wave at the excited group of kids. This Friday morning tradition is something both the children and their parents look forward to! Several moms ride along on their bikes to keep the children safe and direct the flow of traffic; while other parents follow the pack in their golf carts, toting the children too small to ride, and a haul of backpacks.

Weekly rider, Jack Stump, says, “My favorite part of the week is seeing my friends and riding my bike to school!”

This weekly gathering started three years ago when Crossroads student, Susan Jordan, was invited by her teacher, Carol Kemp, to accompany her family on their Friday morning bike ride. Slowly they added one or two to the group, and as more of the Eager neighborhood children started school, they all wanted in on the fun! Now Susan's mom, Leigh, keeps the tradition alive as the central location to meet in the mornings and often leads the group in prayer.

Emily Slaughter believes these mornings are a great benefit to the families. “Obviously, it’s exercise, but I love that it’s a great activity for our kids, and also that we can use this time to pray over our kids and pray over the school.”

Crossroads Baptist School has embraced the riders. The school has added bike racks to the parking lot and arranged a pickup area for parents who bike in the afternoons. Susan Jordan, on the weekly tradition, “This gives us something to look forward to every week!”

Through the pandemic, many families enjoyed riding together. Some parents purchased bikes after not having been on one in years! Riding to school is certainly reminiscent of an earlier time when kids rode daily through the city and to school. Although that is not an option for most kids now, this Friday treat of a simple bike ride brings so much joy to these children and their families.

“I love watching the children's excitement as they gather together on Friday mornings!” says Leigh Jordan. “It’s such an awesome way to wrap up their school week! I’m so thankful for the special memories being made with these friends. The kids don’t realize they are making memories—they just know that they are having fun!”

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