By Madeleine Sutherland Record Staff Writer Jeremy Klaustermeier spent a few days last month finding out just how many hills northern Missouri has to offer. His legs powered through the first Big …
This item is available in full to subscribers.
Attention subscribers
We have recently launched a new and improved website. To continue reading, you will need to either log into your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription.
If you are a digital subscriber with an active subscription, or you are a print subscriber who had access to our previous wesbite, then you already have an account here. Just reset your password if you have not yet logged in to your account on this new site.
If you are a current print subscriber and did not have a user account on our previous website, you can set up a free website account by clicking here.
Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing.
Please log in to continue
Need an account?
Print and web subscribers
If you're a print and web subscriber, but do not yet have an online account, click here to create one.
Online-only subscribers
If you are a digital subscriber with an active, online-only subscription then you already have an account here. Just reset your password if you've not yet logged in to your account on this new site.
Non-subscribers
Click here to see your options for becoming a subscriber.
Leading a child to Christ
Posted
By Madeleine SutherlandRecord Staff WriterJeremy Klaustermeier spent a few days last month finding out just how many hills northern Missouri has to offer.His legs powered through the first Big Bike Across Missouri Ride, a cross-state bike ride that pulled in hundreds of people from across the country.Klaustermeier, who serves as pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Warrenton, took part in the ride to raise awareness for Lead a Child, an organization he represents.The organization’s purpose is to provide children in third world countries across the globe with an opportunity to receive a Christian education.“We raise money so that impoverished kids can go to school,” Klaustermeier said. “We are in 29 countries. The one we have been in the longest is Guatemala; we’ve been there for 40 years.” He serves as the personal representative for Uganda.Klaustermeier found out about Lead a Child through relatives who were on the organization’s board of directors. Two years ago, they needed a new pastoral representative. Klaustermeier stepped up to take the position.“I wanted to help out kids as much as possible and it seemed like an excellent way to do that,” he said. “It’s something easy that I can do that doesn’t require a whole lot of time.”On June 22, Klaustermeier and his group of 14 other board members, spouses, and friends from Lead a Child joined the fleet of 1,000 other riders participating in the Big Bike Across Missouri Ride. The giant group took off from Rock Port and made stops in Maryville, Albany, Unionville and Kirksville.“We camped in tents the whole week,” said Klaustermeier. “In Maryville, we stayed on the grounds of Northwest Missouri State University. In Albany and Rock Port we just stayed in their city parks. In Unionville, it was the county fairgrounds.”At every stop food booths, live music, and other amenities were provided for riders. Law enforcement and a bike repair team also were present for most of the trip.“It was like a moving carnival. During the day you’d go through towns and they’d have booths set up where you could get food and water and Gatorade,” said Klaustermeier.The Lead a Child group wore jerseys that advertised their organization with the goal of getting the word out about their mission.“We get quite a few sponsors while we’re on the rides that will donate to us,” said Klaustermeier. “It’s a way to get the word out and it’s a way that is fun that we can show our support for the organization and the kids.”The group rode 45 miles the first day, 67 the next, 83 on the third day, and 52 on the fourth. Their fifth day of riding was intended to be 81 miles, but the last leg was canceled due to flooding in Canton. Riders were forced to find their way home from their last stop in Kirksville.Over the course of the journey, riders endured hail, rain, lightning, headwinds and flooding. Klaustermeier noted that though the group hoped to average around 12 to 15 miles per hour, their average speed was actually around eight to 10 miles per hour due to the intensity of the ride.“The ride had everything that you could think of,” stated Klaustermeier. “I guess that helps us understand what the kids we help in these countries go through when they have to walk five miles to school. Sometimes they have to stay at school for a long time because they can’t make it home.”Now that Klaustermeier is back home, he intends to fulfill his obligation to ride a full 300 miles in the local area since the Big Bike Across Missouri Ride was cut short. He also plans to participate in more rides in the future.“We’re always looking for more support,” he said. “We’re leading a child to Christ. It’s so they can have an education and learn about Jesus, too. I’m always looking for people to join me on the next ride,” he said.
Pastor Jeremy Klaustermeier poses during a break while participating in the Big Bike Across Missouri ride. Submitted photo.
