Rev. Jimmie Tolbert While many 76-year-olds have settled into retirement and spend most of their days on the golf course or lake, there are some who take a more active approach to retirement. Jimmie Tolbert is one of these people. On Monday, May 4, Rev. Tolbert started a 1,000 mile bicycle ride in a fund-raising effort for Free Will Baptist Family Ministries based in Greenville, TN. His goal was to raise $100,000.

Rev. Tolbert has been a Free Will Baptist minister for 50 years. During that time he pastored churches in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Missouri, Tennessee, and Michigan. Three years ago, he began working as a field representative for the Free Will Baptist Family Ministries (www.fwbfm.com), covering Florida and Georgia. Family Ministries started out as a home for orphans back in 1939 and over the years has expanded its services to meet the needs of people of all ages. All the ministries of FWBFM are working to protect, strengthen, and encourage families across the country.

Last year after much prayer and thought, Jimmie decided to raise $100,000 for this organization by riding his bicycle from Florida to Tennessee. He mapped a route that began in Central Florida and would take him to the Florida Panhandle, across southern Georgia, into South Carolina and North Carolina, and finish at the Administration Offices of FWBFM in Tennessee. Rev. Tolbert has always tried to keep physically fit and has participated in athletics most of his life. Since 1998, he has competed in the Senior Games in track and field. Rev. Tolbert began preparing physically for this challenge in January. He worked up to cycling about 50 miles per day. His goal was to cover 75 miles per day during the trip, dividing the distance between a morning ride and an afternoon ride. He realized this effort would be a different kind of challenge, but he felt that when the time arrived he would be ready to make the long trip.

Colquitt was blessed to have Rev. Tolbert and his wife, Barbara, and the Dunlap family, Jim and Wanda, with us for the weekend. After 433 miles into the trip, Rev. Tolbert pedaled into Colquitt on May 9. His group was able to rest and relax, and enjoy some of the Colquitt lifestyle. They were especially fond of the restaurants. Obstacles abounded as Rev. Tolbert tried to leave to resume his trip, but with God's grace and Colquitt's generous nature, the trip went on as planned. The A/C on their motor home went out while they were here, but one generous soul was willing to repair the unit for free.

Although Rev. Tolbert completed this ride on May 20, there is the opportunity to give; $100,000 seems like so much, but with a collaborative effort by all of God's people, this goal can be met and surpassed easily. If you would like to learn more about this effort, visit www.oaksretreat.com. The site has more specifics about the ride, Reverend Tolbert, and Free Will Baptist Family Ministries.