On Saturday, May 3, an enthusiastic group of 11 cyclists from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, including students, faculty members, spouses and friends of the Seminary community, took part in the fourth annual Tour de Sem. Participants bicycled from St. Paul Lutheran Church, Columbia, Ill., to Trinity Lutheran Church, Altenberg, Mo. Of the 11 participants, seven completed the entire 95-mile ride.

The ride ended with dinner and tours of the original Seminary site and other historical points of interest related to The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. The tour was provided by the Perry County Lutheran Historical Society.

“The ride itself is beautiful, along the Mississippi bluffs and through the quiet rolling hills of Perry County,” said Dr. Jeffrey Kloha, associate professor of exegetical theology at Concordia Seminary and an avid cyclist. “Even better is the camaraderie of students, faculty, spouses and friends of the Seminary riding and working together, sharing conversation and completing a challenge.”

“I enjoyed the challenge and beauty of the course, as well as the time and fellowship with some of my brothers in Christ,” commented fourth-year Seminarian Russel Troester. “Cycling keeps me in great shape and allows for getting to know people over long rides,” added Marc Engelhardt, a second-year Seminary student, “and the Tour de Sem is a very long ride. It is easy to bond with someone when you are riding a bike next to them for five hours.”

Dr. Jeffrey Kloha and a group of students organize the Tour de Sem. The event is sponsored by Touring Cyclist, a business close to the Seminary campus, and the Seminary Guild.

For more information, contact Communications, Concordia Seminary, 801 Seminary Place, St. Louis, MO 63105; (314) 505-7374; [email protected].