GULF SHORES, Ala. — A local children’s pastor recently finished a 400-mile trek from the top of Alabama to the bottom to raise money for children’s ministry.

Brandon Doss, a children’s pastor at Gulfway Assembly of God in Gulf Shores, and four other children’s ministry workers spent a week gaining attention from their wild stunt to bike down the state.

On March 29, at 2 p.m., the five cyclists started in Ardmor, a town split between Alabama and Tennessee, and headed south. They traveled an average of 65 miles a day down Highway 31, mostly a two-lane road.

In Bay Minette they transitioned to Highway 59 and rode it all the way down to the beach in Gulf Shores. By 12:30 p.m. on April 3 they had reached their destination.

“We went from Ardmor to Huntsville, from Huntsville to Birmingham, Birmingham to Prattville, Prattville to Evergreen, Evergreen to Bay Minette,” Doss said. “And then from (Bay Minette) to here.”

Doss trained by riding 40 miles a day, which he said wasn’t enough. Although the trip was fun, it was painful and he said after a few days the muscles that were sore became numb. On Tuesday of the trip, they rode the whole day in the rain. He said the mountainous topography of northern and central Alabama also provided a challenge.

“It seemed like we didn’t hit flat land until we got to Gulf Shores,” Doss said laughing. “I still made it though.”

The long trek was worth it, Doss said, because the goal was to raise money and awareness about children’s ministry. The ride was a promotion of the Boys and Girls Missions Challenge, which helps children internationally and educates local kids about mission work.

“It’s an opportunity to educate on missions, the importance of missions and the value of missions,” Doss said.

This year the mission is for a small town in West Africa.

“There is a church in Africa that is trying to build a facility for children’s ministry,” Doss said. “The average income is $360 in that church. They don’t have a lot of money.”

BGMC offers support by donating food, clothing, medicine, ministry supplies and even building wells in an underprivileged community, according to David Wimpee, state coordinator for the organization and fellow bike rider. He said the town of Lomé, Togo has 400 children who have become Christians but have nowhere to worship. It will take about $65,000 to build a church and school for the kids. and last week’s trip will hopefully raise about $8,000. The congregation in Lomé has already raised $5,000 on their own.

“The goal next year is to take a team over there and help build, facilitate and serve their church on a short-term mission,” Doss said.

Wimpee said the team will also help train workers to become ministers.

More money has been generated for the cause from the publicity of the ride. Some donated by mile, others made one time donations and a few have pledged to give a monthly donation.

“The whole goal is to help build the church,” Doss said.

To donate to the Boys and Girls Missions Challenge contact Brandon Doss at 251-968-6858.