As motorcycle engines roared, more than 4,200 leather-clad motorcyclists and their friends at the 69th annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally heard a three-minute testimony of how Christ could radically change their lives. Just for listening, they also were given a chance to win a new, black Harley-Davidson bike.
For the fourth year, the Sturgis Motorcycle Giveaway, sponsored by the Dakota Baptist Convention (DBC) and North American Mission Board (NAMB), used volunteers from across the nation to give testimonies Aug. 3–8 about how they met Christ and to invite rally-goers to do the same. By the end of the week, 835 people made professions of faith.
For one week in August each year, the small, quiet towns of the South Dakota Black Hills welcome approximately 500,000 motorcyclists and wannabes to the region for the bike rally. The atmosphere promotes raucous parties and sinful living, but it is into such darkness that Christians are called to shine.
Partnering with evangelist Ronnie Hill of Texas, the DBC staff used the motorcycle giveaway to draw people to the booth so staff and volunteers would have the opportunity to share the gospel.
“You have to start with relevance,” said Garvon Golden, the DBC’s associate executive director. “You have to start with something that’s going to get their attention, something that’s going to make them stop and say, ‘Yeah, I’ll listen to you for three minutes.’”
Regardless of his or her response to the testimony, each individual was allowed to fill out a raffle ticket for the Harley.
David Badger, a member of the F.A.I.T.H. Riders Motorcycle Ministry, saw Sturgis with new eyes this year as he shared Christ with people who came to the booth. Although he had been to the rally many times before, this was the first year he came as a Christian.
“This is the first year I’ve come with Christ in my heart,” Badger said. “The other years I came, I should have been one of the ones walking into this tent. I’ve been on both sides of the fence. … I didn’t care about people. Now I care about them.”
Follow-up for those who prayed to receive Christ is a high priority for Golden and his team. Names are sent to the Evangelism Response Center at NAMB, which in turn sends the names to churches in the areas where the people live. Golden also sends names to state evangelism directors.
This year Calvary Baptist Church, Rapid City, S.D., hosted three events during Sturgis to encourage and disciple new believers. Sponsored by several churches in the Dakotas, Montana and Colorado, these events provided a Christian environment with free food, music and a discipleship-based message.
David Kirchoff, a 23-year-old student from Gillette, Wyo., won the motorcycle. (BP)
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