“Make disciples of all people by going … and teaching them …”
(Matt 28:19-20 paraphrase)
What does the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally that started this past Friday have to do with Cedar Canyon Camp? Little did we know what we were getting into when we signed up to work here this month.
The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is a motorcycle get-together held each year in Sturgis, SD, and the surrounding Black Hills region. It began in 1938 by a group of Indian Motorcycle riders and was originally held for stunts and races. Since then, the rally has become a huge endeavor that consists of events put on by many different groups. Attendance this year is estimated to be over 700,000 people.
As one can imagine, the Black Hills region is packed. RV parks, hotels, campgrounds, you name it, are full! The vast majority of these bikers are about as far away from God’s Son as they can be. Thankfully, the Lord has raised up missionaries to reach these lost souls. They have come to share the Good News with these thousands of bikers and Cedar Canyon Camp is their staging area and evening home.
It is amazing to learn their stories. One heavy-set, long-haired man known as “Sidecar,” is a pastor in Denton, TX. He is finishing his masters at Dallas Baptist University and is going after his Ph.D. soon. Another is in the Navy and on leave. A third, “Pancho,” is an entrepreneur with his own import/export business. To see them on the street you would think they were Hell’s Angels. They just all love riding their Harley-Davidsons and reaching lost souls for Christ.
Cedar Canyon Camp, as well as all the other camps where we’ve worked, cannot do what they are called to do without volunteer labor. Last week the men repaired indoor and outdoor games, repaired a floor under a toilet, cleaned gutters (20’ up), and helped make the shop a bit more efficient, while the women did camp laundry, washed dishes, prepped meals for 150+ campers, washed windows and sanitized doorknobs, handrails and other common use surfaces. We will continue to help this week so the camp can provide a home for the bikers who are seeking to reach the lost for Christ. 🤠 🤗
This week’s Blessings, Prayer Requests, and Schedule are here.
One Response
Did not know Cedar Canyon Camp served this event. How awesome.