It is one of the most highly anticipated weeks for Myrtle Beach. Thousands of people, and just as many motorcycles, flood into the city each year for Bike Week, a week designated at the end of May for enthusiasts to take on the oceanfront roads.
Volunteers from Waccamaw Baptist Association share their faith during Bike Week.Over the past four years, Waccamaw Baptist Association has partnered with ministries specifically for bikers to provide free meals to attendees. But after only marginal impact, the association decided to retool its ministry strategy for this year.
Set up at a gas station near the popular Springmaid Resort, the association provided $10 in free gasoline to any bikers in exchange for three minutes of their time to share the gospel message.
“We explained to them that this gas has been purchased on their behalf, just like the gift of salvation. It cannot be bought again, but it is a free gift; they just have to accept it,” said Todd Wood, Waccamaw Association’s resort and community missionary.
And in a year where gas is at a premium, the response was unprecedented. More than 170 bikers accepted the Lord during the week.
“I stood amazed,” Wood said. “It was like offering candy to a child?-?.
“I thought, surely it can’t be this easy. Day after day for the next six days, they rolled in and we filled their tanks with gas and their hearts with the message of Christ.”
Volunteers gave each biker a gift bag with a DVD and Bible. Wood hopes those who did not make a faith decision that day will be stirred to watch the DVD or open the Bible at home.
Many churches contributed finances, and volunteers – including pastors, church staff and lay people – manned the gas pumps. Each day, volunteers prayed over the pumps and were trained on how to share their testimony in less than three minutes. The convention and the biker ministry Carolina Faith Riders also contributed to this year’s missions effort.
Wood says the association is now in the process of contacting each of the new believers and connecting them with churches in their hometowns, which span the United States.
Given the success of the Bike Week ministry, Wood is hoping more pastors and churches will join in the ministry next year for an even greater harvest. “Heaven must be rejoicing today.”
For more information on the Bike Week ministry, contact Waccamaw Baptist Association at (843) 248-9358.