Bike Blessing at Solid Rock Church - Worthington, MN

This is Pastor Mike from the Cities who actually rode his bike into Church. He believes that all people need to be addressed for being a Christian - even "biker dudes". He's been a Pastor for 27 years in the same Church. He has tattoos and certainly has a different way of preaching, but he was very good. He did an alter call and had about 9 or 10 people come up to be saved yesterday. It was a very emtional time to see that.

This is our "caravan" from Mt. Lake coming into Wrtgn - Brad and Sherri Bargen, Darryl and Karen Bargen, Phil and Karen Buhler, Kevin Ratzlaff, Travis Ratzlaff, Kevin Dick, Bruce Friesen and his daughter Alicia and I believe Uncle Ron is in here too. These are skid marks motorcycles have made in years past - literally riding their bikes into the sanctuary for the ceremony!
Here is Travis and Kevin Dick getting ready to ride the "victory ride" after their bikes have been blessed.
My dear friends, Duane and RandyKay Hooge who are CMA leaders - they were here (this was a CMA event) to help bless the bikes! There were 198 bikes here today (not all needed to be blessed). By the way, this is RandyKay's bike!!
This is the sticker they got when they got their bikes blessed.
Here is my friend Marjorie - this was at her church in Worthington.

This event was put together by the Solid rock Church and CMA (Christian Motorcycle Association). And that is why Duane and RandyKay Hooge were there along with so many other people that are involved with CMA - wanting to reach out to the people who ride bikes. They have had the "sons of silence" at some of their events just to show themselves there - they would be similar to Hells Angels I guess. Sons of Silence don't believe in God, and would go to these events as a protest of sorts, but I know Duane has said that they have been reaching out to those people as well. CMA is a great ministry, and this shows it here!

I told my brother, Kevin that anyone on the outside of this would think that a bike blessing is dumb, and would wonder "why in the world would they do something like that?!". But now, being in it, it makes perfect sense. Why wouldn't a person want their bike blessed?! If they love to be on their motorcycle, what better way to be "protected", than to have you and your bike blessed. Kevin told me that it was a very humbling experience to have someone pray for you and your bike.

The "sermon" was incredible I thought. Pastor Mike is radical, but very good. The boys and I went with my Dad to this (Martin was in Albert Lea helping his uncle put steps on his house and my Mom was working). The music was very loud, but meaningful, and they attracted all sorts of "biker people" which is exactly what their intentions are. It was a service/event that I will never forget. My dad said that he wasn't ready to go out and get a tattoo, but he thought Pastor Mike had a very good point in wanting to reach out to people. He is trying to reach out to the people that "normal Pastor's" aren't. He believes that no one is better than others, and I like that. I was very comfortable there, where as at some churches, a person feels like they need to act a certain way because you are in Church. I know even in our Church there are people there for show and that's terrible. I thought Pastor Mike was really good - I'd gladly hear him speak again.