ASSIST News Service (ANS) - PO Box 2126, Garden Grove, CA 92842-2126 USA
E-mail: assistcomm@cs.com, Web Site: www.assistnews.net


Tuesday, March 18, 2003

JESUS LOVES BIKERS, TOO!
Bike-Washing Ministry Reaches Out To Sturgis Rally Bikers

By Michael Ireland
Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service

MINNEAPOLIS, MN  (ANS) -- Michael Bushilla grew up in Montana in a family of 8 kids -- 5 boys and 3 girls. The boys were wild at heart and very rambunctious, and street bikes and motocross motorcycles were very much a part of his growing up. (Pictured: Michael Bushilla and his wife Paula).

"I would say my first experiences began around the ages of 12-13. However, I shelved the idea of having or riding a motorcycle as an adult, until I went through a divorce in 1993,” said Bushilla, who with Stephan Roufs, Brian McCormick, and Mary Beth Engst, runs a unique “bike-washing” ministry to other bikers.

In 1995, Bushilla made his first trip to Sturgis, South Dakota on a Harley Davidson.

“Being bikers at heart, my wife and I went there to experience the largest biker party in the world. We were flying the CMA colors (Christian Motorcyclist Association) at the time. However, we are no longer flying any particular association or club colors because we feel it is would be better to be independent, so we don’t risk alienating anyone that might be coming to the wash. We are simply servants of Jesus Christ. Clubs and associations are good however, but they are kinda like denominations,” Bushilla told ASSIST News Service (ANS). (Pictured: Bike wash at Sturgis).
“Being a Christian, I felt out of sync with what was taking place in Sturgis. But God had me there for that very purpose -- to see the Devil’s workshop close up. You have the sense of being right at the very gates of hell -- open nudity, drunkenness and a generally wild party atmosphere. I felt that this was not the place for me. Coming home from that trip however I was given this huge burden to reach this disenchanted group of people whom He loves, and died for. But I wasn’t quite sure how to do that,” said Bushilla.

There were already a few ministers in Sturgis, Christian bikers with the same burden given to Bushilla, “as well as a good number of Christian biker groups ministering there in Sturgis. So I wondered what more could I really do?" he said.

“When I returned home I heard a taped sermon from a Sunday I missed at my church. The sermon was by Steve Sjogren, a pastor from Ohio who wrote the book ‘A Conspiracy of Kindness.’ He explained how he and his congregation go about each weekend washing windshields, washing cars, wrapping presents at Christmas time, etc., for free. The concept hit home with me and the idea took shape. God was telling me to go to Sturgis to start a bike wash. No money is to be taken and the service was to be absolutely FREE. No Donations, No Catch, No Kidding." (Pictured: Some of the bikers at the Sturgis rally).
What is unique about ministering to other bikers?

“We have this idea of being in the same situation as anyone else with the same disease (sin). Condemnation and judgementalism is what they are used to, so when we use ‘Extreme kindness’ it catches people off guard and that's what this group of people doesn’t understand. These people are usually society outcasts, beaten down by the government, usually ex-GI's from the Vietnam era. They don't fit into your usual society gatherings and church services. They find their family in the brotherhood of the MC (Motor Cycle Club) and other bikers, who have the same idea of freedom and the open road. They also have a common love of motorcycles.

However in the past eight years of doing this ministry Bushilla has noticed a much younger group of people coming into Sturgis for the annual biker rally.

“They are outcasts as well and disillusioned by our society. Extreme kindness works well with them too. The kindness reaches deeper than words can and it helps us to bridge to their heart where they live. Using the law is important to bring people into conviction, by the Holy Spirit and we get there, but at first we accept them just as they are right where they are. With kindness you can reach into a man or woman’s soul where they hurt really fast. Sturgis is a place where vendors/retailers are there to make a buck off of you, so I think that our bike wash is kind of a surprise, a breath of fresh air.” (Pictured: The Jesus Loves Bikers tent at Sturgis).

How do most bikers respond when Bushilla offers to wash their bike and pray for them?

“They are blown away and really can't believe it. They look for a catch or want to give a donation or something. They are touched very deeply that someone actually really does love them and would do this for them. It's a simple act, really simple: we wash their bikes for free and pray for safety and what ever they ask us to pray for. Period.

“I have had very little opposition doing this for people. In the 7 years of doing this I have found that Christians sadly enough put up the biggest resentment and resistance. It must be a pride thing, I don't know,” Bushilla said.

Bushilla said he and his biker friends do leave their fellow bikers with an ‘explanation card’ they give to the bikers who ask why they are doing this.

There are 750,000 - 900,000 people/bikers who come to Sturgis each year for the Biker Party, Bushilla said.

“We have ministered to people from all 50 states and approximately 15 different countries. We are reaching the entire world for Jesus right in the very heart of America -- the Black Hills. Everything we offer is free and no charge including lemonade, books that are donated, Gospel tracts, T-shirts, CD's, cassettes, etc. Christian publishing houses and Christian music companies donate everything we take out there. This ministry is primarily a ‘seed’ ministry and we usually don't know what God will do with the seed that has been sown.

Bushilla added: “We are going to the 100th Harley Davidson celebration in Milwaukee, WI, in August. Otherwise the future plans are really in God’s hands. We will go where He sends us and makes a way for us.”

Michael and his team would value the prayers of Christians who feel lead to pray for their outreach in Sturgis, August 1 - 8, and again at the Harley Davidson anniversary rally in Milwaukee over Labor Day.

Michael Bushilla may be contacted at: freebikewash@sturgis.com or you may call him toll free at: 1-888-211-6106, or locally in the Twin Cities at: (651) 459-4363.

(Michael Bushilla is the owner of MGB Printing Services, Inc. in Cottage Grove, Minnesota. He and his wife, Paula, are Covenant Partners at Woodland Hills Church in St. Paul, MN.)
** Michael Ireland is an international British freelance journalist. A former reporter with a London newspaper, Michael is the Chief Correspondent for ASSIST News Service of Garden Grove, CA. Michael immigrated to the United States in 1982 and became a US citizen in Sept., 1995. He is married with two children. Michael has also been a frequent contributor to UCB Europe, a British Christian radio station.
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