For people from Selma to stand under the shadow of Mount Rushmore is a powerful experience and makes people proud to be an American. This was the experience of several of our local citizens who attended the Sturgis Black Hills Motorcycle Rally in August.

There is a definite change in scenery approaching the badlands of South Dakota. The topography is flatter in Iowa, but coming into South Dakota the land starts becoming more contrasting. The different colors of rock in the badlands give rise to the granite peaks of the Black Hills. After being in a bus for 30 hours, it is a relief to see the mountains. They’re not like the Smokies, but are unlike anything we have in our part of the country.

These are the thoughts of several of our citizens as they drove through South Dakota to participate in Sturgis Bike Week. 2010 was the 70th anniversary of the largest motorcycle rally in the nation and an estimated 410,000 people attended this event, many from around the world. The group from Selma was able to interact with people from as far away as Australia.

The four members of Living Waters Worship Center who rode the 1,500 miles there were not going for the usual reasons for traveling to Sturgis, but were part of a Christian outreach team from Alabama and Florida. They were based in Hill City, S.D., working with The Lighthouse Assembly of God church and National Wheels of Faith President Scott Bush. Scott has been attending the rally for many years and invites a team of people to go each year to share the message of God’s love to those who stop by the tent on the street in Hill City.

This year, Living Waters Pastor Wayne Craft, along with his wife, Marlene, and members Bruce Hatch and Danielle Brewer, joined with nine other people from Prattville, Montgomery and Orlando, Fla. to take the Gospel outside the church walls and into another cultural environment. As a result of their efforts, they had the privilege to pray with 305 people from all over the world.

It wasn’t all work as the team had the chance to see some of the sights that most in our part of the country never get to see. Some of the team went to Devil’s Tower in Wyoming, others taking a day trip into the city of Sturgis, while our local people took their day off to spend time at Mount Rushmore and the city of Custer. Words are inadequate to describe the beauty of the Black Hills as well as the sound of thousands of motorcycles roaring on the streets from morning till early evening.

Pastor Craft attended the rally last year and was excited to return this year.

“Having my wife go with me was the highlight of this year’s trip. It was a lot of driving (about 36 hours each way), but worth the results of being able to share the message of Jesus with people. Having some of our church members with me was a big boost also,” Craft said.

Wheels of Faith is a Christian ministry to provide a chance for motorcycle riders to enjoy fellowship, grow in their relationship with Christ, as well as share God’s love with others, such as at Sturgis. Living Waters Worship Center has a Wheels of Faith chapter and welcomes any biker to join them for monthly rides. Also, all bikers are invited to meet at Zaxby’s on Thursday nights for “Bike Night” at 6 p.m. For more information you can call the church or go to www.livingwatersselma.com.