AMERICAN BAPTIST REGIONS OF THE DAKOTAS AND NEBRASKA
JOIN IN EMERGENCY MINISTRY AT ANNUAL MOTORCYCLE RALLY
by Fran Homer, National Ministries

The American Baptist Churches of the Dakotas and the American Baptist Churches of Nebraska have joined forces to provide emergency assistance during the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in the Black Hills of South Dakota from Aug. 4-12. Tens of thousands of riders are expected to participate from across the country.

The ABC Emergency Services Center, set up in the building of First Baptist Church of the Northern Hills in Deadwood, S.D., offers a "24 Hour Oasis" with free water and coffee, help in reuniting separated groups, crisis counseling and emergency long-distance calls/faxes. And a "Good Samaritan" list is being developed of those who will have room on a homebound truck or trailer for disabled bikes and injured bikers.

American Baptists from both regions are volunteering to distribute flyers and staff the center, which was cooperatively planned by the evangelism departments of the regions. On-site coordinators are the Rev. Pat McBride, pastor of the Deadwood church, and the Rev. Steve Bils, associate pastor of First Baptist Church in Omaha, Neb.

"Our witness is already there," said Dr. Riley Walker, executive minister of the American Baptist Churches of the Dakotas. "The community sees this church as a care-giving agency. So when the emergency assistance idea was presented they didn't have to invent something new. It's a great ministry!"

Susan Gillies, executive minister of the American Baptist Churches of Nebraska, agrees: "It has been a wonderful experience to partner with the Dakotas in this unique ministry opportunity. Our prayers are with all the volunteers who are keeping the center open 24 hours a day, offering assistance in the name of Jesus Christ."

Police and fire personnel have helped distribute flyers and posters to show their support of the church involvement. All literature and banners state that the emergency assistance is a joint project of the American Baptist Churches of Nebraska and the Dakotas.

Dr. Jeffrey Johnson, National Ministries' director of Evangelism, sees the cooperation between regions and congregations as NEW LIFE 2010 in action: "The Emergency Services Center is an example of tangible evangelism that addresses specific needs at an event of this magnitude. With a true caring ministry of both words and works, American Baptists are introducing people to Jesus. It proves once again that we can do together what we could not succeed in doing separately."

NEW LIFE 2010 is the American Baptist vision to reach 1,000,010 new disciples, plant 1,010 new churches, reach out in a multitude of caring ministries, and transform our congregations by the year 2010.