Motorcyclists planning unconventional worship

AIKEN --- Wayne Cheselka has been riding motorcycles his whole life.

"I ride my bike almost seven days a week, unless it's pouring down rain," he said.

He used to ride for himself, but now the 51-year-old Aiken resident rides his Harley Road King for Christ.

This Sunday, he'll join more than 500 bikers expected for the fourth annual Biker Sunday, an outreach of the Midland Valley First Church of the Nazarene and Driven by the Spirit Motorcycle Ministry.

"It's a different way to worship," said Mr. Cheselka, the director of Driven by the Spirit and a local pastor.

Biker Sunday was the brainchild of Mr. Cheselka and Scott Ostendorf, who was pastor of the Midland Valley church before he died of cancer in 2006.

"He loved bikers, and he loved to ride motorcycles," Mr. Cheselka said. "He wanted a way to reach out to the biker community to introduce them to Jesus and also to let them know that there was someplace, a church, that would accept people for who they were no matter what."

Mr. Cheselka said those in the biker community are usually viewed in a negative light.

He said he "was one of those bikers who thought I would never be welcomed to a church." But that changed five years ago when he felt a call from God to change his lifestyle, he said.

"I used to be a part of a non-Christian motorcycle group," he said. "I swapped out my colors for a Christian flag on my back, and I have been passionate for motorcycle ministry ever since."

Some of those in Driven by the Spirit Ministry and the Midland Valley church became members over the course of the past three Biker Sundays once they realized they were welcome.

"They made life-changing decisions," Mr. Cheselka said.

Registration will take place from 8 to 10 a.m. Sunday at the church on U.S. Highway 1 in Clearwater. After that, the bikers will take a police escort down U.S. 1 to the gymnasium at Aiken Technical College, where the church service will take place.

Last year's event drew about 1,000 people. More than 500 were bikers, and the rest were from the community and the congregation.

After the service and a catered lunch, the bikers will get another police escort back to the church, Mr. Cheselka said.

"You'll see a wide cross section of cultures," he said. "It's wonderful to see churched and unchurched people coming together for a day like that."

Reach Michelle Guffey at (803) 648-1395, ext. 110, or michelle.guffey@augustachronicle.com.