By Shayne Vincent – Casper, Wyoming … Consider it joy, said Shayne Vincent, pastor of the Casper, Wyoming District. All too often, reports focus only on the usual church life topics. “This time, church life went on a summer excitement on the road. It was worth reporting, he commented.
The Casper Church and their minister formed a club, Wyoming SDA Rock Hounds, and put their sights on going to “The Rubicon,” a world renowned 12 miles of off-roading in Northern California. Joining the trip were enthusiasts from Gillette.
A group of 17 made the long haul to spend three long days of adrenaline-pumping rock crawling. Known to many in the Rocky Mountain Conference, Steve Hamilton, former RMC youth director, who, as many will recall, moved to California just days before the infamous Paradise fire, met them there. A veteran of the trail, Steve has gone there since he was a child. He brought his rock crawler rigs, his family, and some friends to join them on the adventure.
Out of nine rigs brought on the trail, six broke down and were repaired or limped through the trail. “It was great fun for all,” Shayne reported after returning home to Casper. “It [the trip] included beautiful sunshine and mountains, worships and friendships, endless obstacles, and pleasant lakeside retreats.”
During the adventure, Steve shared his testimony of how God worked to change his life on The Rubicon, just feet from where the group was seated. He shared “how God has used my own gifts of off-roading to reach many youth for Jesus. We should use our own interests and hobbies to reach others for Christ.”
Pastor Shayne added, that “it was absolutely terrifying fun! I was constantly wondering if I was going to be thrown or crushed by the jeep! But once I got off the trail and had a good nights’ sleep, I woke up the next morning and thought… that was amazing!”
–Report by Shayne Vincent, lead pastor of Casper, Wyoming District; photos by Shayne Vincent
