Not your average Minister.

That is how Victor “Diesel” Link describes himself. “I have long hair, tattoos and ride a Harley,” he said.

As the minister for the Cross Winds of Kansas Biker Church, he actually fits in a bit more than he may at other churches.

He started the church about 10 years ago, meeting once a month at Veteran’s Park. In the winter months, Loren Unruh would open up a room next to the swimming pool at the Best Western for them to meet.

Eventually, the church made its way to Hoisington in 2018 where they began meeting every Sunday. Now they operate in downtown Great Bend on Main Street.

“We are the only Biker Church in the area,” Link said. “Salina is the closest one.”

Things changed for Link in 2000.

“I was drunk and on drugs,” Link said. “In 2000 God saved me. I gave my life to the Lord. I haven’t drank in 26 years and haven’t done drugs in 30 years.”

But it was in 2016 he said he was called to do ministry.

“I was in church and during the sermon I was on my phone texting my cousin who had lost his baby,” Link said “I was telling him things would be all right. The minister started walking toward me. My wife told me he was coming to us.

“I thought I was in trouble. I handed him my phone. He told me ‘God told me to tell you to do what you are thinking.’

“That is when I knew it was time to start this church.”

So Link began his ministry with $100. He was officially ordained in 2019.

“It was all based on faith,” Link said.

Link works full-time for the City of Great Bend. In fact, when you hear the mosquito fogger driving around town on Mondays and Thursdays during the summer, chances are Link is driving.

But on Sunday and several nights a week, he devotes himself to the Cross Winds Church.

“We went from 10 people to 40,” Link said. “Then to 60 and 80. During the summer months we usually have about 40 people but we often get 60-80 people at our service.”

Link also makes his way to the Larned Correctional Facility the first and third Thursday evening of each month.

Cross Winds Church is officially a part of the International Church of Foursquare Gospel, often just called the Foursquare Church. That is a branch of the Evangelical Pentecostal Christian denomination.

But their motto is “come as you are.”

“If you are stoned or drunk, you are still welcome,” Link said. “We have had people come in like that and we will feed them and give them coffee. We try to have them stay for our Bible study and they often do. But if they don’t, that’s okay.”

Link was raised in Pawnee Rock and graduated from Macksville High School in 1986.

After starting out once a month, Link was informed of the opening of a church in Hoisington by a member of the Salina Bikers for Christ Church.

The building was the Living Joy Community Church. Cross Winds started there in 2018 and remained there until 2023.

That is when David Leroy retired as the minister of the Foursquare Church in Great Bend at the Main Street address.

“When David retired, he asked me to take it over,” Link said.

“We are trying to keep growing,” Link said. “We are trying to add to the church. We are working to get a youth center going but it takes a lot of work.”

His wife Yvonne helps him in his ministry.

“She does the kitchen work, is my secretary and basically does everything for me,” Link said. “She does the bills and financing. She is probably more a part of the church than I am.”

Link began in the Christian Ministries Association (also known as the Christian Motorcycle Association) and the Bikers for Christ. The two largest, most well-known national motorcycle faith outreach organizations. That was in 2000 after he became sober and devoted his life to the Lord.

“I used to drive for the CMA and went to Bikers for Christ,” Link said “But the Lord pulled from there and put me here. I reach out to anyone and everyone. That is my motto. Help anyone and everyone.”