MOULTRIE — When radio station 95.3 FM “The Hook – South Georgia’s Positive Hit Music” held auditions to form a band in December, several people showed up to try out. Eight guys from all over the South Georgia area were hand-picked by the station to form the band.

One of the members, singer Todd Trebony from Moultrie, came up with a name for the band after being inspired by 2 Kings 2:11, describing the prophet Elijah’s ascent into heaven on a chariot. Since forming and coming up with the name in January, Elijah Ride has been on an amazing ride themselves.

Trebony said the band has been really blessed by how far they have come in such a short time. While most bands fold in as little as two years and can take up to six years to go anywhere, Elijah Ride is in the process of releasing its first CD.

The group plans to hold a CD release party on Jan. 15, the one year anniversary of Elijah Ride’s first practice, Trebony said. A location has not yet been established, but the band is considering holding the CD release at a local civic center, with the Valdosta or Albany civic centers as a possible location.

Even though Elijah Ride was formed by bringing together eight total strangers, Trebony said the members have all become more like brothers than bandmates. Each of the guys would like to use the band as a ministry for Jesus Christ and wants to be a good example to the youth in South Georgia.

Elijah Ride is made up of guys from Valdosta, Moultrie, Leesburg, Bainbridge, Ashburn and Douglas, Trebony said. They range in age from 19 to 35 years old, and all but one member holds an outside job in addition to performing with the band. Each member is a member or leader of a praise band at their local church, too.

Trebony said 95.3 FM “The Hook” has been really supportive of Elijah Ride, allowing them to perform small regional shows and large festivals and to open for major Christian artists. The band has opened for Point of Grace and Rachael Lampa at Toccoa Fest in Toccoa in August and for Audio Adrenaline at 4 Nights in October in Peachtree City earlier this month. They were also able to play a show at Six Flags over Georgia in Atlanta on Oct. 1.

The radio station has also been playing two of Elijah Ride’s songs, “Here I Am” and “Levitate,” in regular rotation, Trebony said.

Elijah Ride’s next two shows will be the Sweet Potato Festival in Ocilla at 7 p.m. Saturday then Nov. 6 at Wild Adventures in Valdosta, Trebony said. The Wild Adventures show, part of “Hook Day” at Wild Adventures, will take place sometime that afternoon. Christian artists Sarah Kelley, Trevor Morgan and Jars of Clay will also be performing at Wild Adventures that day.

Elijah Ride will not be unable to play on the Wild Adventures main stage because it currently does not have a record deal, Trebony said. The band will, however, play its show on a side stage being set up for the performance.

Trebony said Elijah Ride was formed as more of a ministry for Christ than to have music stardom. He said the future of Elijah Ride depends on where God is leading them as a band. The most important thing for Trebony is to make sure he is in God’s will for his life.

“I’m just going along for the ride God has for me,” Trebony said. “I’m willing to do whatever the Lord wants me to do.”