Jesus would ride a Harley…or at least a chopper.  Maybe even a Goldwing…in a pinch…if nothing else was available!

It’s exciting to hear the sound and watch 10 to 15 motorcycles pull into the gym on a Thursday night to be a part of Bikers’ Church.  I marvel at the different types and conditions these bikes are in.  From custom choppers to “rat bikes”, there are all kinds coming together in one place for one thing…Jesus.  And the people?  They’re in all kinds of conditions as well.  The common thread?  Love and acceptance, just the way they are.

What about the bikes?  They’re part of our lifestyle and more importantly, they are evangelistic tools.  And riding your bike into the church?  That’s a tool as well.  We’ve had people who came to check us out just to see if they could really ride into the church!  Yep, if that’s what it takes (along with coffee and pork rinds) to get you into church…

Truth is truth.  The message does not change.  Using our creative resources to share that message of truth is what Bikers’ Church strives for.  Understanding and building relationships with the people God has given us takes time.  It also takes going to places and being with people that are “not-yet” Christians or Christian-like.  

There is a special prayer I pray before ever going to any of the biker events, invitations to their clubhouse, swap meets or just meeting a fellow biker out on the road.  I ask God to allow me to see them as He sees them…through His eyes, not mine.  God honors that request, without fail, at each meeting of a fellow biker.  Seeing what the potential of each person prior to speaking with them really helps form the conversation.  It develops trust.  When the trust grows stronger, they’ll listen longer.

Bikers’ Church is filled with people who love people, love to ride, love to do things a little different (mavericks, I guess) and love Jesus.  Do you have to have a bike to come to Bikers’ Church?  Nope.  We have lots of folks that feel they fit in better in the Bikers’ Church atmosphere.  Many have found where they belong and want to become more involved.  That’s cool.

And the stories…everything from biker funerals to biker weddings…it is never a dull moment.  It has been wonderful to be part of God’s plan in many folk’s lives.  One Sunday, a young boy saw the Bikers’ Church team get sent at the 11:30 AM service.  He thought it would be great to ride his “Pocket Rocket” (a smaller version of a street bike made especially for youngsters) to Bikers’ Church.  He wanted his dad to take him and come to church with him.  His dad came and connected with us and felt that he found a place to belong.  The whole family has been consistently coming and becoming active with Bikers’ Church.  And it all started with a young boy and his scooter.

Lives are changed.  Doors are opened.  We will see miracles.

It is a miracle that Karen and I are doing Bikers’ Church.  We did go to church but were just pew warmers, not saved, not doing much other than occasionally going to Sunday church.  We were looking for more.  There had to be more.  Being a later-in-life Christian, we were “born and raised” here at Mount Hope Church and grew under the teaching and guiding of Pastor Dave.  Easter Sunday, 1996, was our first visit to Mount Hope Church.  The moment we shook hands with the greeters, we knew we were “home.”   

Being in business for more than 20 years, I really didn’t think I would be doing anything else.  But God had other plans.  It was November 10, 1996 when Dick Mills came to Mount Hope Church.  The night before, Karen and I had the ugliest argument in our entire marriage.  We didn’t think we would be going to church because of it.  However, we made a commitment to go to church, no matter what.  We didn’t like it, but we went…mad all the way.  

We did not know that Dick Mills was going to be at Mount Hope Church.  We had no idea who he was or what he did…never heard of a prophet before.  When Pastor Dave began to choose people out of the congregation for Dick Mills to give a word to…I knew somehow that Karen and I would get called on.  Out of the thousands of people present on that day, what are the chances that us two would get singled out?  Just like a school kid that didn’t know the answer and tried to hide from getting called on, I squirmed in my seat.  Then it happened…lightning struck!  Pastor Dave called us up for “A Word for You from Dick Mills.” 

My first thought…run!  No, we were seated in the only place left (since we arrived late)…was right up front.  No place to go, besides, YOU try to run from God or Pastor Dave!  “You can run, but you can’t hide…”

My second thought…Dick Mills hears from God AND he is going to tell everybody the unkind things I said to my wife!  Run!  Oh, that was my first thought and not a very good one at that.  Can’t do that.

My third thought…get up, shut-up and suck it up!  Just take it like a man…then get out of there!

It wasn’t like that at all.  When God speaks into your life, it changes you.  It has to.  It is also the last comfortable day in your life.  You have to do something with it.  Nurture it, let it grow or run from it and let it die.

God knew that Bikers’ Church needed to be a part of my life.  I didn’t know.  God did.  At the time what I did know was that if I didn’t take the “God chance” I would be living in regret.  That is not a place to live…the land of “shouldhaves.”                                                                                               
Bikers’ Church was in the future.  I needed to be trained.  There was testing as well.  At the right time (God’s time), He allowed the doors to open and favor to come for Bikers’ Church to begin.  It has been 9 years in the making.  Karen, Melissa (my daughter) and I have joined together to do what God has asked us to do.  We have put God into the middle our family and He has guided us through all kinds of excitement.  Watching how each of us is being used in different ways is energizing.  We all are doing things now we never thought we would be doing.  This, in my eyes, can only get better and better.  The more we are available, God will use us.

 
What does the near future hold for Bikers’ Church?  I see the day when there will be 300 bikers and bikes coming in for service.  I see a church building that will be large enough to handle 300 bikes inside with areas for recreation, fellowship and wrenching (hanging out and working on bikes).  I see a church people that minister to un-churched bikers with a contagious passion.  I see the thousands of bikers that regularly go “Bike Blessings” finally realize that there is more to this life and accept Jesus Christ and want to get plugged in to Bikers’ Church.  I see opportunities open up in ways and areas that no one thought possible.  I see Bikers’ Church as part of the 30,200 Pastor Dave sees for Mount Hope Church.  I see biker ministries springing up at every Mount Hope SENT Church.  I see signs, wonders and miracles happen right before our eyes that no one can deny that Jesus is in charge.  I see a broken, hurting group of outcasts that realize Jesus would ride a Harley because he loves them too.

I see many others (like you) who decide that the time on this earth is precious and not to be wasted.  I encourage you to have the courage to step out and let God grab hold of your life.  Let Him twist it, crunch it, restructure it, bless it and then use it.  Maybe He just might ask you to jump on a Hog and go for a wild ride…from Hell to Paradise!  

                                                                
“On the next Thursday night, all these bikers on their Hogs rode into the church to hear the Word of God!”   Acts 13:44 ~ BCV (Bikers’ Church Version) - Very Paraphrased.