Biker ministry - what a trip!
We are in full-time biker ministry, missionaries to America's 8 million bikers.
The Photo is my husband with an arm around a biker's shoulder at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, Run For The Wall 2011.
The gentleman rode his motorcycle across country with Run For The Wall, arrived at the wall to get rubbings of the names on the wall of friends he personally lost in that war.
My husband was at his side to complete this mission.
The names on the wall are ordered by the date they were Killed in Action.
On one given day, represented by ONE PANEL ON THE WALL this gentleman had several names to memorialize. It was very difficult for him. When they completed this task they knelt in front of the wall and had a quiet prayer. So incredibly emotional.
As they knelt, other riders joined them in a mini-huddle to protect the man from the observing hoards of tourists passing by; circling and joining in prayer.
We're convinced he received the beginning of healing that day.
We travel the USA, Canada and Mexico,
and meet some of the greatest people who have like interests.
RIDING MOTORCYCLES
Some of the people who cross our path:
A BROKEN MAN
A man who "watched" us minister to bikers at an annual bike rally, as we served free coffee to the riders and talked with them under a canopy. At a very low point in his life he approached us with some tough questions, we were able to give comfort and encouragement. Later we were personally invited to an event where he is in leadership - helping other bikers in the same fashion, serving God as a result of our being available.
You can sign up for a periodic newsletter: Go to our web page and leave your name and email - bottom right.
Surrounded by support - gathering names at THE WALL.
Missionaries? Why motorcycles, why the USA, why not Africa!
We get so many questions, but our journey answers them.
When my husband was pastor of a great church in Indiana, we took off on his motorcycle on Saturdays, to clear our heads and prepare for Sundays.
Arrive on a Motorcycle - Start a Conversation
AN EXCELLENT VEHICLE TO START A CONVERSATION
We would pull into a parking spot and find people standing over us gawking at our bike, and asking questions. We found this to be an excellent "vehicle" to start conversations about who we were and what our life purpose was.
After a serious motorcycle accident in 1997, we were on the same motorcycle - struck by a vehicle in an intersection, we had lots of physical recovery time to review our "purpose." After a few years of re-establishing our ministry and getting back on our feet, literally, we nearly simultaneously felt the urge to roll our ministry experience onto a new avenue.
I seriously wanted to try riding my own bike, but didn't know the least about riding, and already had my eye on a specific bike, so I took the beginner's rider course on Father's Day 1999. The day after I graduated, we went to the dealership and bought my bike. 120,000 miles later, I've never regretted the decision.
We ride two motorcycles across this amazing country, meeting people at rallies, bike shows, races, and biker Sundays meeting people who have needs ... and encouraging people who are also in ministry.
I'd love to answer your questions about this ministry, and invite you to get to know me through the many topics I've posted here.
The storms of life - I think that's why we ride to events to minister to bikers.
Run For The Wall
a motorcycle ride from California to Washington D.C.
A CONVERSATION WITH A VETERAN
At an event several years ago, after riding with us for several miles, a man stepped up to my bike and said,
"Oh, now I get it, this is your parish," as he waved his arm over the sea of bikers arriving, parking their bikes.
Looking back over the years, we can name several individuals who have come to a life-changing faith in Christ, a turning point in their lives, as a result of this ministry.
A HUSBAND AND A DADDY
at a Biker Sunday
... then his sister
Included in the list is a young man who showed up at a church scheduled "Biker Sunday" because his wife challenged him to come ... he now helps with the biker ministries in his area. His sister, caught up in the lifestyle called on us several years later,
"I want the people who prayed with my brother to come and pray with me."
AN ABSENT DADDY
... a canopy, a sleeping bag and a letter
AN ABSENT DADDY
I could go on and on with stories. One man who arrived at a rally with only a sleeping bag and some snacks asked permission to use our canopy for shade to sleep in the daytime. During these events we are very busy in the daytime, serving coffee, ice water and talking with people, so we made it clear it wouldn't be a very quiet place to rest. He said he was working security at night so he would be very tired, and explained it was his only means of income to hit these events and make enough money to move on to the next one.
He Wasn't Really Sleeping - He Was Listening
While he slept we handed out Bibles, answered spiritual questions of the riders, and continually emphasized that we do not take money from people we give free coffee to, because then it wouldn't be free. When it was time for everyone to pack up and leave, the sleeping bag was rolled up and returned to his bike, when he came over to me and said, "Could I show you something I received in the mail before I came?"
He said, "Do you think my daughter wants me in her life after all these years?"
He handed me the letter.
I agreed to read it. It was a letter from an 18 year old girl, it read something like this:
"Daddy, I found Jesus, I hope you do too. I forgive you for leaving Mom when I was 7. I want to get to know you. Please write or call."
I looked up from the letter, he said,
"Do you think I my daughter wants me in her life after all these years?"
As I handed him the letter, I said, "Yes, this is an invitation."
He said, "Before I came here, I didn't know what she was talking about in the letter, 'finding Jesus' but being under your canopy has explained a lot." When he rolled away on his bike, I glanced over and saw a $20.00 bill on our table.
We don't take donations - and wasn't he earning enough money just to get to the next event? God takes care of our needs and helps us give unconditionally to others. We are blessed.
HOPE - Anyone who is running needs HOPE!!
There is still a stigma attached to motorcycle riders. They are really like you and me, have lives, families, friends, jobs, hopes, dreams, failures, etc. But one thing we've noticed in these free-spirited individuals is that they are seeking. Whether it is an adventure, opportunity, unanswered questions, a personal challenge, a healing ... we want to extend one thing ... HOPE.
What are your thoughts on wearing a helmet?
Do you wear a helmet?
Frequently Asked Questions - Yep, our FAQ's
I'll be posting FAQs we get as we travel this great nation:
Q. #1 What do you do when it rains (while you're riding)?
A. "We get wet." Seriously, no rain gear keeps you totally dry, but some keeps you relatively warm and sort of comfortable until you can find a place to pull off the road. We certainly change into rain gear if the weatherman has said rain is coming or if we read the skies appropriately.
Q. #2 What is your favorite bike?
A. I used to ride a Harley, but I traded it in for a Yamaha sport touring bike. We do so many miles long haul, and I needed comfort, reliability and something that would get a lot of miles. I put 80,000 miles on my Harley in 8 years 40,000 on my Yamaha in 3 years, the Harley was my first bike.
Q. #3 How many miles have you done in one day.
A. Well we average about 400-450 when we're getting from one location to another in a hurry, but the hubby has done over 800 in one day, and I've done 650 in one day (once, not planned, just got to close to home to overnight anywhere.
Q. #4 Don't you get stiff and sore from riding?
A. Not really, we stop and stretch and get more fuel about every 120 miles, depending on the speed limit, that can be under two hours between stops.
Q. #5 How much was fuel when you started riding?
A. The day I bought my first bike June 22, 1999, fuel was $1.09 in the Midwest. Last weekend in CA, we paid $4.47/gallon
Without Hope?
Our mission is to give hope to people who are certain their actions or decisions have already condemned them.
Because this picture says it all. - The banner we've used for 12 years serving coffee at bike rallies.
You see your bikes, early morning campers seeking coffee, and the camaraderie FREE COFFEE brings.
HonorBound Motorcycle Ministry - ... we founded this ministry 01/01/2000
On December 31, 1999, we were in a church service in Brownsville, Florida, celebrating the end of a decade, and century, and a traditional pulpit ministry. My husband had been the pastor at a church in Southern Indiana for 15 years, we also had a church in the Florida Keys before that, and were Youth and Children Pastor in central Florida for a season. So, after 20 years of ministry inside the church building, we got on our two motorcycles and started the process of building a financial support base across the Nation to fund a full-time motorcycle ministry.
We have traveled to nearly every state, and have individuals and churches in 21 states that financially support us. Additionally we have churches who have us come in and speak annually during major motorcycle events in their area.
One of our FAQs is:
Do you ever make Sturgis Bike Week?
Yes, every year - this will be our 11th. We set up at Vanocker Canyon Campground and give out free ice water and free coffee to the riders who camp there.
Want to do Sturgis on the CHEAP?
FREE - Free Coffee at Sturgis Free Bike Wash in Daytona
We do a lot of one on one ministry to bikers. We set the scene before bikers arrive and have hot coffee ready in the mornings at campgrounds, and set up a free bike wash in Daytona during Bike Week and Biketoberfest. We only participate when it is possible now in Daytona, it's hard to fit it into our schedule twice a year but were instrumental in setting up the first Free Bike Wash on Ridgewood Ave in South Daytona.
Now this is a huge HONOR - ... in 2000 we established a Motorcycle Ministry
We were the only two people wearing this patch. After traveling the USA, meeting Christians who ride and Pastors who have motorcycles, we began making this patch and one-on-one distributing them to people who were ministering to motorcyclists, biker, in their area. A few years back HonorBound Motorcycle Ministry became an official ministry of the Assemblies of God. People in many states across the country wear the patch and minister to riders in their communities.
Last year on Run For The Wall we pulled in with the pack at Frankfort, KY Vietnam Memorial, as we dismounted our bikes we were handed cold bottles of water by ...
men wearing the HonorBound MM patch.
Another Ministry Tool - A penny goes a long way!
My husband was handed several of these pennies a few years back and since then we've been ordering them from the source. He uses them in a very unique way which I have highlighted on this lens.
Here's an article about the PENNIES
If you have a question for us, post it here, and I'll add the question and the response to the above FAQ section.