Posts Tagged ‘Biker’
Church brings Jesus to bikers
April 22, 2011 | 
Author ‘RIDING for the son’ are a group of petrolheads who have combined religion with their passion for motorbikes.
The Bikers Church, Rixton, was formed in September last year and has grown from strength to strength attracting Christian bikers who ‘love motorbikes, but also love Jesus too’.
Colin Pownall, who performed biker pair Terry and Marion’s wedding ceremony, said: “We were introduced to the couple about six months ago after they wanted a dedication for their child at the church.
“I am just one of many at the church and it was a privilege to perform the service for Terry and Marion.”
The Bikers Church meets on Sunday evenings with around 80 to 90 people regularly attending as part of the Christian Motorcyclists’ Association.
Colin added: “We take the good news of Jesus to motorcyclists where ever they may be and set up the Bikers Church so we have got a place of our own to invite bikers back after shows and rallies.”
There are a number of churches for bikers in South Africa but when the bikers made Rixton Methodist Church, Chapel Lane, their home, it was the first one in England drawing in people from Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire.
Colin added: “We got a great reaction from the motorcycle community and have a fantastic working relationship with the methodist church that meets in the morning before us.
“They even helped decorate the church for the wedding.
“The Bikers Church meets the needs of motorcyclists and family and friends who would not feel comfortable in other churches dressed in their leathers or arriving on their motorbike with long hair and a beard.”
Source: Warrington Guardian
Full Story: http://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/news/whereilive/8971663.Church_brings_Jesus_to_bikers/
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Hope For The Road
Leather and Levis replace lace and the loathsome tie. Fellowship involves a hot meal before worship, not doughnuts and coffee afterward. Classic rock music warms up the crowd before the pastor takes the stage. No pulpit here.
The fellowship, worship and meal all take place every Thursday evening in a recreation center equipped with basketball hoops, a stage and a big-screen TV.
Welcome to Steel City Biker Church, where 40 to 70 people gather weekly to hear Pastor Curtis Hubbell relate stories from the road, or from his daily struggles and joys, to Scripture — and to trying to live the way Jesus encouraged his early followers to live.
As he moved back and forth across a stage where Pueblo Christian Center hosts concerts and other events, the bearded, hulking Hubbell during a recent service talked about how he loves to get on his bike and take off with no particular destination — and how infrequently that happens when he’s stressed or has too many obligations on his plate. And how stress impinges on his ability to enjoy the rare ride to nowhere in particular.
“Stress is necessary. It causes us to take action,” he told members of his congregation, seated around tables where they’d just finished a meal of roasted chicken, rice and salad.
Life requires balance
“But stress can take the fun out of happy times, too,” he said, alluding to how his wife’s expectations for perfection for a brief time interfered with the joy involved in planning their son’s upcoming wedding.
“As a guitar player, I know that with careful tuning — by applying just the right pressure with the right balance — beautiful music is possible. But put too much stress into it and a string can snap loose. The sound is muddy, or there’s no sound at all. You have to stop and restring the thing. The key is to find the perfect balance” — in music, on the road, and in life, he said.
“We can’t control the stress in our lives, but God’s word is full of help,” he added, before reading from Proverbs 17:13-22 and reminding his listeners that laughter is one of God’s cures for physical as well as spiritual fatigue.
From Luke 6:21, he shared the message that all those who hunger will be fed, and all who weep will once again laugh. But happiness comes from within, he said. Peace and security are rooted in the heart.
Southern Arizona “Ride for the Red” to benefit Red Cross
TUCSON, Ariz.
Dozens of bikers hopped on their Harleys Sunday, to show their softer sides. It was all about saving lives and having fun at the Fox 11 “Red Cross Ride for the Red” event.
The route started in midtown.
Bikers revved up their choppers, hogs, and Harleys to hit the open road. “That biker mentality just gets in your blood,” said Terry Jones from the Christian Motorcycle Association. Under that rough exterior is a soft side. The bikers are headed to Tombstone for Ride for the Red event.
“I think it’s a good way to support the community and the American Red Cross,” said Legion rider Steve “Chico” Aguirre. Money raised from the event goes towards disaster services and classes offering life saving skills. The thrill of the ride is enough to get these people on the highway.
Bikers of all kinds were represented Sunday. “Ride for Christ basically, that’s our ministry to be out with the biker community,” said Jones.”Veterans helping veterans that’s our thing. We do a lot of runs that support other veterans,” said Aguirre.
“We like to get out there and have fun just like the guys do,” said Tangie Cunningham. Many bikers say camaraderie for the cause is what makes this event unique.
“You know, riding with a group of people, it bumps it up a notch,” said Jeff Cedar.
A Red Cross employee went along for the ride Sunday, urging her biker buds to donate blood. “And it could be you, it could be for your kids, you never know who’s going to need it,” said Olivia Aguirre.
Tucked within every leather jacket is a big heart. Behind the skulls, a sensitivity. And a big passion for the pavement. This was the eighth year of the “Ride for the Red” event
Source: FOX11AZ
Full Story: http://www.fox11az.com/news/local/Southern-Arizona-Ride-for-the-Red-to-beneift-Red-Cross-118790259.html
Finale Draws Diverse Crowd
DAYTONA BEACH — It seemed like an odd place to find Jesus, in the midst of motorcycles and leather-(and often scantily)clad women. But there was Glenn Taylor, a 63-year-old South Carolina preacher, standing next to a table of Bibles and other Christian literature along Main Street on Saturday.
Taylor was one of several veteran Christian bikers who, in the crowd of Bike Week 2011′s grand finale Saturday, saw ample opportunity to spread the Word. Despite an event that, at face value, seems to be incongruous with Christianity, Taylor and others said they usually get a good response from the bikers, and that this year’s crowd has been the most receptive yet.
The key to success, according to Taylor and others, is a hands-off approach.
“There are two main kinds of bikers,” Taylor said. Taylor described the “yuppie biker crowd” who ride on the weekends for fun, and the “hard-core crowd” who would make a career of biking, if they could. If biking were a religion, the hard-core crowd would be the fundamentalists. While yuppie bikers will trailer their bikes for long trips, hard-core bikers abhor the idea.
There is one trait both groups share, though, according to Taylor — they ignore preachers.
So, Taylor took a quiet approach to proselytizing, standing next to a table of books available to take home for free. He only spoke when spoken to. Hector Lopez was a different kind of preacher. Lopez, a.k.a. “The Orlando Birdman,” brought six of his 16 birds to Main Street on Saturday. Three of them stood on his bicycle Saturday afternoon while he arranged the other three — two Macaws and a Cockatoo — on the shoulders of a woman.
Lopez, 49, snapped a picture of the woman, handed her a card so she could get the picture later, then asked for a donation, “to feed the birds.”
When asked about his bicycle, Lopez explained he had “gone green” six years before and didn’t drive anywhere. He wanted to travel the country, he explained, preaching to people that they don’t need to rely on cars and fossil fuels to get places.
But how did he get to Daytona Beach on Saturday from Orlando?
“I drove him,” said Samantha Rovnak, 24, a neighbor of Lopez’s and fellow animal enthusiast who brought her bearded dragon — a lizard — to pose along with the birds for pictures. “We just threw his bike in the trunk and headed over.” Andrea Pressimone, Lopez’s roommate and partner in the birdman business, said this was their second Bike Week. “It’s a great crowd,” said Pressimone, 37. “We’re thinking about renting an RV and coming back next year for the whole week.”
Chuck Pickett, another Christian biker parked along Main Street on Saturday, has come to Bike Week off and on for 15 years to hand out Bibles. In years past, three or four people per day would thank Pickett, 70, of Inglis, for his quiet evangelism.
This year, Pickett said, 30 or 40 people per day are thanking him. Why? “The hardness of times, I think,” Pickett said. “People are hurting.”
Parked next to Pickett was John Britz, who rode his bike down from Export, Pa., for the 21st consecutive year to pass out Bibles at Bike Week. Britz, 65, echoed what Taylor said earlier, that the aggressive preaching style favored by those with megaphones and large signs inspires apathy at best among bikers, ignorance and anger at worst.
Britz also made it very clear which of Taylor’s two biker crowds he fit into.
“I ride here. Every year. I don’t trailer. Put that in bold letters,” he told a reporter, in a tone more serious than he used to discuss anything else, even his religious beliefs.
“I don’t trailer.”
Source: News Journal-Online
Full Story: “http://www.news-journalonline.com/news/local/east-volusia/2011/03/13/finale-draws-diverse-crowd.html”
Motorcyclists Share Hope With Lowell Inmates
More than 20 motorcycles, complete with leather-clad bikers, roared into the yard at Lowell Correctional Institution in a surprise visit to the women’s state prison on Saturday morning.
The motorcycles were part of a non-denominational Christian outreach program that visits correctional facilities across the state to try to spread hope to those inside.
Organizing the event was ROOT Outreach, based at Fellowship Baptist Church near Ocala (ROOT stands for Running Out of Time). Members of several other ministries attended the event as well.
Many of the bikers at the event have checkered pasts themselves, pasts that are used as examples of how anyone can be reformed.
“I usually end up talking to the mean ones, because I used to be a mean one,” said Debbie Whisenant of ROOT. “At one time, I was property of a one-percenter biker gang. We’ve done exactly what they’ve done, but God saved us.”
The one-percenter designation is biker slang for the 1 percent of bikers who belong to criminal and outlaw motorcycle clubs.
“We talk to people who are depressed and despondent because they think they have done too many things wrong. We’re here to let them know that it’s never too late,” she said. “Some people don’t like that we do this for the inmates. I feel that they might deserve to be in prison, but they don’t have to go to hell.”
Willie Allen, who spent 15 years on Florida’s Death Row and 26 years in prison before his conviction was overturned, was back near familiar ground.
“I spent some time at Marion Correctional Institute (the men’s prison) across the street. I’m familiar with this area,” he said “I know what they are going through, but I can say Jesus got me out and kept me out. That can be true for anyone here. I was institutionalized for 26 years and broke that old theory that if you’re in for more than five years, you won’t stay out long.”
Allen travels across the country and abroad, sharing his story to other prisoners.
Parked on the basketball court area inside the prison gates, the motorcycles drew the attention of the inmates. Dozens of them began filing into the area to get a closer look. The most popular was a custom chopper built by Al Paquette. The bike, named “Doin’ Time,” features a prison motif with a miniature working cell door on the gas tank. The rest of the bike is adorned with handcuffs, razor wire and other items seen at prisons.
The inmates freely mingled with those at the event, talked about motorcycles, compared tattoos and even started dancing to the ministry’s music.
“I’m glad that they did this for us. It’s great to just meet people and talk to them. In here it’s a daily routine,” said Debra Touchet, one of the inmates at the event.
Source: OCALA
Full Story: http://www.ocala.com/article/20110129/ARTICLES/110129647/-1/news?p=1&tc=pg#
Sydney Bikie Loses Parking Fine Fight
A Sydney court has rejected a motorcycle club member’s attempt to contest a fine for parking illegally outside the New South Wales Parliament.
Greg Hirst, from the Brotherhood Christian Motorcycle Club, was one of at least 30 bikers who gathered outside parliament in June last year to protest against the State Government’s anti-bikie legislation.
Hirst told the court a police officer gave them permission to leave their bikes outside parliament while they went inside to deliver a letter to the Attorney-General.
The court heard they were not issued fines on the day but police took video footage of the bikes and sent the $84 fines later.
Police Inspector David Maguire, who was in charge, denied giving verbal permission but said he did not ask the bikies to move in an effort to keep the peace.
Magistrate Alex Mijovich rejected the application, saying Hirst admitted to knowingly parking there.
He was fined $200 plus court costs.
The fines given to the other bikies are scheduled to be dealt with in a fortnight.
Source: ABC
Full Story: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/02/21/3144475.htm
Christmas in Dixie Ride benefits Christian Services
FORREST COUNTY, MS (WDAM) – Motorcycle enthusiasts from around the Pine Belt got together Sunday for a ride to benefit Christian Services of Hattiesburg.
The event is called The Christmas in Dixie Toy Ride and is in its 11th year. Each of the riders donated $10 or a toy that will help fund Christian Service’s Birthday Party for Jesus that benefits area needy children with toys for Christmas.
The 28 mile ride took the bikers through the Dixie Community, down highway 11 to Purvis and ended with dinner and entertainment at the Elks Lake Lodge. More than 100 bikers took part in the ride.
Christian Service’s Birthday Party for Jesus is Saturday, December 11th at the Ben McNair Center in Hattiesburg.
Source: WDAM
Full Story: http://www.wdam.com/Global/story.asp?S=13577884
Clinkscales and others help kids enjoy Christmas
Before she can finish one project to help the needy of St. Clair County, Eleanor Clinkscales is already making plans to start another.
As the last of the Thanksgiving food baskets were being delivered, Clinkscales had her sights set on toys for needy children at Christmas. It is the 24th Christmas Clinkscales has spent helping needy children throughout the county.
“Our goal is to help 200 kids this year have the chance to open presents on Christmas morning,” Clinkscales said. “Each child we help will be able to open five presents on Christmas.
We put the toys into dark garbage bags and give them to the parents and let the parents put the toys under the tree so the parents can have some pride.”
Clinkscales said it is just a good feeling to know she has helped children enjoy Christmas.
“I will not see the children open their presents, but I will know they received toys,” she said.
This year, the Toys for Kids project was helped by many individuals, organizations and churches. The Pell City Bikers for Christ chapter of the Christian Motorcycle Association donated 22 tricycles. Other entities and individuals donating to the project include Kay’s Auction, Johnson Auction, St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department, Friendship Baptist Church, Gray’s Chapel Baptist Church, Odenville Presbyterian Church, Lawley’s Chapel Methodist Church, Pleasant Hill Methodist Mission, Lister Memorial Baptist Church, Coosa Valley Baptist Church, Refuge Baptist Church, St. Clair Bar Association, Phil Seay, Robert Minor, Denice Daffron, Doris Stubblefield, Frank Riddle, Bettye Wright and Lottie McClantoc.
Full Story: http://www.thestclairtimes.com/view/full_story/10727443/article-Clinkscales-and-others-help-kids-enjoy-Christmas?instance=home_news
Think Bike (Bikers roar their sorrow)
Anine Vermeulen
The atmosphere at the Doxa Deo Church in Kameeldrift, where the funeral service was being held for the two bikers who died in a head-on-collision with a Hummer last Saturday, was shaded and heartbreaking.
Around 800 bikers from around the country trekked to Kameeldrift in support of Messrs JP Kruger and Pieter Coetzee sr, the two men who were tragically killed a little over a week ago.
“The biking community is like a tight knit family, when one of us goes down, we all rally together in support of the fallen,” says Mr Louis von Allermans, president of the Hatfield chapter of the Christian Motorcycle Association (CMA).
Members of both families were too distraught to speak directly to the press, but in a statement made during the funeral service, they expressed their appreciation for those who came to grieve and show their support.
“We miss them terribly, but we know where they are now and we know we will see them again one day,” said Pastor Steven Vermeulen on behalf of the family.
“I would like to thank the brothers and sisters of the biking community who stepped up to the plate and came through to the service, your good intentions mean the world to me and the families of the deceased. God bless each and every one of you,” said an emotionally choked up Von Allermans during the service.
Motorbike and cycling accidents are on the increase, and Mr Dries van der Walt, spokesperson for Think Bike, feels that people need to be more respectful of cyclists and bikers on the road.“This accident was unnecessary and avoidable,” says Van der Walt.
“Think Bike wants to make bikers, cyclists and motorists on the road more aware of each other and teach everybody to obey traffic rules and regulations with respect. We need more visible traffic policing, this is getting out of hand and we need to find a way to some how regulate and control this,” he says.
Mr Pieter Coetzee Jr, who was seriously injured during the accident and who’s father is one of the deceased, is in a stable condition in the hospital.“He’s doing well, they put pins in his right hand and doctors will start putting skin grafts on his left leg soon,” says von Allermans, who has been in close contact with Coetzee Jr since the accident.
Source: Rekord
Full Story: http://www.rekord.co.za/story.aspx?lan=Afr&sid=41852
Bikers ride for cancer council
THE sweet chorus of hundreds of motorcycles rumbled through Gladstone on Sunday.
It was a sight to behold as a procession of pink, leather and shiny chrome weaved its way through city streets onto the open highway as part of the seventh annual Bumz on Bikes. Held in aid of Cancer Council Queensland for research into breast cancer, the charity ride continues to grow from strength to strength with a record outpouring of support for this year’s event.
About 150 participants were expected to take part in the ride, but organisers were left stunned when more than 200 showed up bright and early for the worthy cause. And they came from everywhere with riders from Gladstone, Rockhampton, Biloela, Bundaberg, Callide Valley, Hervey Bay and Kingaroy taking part.
There were participants of all ages from children to the hardened motorcycle enthusiasts – dogs included. And they all spread their own bit of cheer with many donning pink clothing or decorating their bikes with pink boas, tinsel and ribbons with accompanying teddy bears and stuffed toys.
Speaking to The Observer, proud event spokesman Dave Murray said the response had been absolutely tremendous. “The day is all about the women (breast cancer survivors),” Mr Murray said. “Quite a few breast cancer survivors are coming on their first ride and they will be looked after well. “It really is a great day … a celebration of life.”
Ride first-timers Anna Andersen and Judy Sanderson were two of the breast cancer survivors who took part in the ride. Riding with her husband Bruce aboard his Harley Davidson Road King, Ms Andersen said it was good to make people aware of the cause. Ms Andersen said early detection and treatment of breast cancer was vitally important.
She said women know their own bodies and should go on their gut feelings. “Having breast cancer opens up your eyes … it’s like a second chance at life,” Ms Andersen said. “It makes you appreciate life and the everyday things.”
And Ms Sanderson admitted that although feeling nervous, she was excited about participating in her first Bumz on Bikes ride. Riding with Mr Murray, Ms Sanderson was joined in the ride by her daughter Kristy Barker.
“This is way out of my comfort zone; getting on the back of a bike,” Ms Sanderson said. “But it will be all good at the end of the day.”
Bumz on Bikes was founded by breast cancer survivor Narelle (Noddy) Groundstroem who lives in the Bundaberg area. In coordinating the ride, Noddy takes care of the Southern Wide Bay contingent which meets up with the Gladstone region contingent at Granite Creek, south of Miriam Vale. Here the riders enjoy a lunch and the chance to mingle all in the name of charity.
It’s here they do their routine raffles and giveaways before hosting the serious side of the day – the sacred releasing of balloons ceremony. Pink helium balloons with the names of friends, family and motorcycle group members who have been lost to breast cancer are released into the air, followed by a minute’s silence.
Source: The Observer
Full Story: http://www.gladstoneobserver.com.au/story/2010/10/26/bikers-ride-for-cancer-council/
