Florida F.A.I.T.H. Riders bike for Christ in Lakeland

LAKELAND (FBC)—The thunderous roar of engines rumbled, the ground began to quake, the smell of exhaust fumes filled the air as 207 Christian motorcycle bikers rode two-by-two through the streets of Lakeland.

Eschewing typical biker attire emblazoned with skulls and crossbones or tattoos filled with sexual innuendos, these unique witnesses of their faith hung wooden crosses on their handlebars, wore shirts glorifying their Savior and carried stuffed animals for troubled children.

FBC photo by Jessica Tuggle

Buddy Newsome, national director of F.A.I.T.H. Riders Motorcycle Ministries, prepares a conference call with three other cities so that all four branches of the Unity Ride could be together in prayer.

They were drawn by the sudden acceleration, the constant vibration and loud hum of their two-wheeled vehicles. They were drawn by the camaraderie of fellow believers united by their Christian passion.

Sounding as if a freight train was approaching, the gleaming machines of all sizes and shapes were escorted by police during the 10-mile stretch from Lakeland's USA International Speedway to Lakeland's First Baptist Church at the Mall.

"As far as I could see there were motorcycle headlights [all the way] to the horizon," said Don Alexander, a member of First Baptist Church at the Mall. "It was something else."

The bikers representing 24 different motorcycle ministries across the state rode in the second annual Wheels of Grace Unity Ride, sponsored by the Wheels of Grace magazine, and held simultaneously in four cities across the nation last fall-Lakeland, Dallas/Fort Worth; Phoenix and Sacramento. The Lakeland riders were the second largest group, behind Phoenix with 260.

The Florida bikers stood quietly as a four-way conference call linked them to bikers in the other three cities and unified them all in prayer.

"I had goosebumps," said Jeanne Burgeo, a member of F.A.I.T.H. Riders at the Lakeland church "It was an awesome feeling to know I was in a group that big."

The F.A.I.T.H. acronym stands for forgiveness, acceptance, impossible, turn and heaven. Those five key words make it easy for bikers to share Christ with unbelievers who question the meaning of the letters.

Benny Reynolds, senior pastor at Peniel Baptist Church in Palatka, uses his motorcycle as a witnessing tool. "It's a unique way of reaching people with the Gospel," he said.

The church has a separate Sunday school class for the bikers, which has grown from six people to more than 35. "Over half of those were won back to Christ or saved," said Reynolds.

Last year marked the second anniversary of the F.A.I.T.H. Riders Motorcycle Ministry chapter in Palatka.

A friend led Frances Brown, from the Lakeland church, to begin riding motorcycles with F.A.I.T.H. Riders. "I was petrified at first and I was praying every step of the way. Now I know the Lord will take care of us," she said.

Buddy Newsome, who serves as the national director of F.A.I.T.H. Riders, last year was called to a full-time position by the Lakeland church as the FAITH Rider Ministry Director. Previously he had volunteered his time.

"To my knowledge this is the first in the nation of this kind of position to be paid full time," said avid biker David Burton, director of the Florida Baptist Convention's evangelism division.

He believes that other churches should consider a full-time minister to bikers "when the body of Christ has begun to see strong numbers of motorcycle riders attending regularly for Bible study and worship. God will raise up a leader in this area of ministry as the need is birthed," he said.

Newsome will be assisting Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Mo., to start a new chapter of F.A.I.T.H. Riders. It will be a very unique motorcycle ministry because of its partnership with the seminary students, Newsome said.

In addition to bringing bikers together, the ride benefited Angel Tree, a ministry of Prison Fellowship. Riders packed their bikes with gifts and stuffed animals for children whose parents are in prison.

Dave Lawson, the senior vice president of Prison Fellowship, called the bikers a "powerful, unified, living and moving body of Christ." He said that the gifts to Angel Tree helps them to invade "ground zero of the forces of darkness," the lives of 2.3 million children whose only role model is a life of crime.

"You are making Christ visible...ride, ride, ride to change the life of a person without Christ," he said.

During the ride, Alva McMillion, 68, of Bradenton won the trophy for the oldest biker. Toni Vancise was awarded the trophy for most miles ridden by a female biker, having ridden from Palm Bay, approximately 120 miles.

Saying that bikers are no-longer just the "wild, rough type," Burton said churches are creating motorcycle ministries in record numbers. "Many are seeing this as a great open door to reach a segment of the population that has been very overlooked."

He added, "Churches are receiving the rider as they are—clothes, tattoos, long hair and all. Patches on leather vests say, 'These are my church clothes.'

"To receive them as they are is a major key in winning them to Jesus and getting them involved in the local church."