New Bike Ministry

Did you know that we have a new ministry at Shalimar UMC, designed to reach into our community and connect with bikers?

In the first few weeks at home after my bike accident, I felt God calling me to reach back to the bike community that supported me so much. Many of these people I barely knew. My church community flooded me with prayers, cards of encouragement, and all sorts of support. I was blown away by the love and support I received from my new friends in the motorcycle community. They understood my grief when I told them that my bike was totaled, they encouraged me not to be frustrated with what happened and encouraged me to ride my cage (that would be my car) to events and still hang out with them.

I felt God wanting me to bring my two passions together: bikes and loving people. When I came back to work, I talked with Pastor Philip and the other pastors about it all, and I started a soft launch of something called "Blessed by Faith." It's a ministry for me to bless bikes, pray for the biking community, and be who I am, a pastor, and a biker.
I started to share this with my friends in the community, and the HOGS (Harley chapter here in Ft. Walton) asked me to be their first-ever chaplain. It's an exciting new venture.

This past Saturday, April 6, I enjoyed going to Pensacola to participate in a bike blessing event hosed by Twisted MC. It was a wonderful day as I got to pray for a large group of bikers and their safety this year on the roads. We also prayed for those who died in the last year.