Jim Denton is pastor of Gethsemane Baptist Church in Richlands, Va. He has contended for years that the biker culture is one that needs more than a ministry — it needs a church. Religious Herald editor Jim White spoke with Denton at the recent gathering for bikers at Eagle Eyrie.
Religious Herald: Jim, the serene image of Eagle Eyrie doesn’t fit the other image many of us have of bikers. Why in the world would Eagle Eyrie want to sponsor a motorcycle event?
Jim Denton: The theme for 2010 Alma Hunt State Missions offering is “Opening Doors” taken from John 10:9-10. I believe that as Christians we need to take every opportunity to open doors to different kinds of ministries in order to fulfill the Great Commission to go into all the world. Having an event like this is a way to help people in churches that ride motorcycles to see the need to share the gospel to their friends that are un-churched.
Herald: What do motorcycles and faith have in common?
Jim and Angie Denton on their Harleys.
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Denton: There is a difference between bikers and people who ride motorcycles. In most cases, people who ride motorcycles do it as a past-time. They work regular jobs, live in quiet neighborhoods and would be welcome in most our churches. Hard core bikers are almost a sub-culture. They have had very rough lives, live in places that most of us would never even visit and would never step foot into a typical church for fear of rejection. But these groups have several similarities. Bikers are like families, they are always there for one another, through good times and bad; just like churches. They are very passionate and looking for ways to help people in need.
Herald: What is your personal passion or interest in motorcycles?
Denton: When I started riding a motorcycle, it was a hobby; a good way to relieve stress. But the longer I ride the more I see it as a way of meeting people that would never step foot inside my church. God is always bringing people into my path that have no connection to church or have had a bad experience with church. When they hear that I am a minister they put up a wall, but when they hear that I ride a motorcycle, it gives me a connection that eventually leads to a discussion about their spiritual life.
God has placed a burden on my heart for the bikers that don’t know Christ and need so desperately to know that someone cares.
Herald: What does your wife think about the whole “bike” thing?
Denton: My wife, Angie, is a biker, too. Hers is a Harley Heritage Soft Tail. She loves riding and is excited about the opportunities that open for us to do ministry together. We love how God has taken that love for riding and opened doors for ministry.
Angie has a real passion for showing people love; what she refers to as “loving on people.” We never seem to take off on a ride without running into people that open up to us about things going on in their lives. There are a lot of hurting people in this world that just need people to “love on them.”
Herald: Are biker churches really needed?
Denton: All you have to do is look at DMV records to see how many motorcycle riders are in the state of Virginia. In 1994 there were 54,925 registered motorcycles. By 2008, that number had risen to 177,147. Motorcycling is probably one of the quickest growing groups in the country. Even if the majority of those people are Christians, most bikers ride on weekends which means they are not in church.
The wonderful thing about biker churches is they don’t have services when people are likely to ride; they have services during the week so on weekends, the bikers can be on the roads, meeting people who need to hear the gospel (going into the highways and byways). Now for the people that are not involved in churches, biker churches are probably the only way you would ever get them into a church. They are who they are, they are not going to change just because they become a Christian. We need a place where they can feel loved and accepted.
Herald: I know that Brian Robinson, pastor of Layman Memorial Baptist Church in Roanoke has started a biker church. What can you tell us about that?
Denton: Brian was the perfect guy to start this, and they had their first service in July. The biker church is not really a part of Layman Memorial even though they are meeting on Wednesday evenings at Layman. Bikers are free-wheeling enough that Brian believes the church needs to be independent of denominational labels, but he is doctrinally right in line with most BGAV churches. He preaches a tough Jesus to these men and women who are themselves pretty tough. He talks about Jesus standing up against the authorities of the day and bikers can relate.
Herald: Do you think the Thunder in the Hills event at Eagle Eyrie will help raise awareness for this particular ministry?
Denton: The great thing about Eagle Eyrie is that through the years they have always hosted events that open our eyes to new ways of doing ministry. I believe that people need to see how they can take their passion for riding and use it to open doors to sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. Through the breakout sessions, I believe we can give people the tools they need to think outside the box.