Motorcycle ministry provides for the underserved

September 2, 2018 | 4:00 am

Updated October 13, 2018 | 12:00 pm

Photo courtesy of Melissa Burden

Soldiers for Christ have the elements of a tried-and-true biker gang: the leather jackets, the motorcycles, the nicknames and the clubhouse. Rather than wreaking havoc and causing mischief, this gang prefers to minister to the meek and serve the underserved.

Soldiers for Christ is a motorcycle ministry and outreach organization that has eight chapters across the United States in Texas, Kan., Iowa, Ky., Ohio and Md.

The local chapter for Owensboro is Soldiers for Christ M/M K, with other branches in Sacramento, Madisonville and Leitchfield, Ky. The Soldiers for Christ have a specific purpose when they go out into the community or on rides, according to chapter president Brent “Q” Burden.

“To witness, minister, and win the lost to Jesus Christ by whatever means it may take — through love or through jumping into the fire and pulling them out,” Burden said.

In the summer, when the weather is more cooperative, the group travels throughout the state to offer an extra set of hands to other organizations. One of their rides assists with the Recovery Run in which they visit and minister to seven different recovery centers.

Soldiers For Christ Chaplain, Darrell “Dangerous” Clark has been riding motorcycles for over 50 years and believes he is the oldest SFC rider in Owensboro.

“My favorite part of the motorcycle ministry is the ministry part,” Clark said. “We get the opportunity to minister to people that would never set foot in a traditional church.”

When the weather turns cold, the Soldiers visit the local homeless shelters. Some shelters, like St. Benedict’s, are open overnight and close in the morning. The Soldiers will offer the address to their clubhouse and invite those without a place to go to come eat chili and hot dogs, drink coffee and hot chocolate, and play darts and shoot pool.

The Soldiers for Christ actually prefer to use the term ‘community feed’ for these events, rather than feeding the homeless. They treat visitors to their clubhouse like they are old friends by offering them snacks and drinks (paid for out of the members’ own pockets) and the opportunity to pray with them.

Burden is an Army Gulf War veteran that has seen how quickly drugs and unhealthy lifestyles can misguide someone and is disappointed by the number of homeless veterans he has encountered.

“While we realize sometimes that it is a choice, some don’t know differently,” Burden said. “They’re a part of the community, they just don’t have a roof over their head.”

The Soldiers for Christ will be hosting a two-wheel bike rally, similar to Little Sturgis, Sept. 21-23 in Sacramento, Ky., a Haunted House at their West Second Street address in October and will collect and wrap gifts for local children and families for Christmas.

The SFC currently have a goal of collecting 1,000 pairs of new shoes for ‘Shoes for Orphan Soles.’ They are accepting donations of new, unworn shoes (and socks) with tags and still in the box at 2300 A West 2nd Street.

September 2, 2018 | 4:00 am

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