‘That’s weird, the locks are missing’ I thought as I walked by the back of the enclosed trailer by the parsonage that held my grandson’s new four-wheeler and a custom motorcycle. We purchased the bike to ‘make some money’ to help fund our annual Biker Sunday. A sick feeling in my stomach hit after the door was opened to find them missing. Even though we called the police and all the reports were filed, there was little hope we could recover them.
The following Saturday we posted pictures in some of the motorcycle shops around town. Within a few hours we received a ‘blocked’ call to tell us they had seen the two when a tenant of his tried to settle his debt by selling him one of the vehicles. He described the property where he had last seen the two. A call was made to the Vice-President of one of the 1% motorcycle clubs to get his advice on handling this issue. If it was a biker we wanted him to first have the chance to bring the bike back and not get them in trouble with the law. We were sandwiched between the need of the bike back and the continual burden to touch this culture with the Love we have found in our Lord.
The Vice-President came to our home and we discussed the process together. He advised me we had no choice but to ‘turn this in to the law’ due to our obligation to the insurance company. He immediately began seeking for the bike by going out on Saturday and Sunday nights telling them, ‘no one steals from my church’. A call was made to the local police department to inform them of it’s location but the receptionist at the police department only laughed.
On Wednesday a member of our church did enough work on the internet to find the man who called us with the information. A call was placed to the informant who he told us the last time and place he had seen the motorcycle. The two of us drove up to another bike club member’s house. As we approached the door the first thing we noticed was the two pit bulldogs on log chains guarding the door. Now what do we do? Thank the Lord for His timing and guidance, the man exited his home and came to us to find out what we wanted. The conversation was short but full of tension. He denied having the bike but stated that he might know where it was and that he would be glad to look into it. He was assured that we would not get the police involved and that all we wanted was our bike back.
Within hours there was almost constant contact by cell phone. The statements where made that they did not know it was our bike. The person who had purchased the bike from the drug addict that had stolen it was very upset that he was caught between the thief and the church.
Early Thursday the plan was made to have the bike returned to the parsonage. Around noon the police called, ten days after we had turned it in missing, and wanted to know if we had any more information. He was told to stay out of it because the bike was coming home. He wanted to know by who but we would not give names of the bike club. The officer became angry but we chose to stay with the ones who could bring our bike back and save our hope of reaching out to these men with the love of our Lord.
By 4:00 p.m. that afternoon three brothers from the bike club brought the motorcycle to us on a flatbed trailer in ‘a hundred parts’. The bike was disassembled to sell as parts. It had been wrecked but seemed to be all there. When we called the insurance company they could not believe the bike was recovered due to the fact most custom motorcycles never return to the owner. The four-wheeler was never recovered but a new one made the mends with the family.
In a devotion a few days following the recovery of the custom motorcycle the thought hit me, ‘how can we sell a miracle?’ There was a sense of excitement as we could see the Lord putting this thing together to give Him glory. He was going to use this as a witness on how people who are touched with the Love of God can help you when you are in need. If you respect and honor them, it will be returned at your point of need.
Christian Heritage Church, Hard CORE Motorcycle Ministry and Mission:M25 ministries have chosen to thank the veterans on Run For The Wall, an annual motorcycle trip from Los Angeles, CA to Washington D.C.. We endeavor to ride with this group of men and women protesting to our government for the POW (Prisoners Of War) / MIA’s (Missing In Action) of all wars and use it as an opportunity to say “THANK YOU” for the churches in the USA.
The statement the pearl white custom, stretched and racked, soft tail Harley Davidson with a wide back tire and an ample amount of chrome makes has been well received.
- On top of the tank is a picture of Jesus with the crown of thorns and the words, “Thank You For My Freedom”
- The front fender has the “Fallen Soldier Memorial” of boots, a rifle holding dog tags and a helmet.
- The rear fender has a POW / MIA flag with the words, “The Price Of Freedom Is Not Cheap”.
- The right side of the bike is dedicated to Christian Freedom by a graphic of the three crosses. A ray of light shines through the clouds on the center cross.
- The left side of the bike is dedicated to our American Freedom by a graphic of a soldier in battle gear kneeling to pray with a ray of light coming through the clouds on him.
- The right side of the engine has a cross on the timing cover and the left side has a cross on the derby cover and a POW/MIA flag on the inspection cover.
- On the right side of the windshield the words read, ‘My Christian Freedom’ with a Hard CORE sticker that centers on the Cross. On the left side the words read, ‘My American Freedom’ with a RFTW patch. In the center of the two are the words, ‘Scars On The Chrome Remind Us, Not All Scars Are Visible’
- The seat has a Hard CORE patch sewn in it to link it all together.
The bike has drawn a lot of attention and will be used during the year to welcome soldiers home at the airport and to escort them to their destination. It is our desire to make each one putting their life on hold or on the line to serve our country feel like a hero when they come to our city.
The bike is to lead a parade on July 4th in Canyon, TX to honor a local pastor’s son who was KIA (Killed In Action) in Iraq in 2007.
Make a Gift the Freedom Bike Fund!
