June 19, 2009 09:20 am
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WEATHERFORD – R. Duane and Janet Gryder are nationally appointed Assembly of God U.S. Missionaries and serve as motorcycle chaplains. Duane will be speaking at Westwood Christian Fellowship Church at 10:45 a.m. Sunday. Come hear him share the vision for this ministry and then challenge you through the Word of God.
The church is located at 1010 S. Bowie St. in Weatherford. For more information, call the church office at (817) 594-5190 or e-mail Pastor@westwood.ws.
Their assignment is to not only evangelize the biker community, but also to help them frt into local churches and to provide opportunities, materials, curriculum and training to equip bikers for ministry in jails and prisons. They are currently providing training for starting a motorcycle ministry in the local church using the new Assemblies of God National Motorcycle Ministry, HonorBound MM.
In addition to their equipping and training ministry, they will work across denominational lines at biker rallies with local churches, Chi Alpha,= and Master’s Commission teams to provide a Christian altemative to the big biker party Saturday evening. Motorcycle Chaplains are also available to aide churches in setting up riding fellowships and motorcycle ministries within the local church.
According to Duane and Janet, the three primary values that drive this ministry are:
1. “We believe every person has a right to hear the Gospel at their personal level of understanding.”
2. “We believe every believer should have a ministry in the church.”
3. “We believe every believer needs a committed relationship with a local church so that they can mature spiritually.”
So why are they involved in this ministry? The problem is, many of the hard core bikers that get saved do not attend church because they do not fit in. Without the support of a church, many of them will back slide. Having an opportunity to minister will help them to fit in. Their ministry will combine this need for ministry opportunity with another need — the need for evangelism to bikers and for religious volunteers in the prison system.
Not only have they been pastors, but they have been in prison ministry since 1998. What took place when they combined these two ministries was amazing. They took the bikers and their motorcycles into the prison, had a Christian band play, bikers gave their testimonies, and then Duane preached. One of the bikers, who would scare you if you saw him in a dark alley, led two men to accept Christ as Lord and Savior standing beside his bike before we ever went into the gym for the service. He is so excited about ministering in the prison, he cannot wait to go again. Another biker now holds his head high as he goes to the local church. He feels he is a part of the church because he now has a ministry.
The alternative to the party night at biker rally was the result of seeking to provide something different for Christians during biker rallies. This is especially important for newer Christians. On Saturday evening, Christian bikers normally have two options: Hide at their campsite or go to the party.
Duane and Janet work with local churches to provide a third option by having a service with a praise and worship band and ministry of the Word. Publicity for the event is done through free bike washes by the teams. This has also turned into a great opportunity for evangelization.
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