Biker chaplain to speak at Westwood Christian Fellowship Church

Religion

June 19, 2009

Anonymous The Weatherford Democrat Fri Jun 19, 2009, 08:21 AM CDT

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.

Text Only

Religion

Sons and daughters of encouragement
One afternoon last year, when we were in North Carolina visiting our friends, Ann and Robert, we toured the Billy Graham Museum in Charlotte. The impressive exhibits not only chronicled the life and achievements of the world famous evangelist, but also the lives of the other members of his team.

September 22, 2011
‘The Help’
William Barclay tells the story of a servant who was sent to meet a train on which his master’s friend, an English nobleman, was supposed to arrive. The servant, who had never met the man, asked his master, “How will I recognize him?” To which his master replied, “He will be a tall man helping somebody.” What a description!
I thought of that story after seeing the excellent film version of Kathryn Stockett’s best-selling novel, The Help.

August 25, 2011
Good medicine for parched souls
In the comic strip Shoe, the young owl is sitting at his school desk taking a test. The quiz question is: “Name all the senses.” He writes this answer: “Sight, sound, touch, smell, taste and humor.”

August 11, 2011
Enriching differences
Even with the losses that accompany aging, each birthday I find there is more to be grateful for than there was the year before.

July 21, 2011
Aledo Christian Center active in politics
A visit with Knox Ross, associate pastor of Aledo Christian Center, indicates that aspirations are high for this small non-denominational church and its independent affiliates, a Christian school and an organization called WallBuilders, which seeks to impact national legislation.

July 15, 2011 1 Photo
Sunday marks new church’s first service
WEATHERFORD — Shiloh Trail Cowboy Church will have its first service Sunday.

July 14, 2011
Money talks on July 4
Most of the time when we say, “Money Talks,” we mean that money and wealth carry persuasive power when important decisions are being made. But money also talks in another way: by the words that are emblazoned on our coins.

July 7, 2011
Building community
Faith Presbyterian Church pastor Rev. Jim Witherow seems to spend as much time outside the walls of his church as he does inside, striving to balance the needs of his 200-member congregation with the needs of a growing community.

July 2, 2011 1 Photo
Victory Baptist Church’s vacation Bible school
Church members put a lot of effort into their annual vacation Bible school, constructing colorful and elaborate sets. This year, the theme was outer space. Above, astronaut Joel McClure (children’s minister) talks to space travelers as the flight crew, Robbie Catuto, Jessica Hamilton, Rayanne Langley and Ryan Scoggins (Turbo), look on.

June 23, 2011 1 Photo
Victory Baptist Church’s vacation Bible school
VBS director Penny McClure announces costume winners selected Thursday. Pictured are Lily Verdin, Emma Mars, Brianna Glick, Jonathan Leaf and Conner Wright.

June 23, 2011 1 Photo
More Religion Headlines

The Air Force Academy recently graduated their first openly gay cadets. What does this signify?

Religion

Search Results

Biker chaplain to speak at Westwood Christian Fellowship Church

The Air Force Academy recently graduated their first openly gay cadets. What does this signify?

Site Map

Contact Weatherford Democrat