Justin Parker was petrified when he stood in front of a crowd of elders at Church on the Rock during a regulatory business meeting last year.
He had just been named as one of the church’s associate pastors. But that’s not why he was nervous.
About a year ago, Parker and other church members had started an informal motorcycle ministry. They took joy rides around Central Florida, stopping for lunch. During their meal, they discussed Scripture and have a devotion.
Parker wanted to make the ministry — called Army of Heaven — official. He wanted to invite tattooed, Harley-riding, leather-wearing bikers to church services and events.
“It was my first act as a pastor,” Parker says. “I didn’t want to be known for inviting motorcycles to church. I was afraid of the response.”
But, much to Parker’s surprise and delight, the congregation couldn’t wait to get the ministry rolling and roaring.
After his presentation, members of the church approached Parker about potential members and praised him for his idea.
“Paul said, ‘Be all things to all people,’” Parker says. “I wanted the church members to get out of their comfort zone.”
The motorcycle ministry celebrates its first anniversary in September.
Parker harbored a lifelong interest in motorcycles, but the urge to ride didn’t strike until about three years ago. His first bike was a 1989 Yamaha Radian. But when his mother’s refrigerator broke, he sold it to buy her a new one. For his birthday, she bought him another bike, a Suzuki Boulevard.
“I felt like it was really the Lord’s work,” Parker says.
That’s when he got together with other riders in the church. Their first ride was a two-hour trip to Bartow.
“We just got back from that trip and thought, ‘We could make this happen,’” Parker says.
Since then, the group of about 20 bikers has hit the open road for afternoon Sunday rides following church. They also have enjoyed camping retreat weekends and visits to the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce’s Bike Fest.
At Bike Fest, Army of Heaven members socialize with another motorcycle ministry based out of Plant City’s First Baptist Church, Faith Riders. They also meet up with Plant City’s Free Rider Fellowship, a church dedicated exclusively to riders.
Army of Heaven has collaborated with Free Rider Fellowship on different events. Last Christmas, the groups created a unique spin on the traditional Christmas story. Called “Chrome-Plated Christmas,” the production retells the story with a biker twist.
About 100 people came to the show, held at Church on the Rock. The ministries hope to host it again this year.
As the college and career pastor at Church on the Rock, Parker is used to doing unconventional things to spark an interest in faith. He will be holding a zombie apocalypse-training seminar for youth to teach them about the end times.
His motorcycle ministry fits in with his unique perspective.
“One of our church mottos is to go and make disciples,” Parker says. “We’re presenting an unchanging truth to an ever-changing world.”
Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.
RECRUITING
Interested in joining the Army of Heaven? Visit ArmyofHeavenPC.com or call Church on the Rock, (813) 752-3740.
FAITH RIDERS
Faith Riders is a motorcycle ministry associated with the Southern Baptist Convention that invites riders to worship and ride.
Locally, Plant City’s First Baptist Church has a chapter. The members ride their bikes to church every Sunday. The chapter also has a booth at the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce’s Bike Night.
For more information, visit fbcpc.com or call (813) 752-4104.
FREE RIDER FELLOWSHIP
Free Rider Fellowship, at 2207 Mud Lake Road, is a church just for riders. Led by the Rev. Aaron Brown, the goal of the church is to combine their love of God and motorcycles into a ministry that reaches out to motorcyclists and their families.
For more information on the church, visit FreeRiderFellowship.com or call (813) 704-4802.