By Chris Edwards
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WARREN – Bro. Jim Maddox has been riding motorcycles for most of his life, and for about five years now, the friendly pastor from Wells has jettisoned the suits he used to wear in the pulpit for a more comfortable, casual mode of attire, and has been involved in using his enthusiasm for motorcycles in his ministry.
“Motorcycle ministries are starting to plant some hope in the world of motorcycle enthusiasts,” Maddox said. “They’re just like you and I, once you get them to lay down their chains for a bit.”
Maddox referenced a misconception in popular culture associated with bikers, which dates back to the leather-clad, rule-snubbing depictions in films such as “The Wild Bunch” and “Easy Rider.”
“A lot of bikers are tired of rules, so they make their own,” he said.
Motorcycle ministries are a growing effort, with groups such as Bikers for Christ; the Priesthood, and Faith Keepers, the latter of which Maddox is affiliated with.
Maddox is calling on motorcycle ministries from the region to meet up at Black Creek Ranch in Warren on Saturday, August 3 for the “Black Creek Thunder,” which, at noon will commence with a church service, followed by a potluck lunch and a planning session toward an event that Maddox hopes will take place the first part of September.
He said the event is open to anyone interested, and not just motorcycle riders, but there has already been interest among folks from as far up north as Longview, he said. He said he hopes it will be possible to have five to seven different motorcycle ministries come together at the event.
Black Creek owner Melody Daigle said that it is an answered prayer to be able to host “Black Creek Thunder.”
“I’ve known Jim Maddox, and what he stands for, for many years,” she said. “Plenty long enough to get to know not only his character, but the man of God he truly is,” she added.
“We’ve talked about doing something like this for years. To have this land, that’s been in my family 60 years be prayed over by motorcycle dudes? How cool is that!” Daigle said.
The endgame of the event and planning session, he said, is to get everyone on the same page for a “Jericho Ride,” or a prayer ride.
Maddox said that recently, he undertook a Jericho Ride, which was co-coordinated by Jen Langford of Cushing, which began in Cushing and went through Nacogdoches, Lufkin, Wells, Alto, Rush and then back through Reklaw to Cushing.
At each stop, Maddox said there was a church.
The concept, which takes its name and idea from the Old Testament story of Joshua, who, along with the Israelites, marched around the city of Jericho once a day for six days, and seven times on the seventh day, with priests blowing trumpets.
For this “Jericho Ride,” the sounds of motorcycle engines revving will replace the trumpet sounds, however, and Maddox said the ride will be a way to bring unity and pray over communities in need of prayer and peace.
“This will help break the isolation of some of these small communities,” he said. “We’re hoping to bring an awareness to the fact that humans need connection, and to not make people feel alone.”
Maddox said that this Jericho Ride might be a bit more challenging, logistically, as there is a greater distance between towns in Southeast Texas, but he hopes to include Liberty on the itinerary.
In the book of Joshua, the marching around the city and prayer was done in an attempt to bring down the walls around the city. Many of the walls people have put up around them now come from a place of vulnerability, Maddox said. “The main thing is to bring unity, and to pray over these communities, and break down all of the isolation and vulnerability of some of these small churches,” he said.
“I believe God is dealing with a lot of people dealing with vulnerability,” he said. “This sort of event brings people together from varied faith backgrounds and various ethnic backgrounds,” said Maddox.
In the end, Maddox said it’s all about ministering to those who are healing wounds, and in working with bikers, it helps them to “conquer a lot of their demons,” he said.
Maddox gave examples of many one-percenter, or outlaw, motorcycle gang members who had experienced a change of heart due to the motorcycle ministries. Some of the groups, he said, have even held church services in bars.
Events like the Jericho Ride and Black Creek Thunder are as much for the bikers as they are for the community, he said.
“More Christians are getting involved in motorcycles now, and many of them just want to get outside of those four walls,” he said.
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