I was looking for something unrelated to COG things on Google the other day and an article I posted in 2015 popped up about a COG member in New Jersey who was starting up a Christian ministry for motorcycle riders. It referenced an article in The Journal about a new ministry starting up.
A new Christian motorcycle-riding group, XII Legions Christian Motorcycle Ministry, has started up in New Jersey with the intent to develop chapters in other areas of the country.I decided to look them up to see if they were still in existance. They are, and have now taken on a more Sacred Names bent in their ministry.
The bikers are “looking for other bikers who have an interest in motorcycles, riding and the Word of God, including God’s holy Sabbath day,” Mr. Paparella said. The group is nondenominational and open to all regardless of church affiliation and “wants to promote the gospel of the Kingdom of God on two wheels,” he said. The founders are longtime Church of God members, with past and current fellowships with the former Worldwide Church of God, United Church of God, Church of God (Seventh Day), Beth Israel Messianic Congregation and Church of God Flemington (an affiliate of Church of God Ministries International), as well as several private-residence-based church groups.
I still can still picture hoards of Sabbatarian hog riders storming into Wadsworth, Charlotte and Edmond, proclaiming the gospel of the Herbert Armstrong or riding through peaceful neighborhoods on Sunday mornings, revving their bikes in order to disturb the heathen Sunday worshipers.
Just imagine the scene at some future Feast of Tabernacles site as the Charlotte Spankers, Wadsworth Narcissists, Edmond Idolaters, Double Blessed Africans or the Malmite Law Bastardizers clash over which one is the one true Sabbatarian biker group.
I highly doubt any of them will put John 3:16 or Colossians 2:14 on their jackets. Can't have any of that Jesus stuff, just the law.
Like everything else in the Church of God, this is nothing new. There have been Adventist Sabbath Keeper motorcycle groups for many years that attend all the motorcycle gatherings around the country. One of those events is here in California in Hollister.
and their Facebook Page
The SKMM seems to be doing an actual ministry witnessing for Jesus, unlike any of the COG groups around today. While COG groups wince at mentioning Jesus or even emulating his actions, they much prefer prostrating themselves at the highly revered altar of the law.
Here is what the SKMM do:
Lambert said SKMM is the oldest and largest Adventist motorcycle ministry in the world. The Hollister, Calif., based ministry currently has 19 chapters and nearly 300 members, but the original SKMM members didn’t even own a motorcycle. Their first motorcycle was donated by National Sunday Law author Jan Marcussen.
SKMM members focus on the major biker events that attract hundreds of thousands of bikers annually. They’re all about bringing Jesus to the motorcycle community, using literature, prayer and testimony.
“We pass out a lot of literature during these events,” said Lambert.
The biker events have a combined annual attendance of over 1,000,000, which is more than 300 SKMM members can reach, but they keep at it, and not without results.
While at biker event Reno Street Vibrations, Kevin and Kellye Simpson stopped by SKMM’s booth. Kevin had left the Adventist Church in high school and Kellye had never been Adventist, but her grandmother had taught her Saturday was the Sabbath. Intrigued by the group, the couple took some literature. Later they were baptized into the Ceres Seventh-day Adventist Church, Calif., where they soon began a new SKMM chapter. SKMM’s influence has gone well beyond ex-Adventists, even touching the upper echelons of the Hells Angels and Mongols.
About six years ago during a biker event in Los Angeles, a biker gang member killed a member of a rival gang while wearing the cut (leather vest) of another gang. In an effort to find the killer, the Hells Angels and Mongols began a shake down of each club in the surrounding area. However, the word was out the SKMM and Christian Motorcycle Association were not to be touched. God was looking out for them.Can you imagine a COG motorcycle group associating with Hells Angels members, Mongols, or other biker gangs? I can see them now going to Sturges or Hollister and isolating themselves in their own cordoned-off area waiting for their god to send them prospective members, instead of getting off their privileged white asses and hitting the streets and proclaiming the good news they CLAIM to have.
We all know that would never happen. Church of God organizations cannot even get along with each other so how can a witness of a peaceful kingdom ever be shared?
I own a pickup truck. Maybe someone will start a Pickup Ministry. Can't wait.
ReplyDeleteThe Church of God has already solved that problem. It is called The Moving Crew. Any COG member with a truck was automatically designated as the one to call when people needed to be moved.
ReplyDeleteHaving a "motorcycle ministry" is not a new thing, the Church of God New Testament Jerusalem has had one for many years.
ReplyDeleteNO2HWA,
ReplyDeleteI remember at services one time years ago someone wanted to use my station wagon to move. I told him it had miles on it and I didn't want to use it. He lived north of me. He offered to pay for my gas and give me lunch or something. I believe he got upset and commented "I'll pay for your gas and give you lunch,what MORE do you want"? How about my time,my labor and scratching up my car in the back! I was young but I didn't give in.
Time, labor, wear and tear on your personal vehicle was never a consideration. You were to freely give as you were COMMANDED. Anything less was a direct avenue of disobedience and they sure let you know, at least here in Pasadena. That was one of the reasons I put a shell on the back of my truck.
ReplyDelete11:43 AM, Your username/handle is ignorant and I suggest to you to do your research!!!
ReplyDeleteWith a bent on sacred names, its only a matter of time before they will go with 'white power' as part of their theology.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteAs a gift to the COG Cycle groups, May I suggest:
Bob Thiel's groups be given small red Tricycles with ringading bells on the handlebars
Dave Pack's groups be given those small blue and pink Barbie Cars
LCG's groups be given small bicycles with baskets and training wheels.
The Music for their rally can be "The Hamster Dance".
May I also suggest that they conduct their rally on the former AC Track in Pasadena, California.
It would behoove us all to certainly attend such a rally, as it would definitely be a fitting example to the power and strength of the COG's at this time.
-SHT
I don't see how guys associated with WCG and Messianic groups can possibly be seen on "Hogs". I mean it is so unclean. If they are not careful the entire gang of Hogs will find themselves rolling down over the hill and into the sea!
ReplyDeleteMost of the COGS are now so old, that they can forget about motorcycles, and should just have "wheelchair" clubs instead!
ReplyDeleteJazzys.
ReplyDeleteYou know, those scooter deals.
They can put the Church Logo with the lion and the lamb on the back. And a green sticker to boot.
Maybe a bumper sticker that says "ON TO THE PLACE OF SAFETY"
Gotta make sure the Minister Scooters are ramped up to a higher speed though.
The minister Scooters can also have silver and good plated parts, with writings on it such as 'Obey Gods government,' 'They don't get it,' 'In Herb we trust,' '1975 came and went,' 'One last push,' 'Government is everything,' 'Give us your excess wealth,' etc.
ReplyDeleteDont forget "Back on track GOD'S WAY".
DeleteHow about a Unicycle Church? OK enough...
ReplyDelete"The minister Scooters can also have silver and good plated parts, with writings on it such as 'Obey Gods government,' 'They don't get it,' 'In Herb we trust,' '1975 came and went,' 'One last push,' 'Government is everything,' 'Give us your excess wealth,' etc."
ReplyDeleteHow about:
FLAIR FOR MCNAIR
HELLS NOT REAL
ambASSadors
FEAST BEASTS
THE ELIJAH DUDES
THIRTY PERCENTS
YOU PEOPLE
THE THEOPHILUS THISTLES
THE A-CLUB
THE HAND WAVING CHICKEN FLAPPERS
THE NINETEEN YEAR MOTOR-CYCLES
THE THREE TO FIVES
THE PORK SLAUGHTERERS
THE HAM HATING SUNDAY MOWERS
THE SOUND MEN
THE USHER HUSHERS
THE DISFELLOWSHIPPING LEATHER-VESTERS
THE MORTAL DANGER TEAM
THE SLACKERS
THE TRIPLE TITHERS
AT THE SOUND OF HARLEYS....
THE BIKES TO BE MUCH REMEMBERED
THOU SHALT USE STEELS
UNLESS THE BIKERS BUILD THE CHROME
TURN THOU FROM VESPAS USE HARLEYS GOOD
THE MCCRADYS
THE URGENT CRISIS TEAM
And Finally
THE BIKE OF FIRE