Ministry strives for heaven on wheels

Thousands of bikers are expected to ride into east Mesa’s Spring of Life Christian Church on Sunday for the inaugural Blessing of the Bikes. It’s exactly the crowd church pastors are hoping to reach.

Pastors at the nondenominational, come-as-you-are, no-obligation-to-stay-or-pay church say they openly welcome bankers to bikers, tattoo junkies to teachers, Goths to geeks, rock ‘n’ rollers to retirees.

They say the biker community is overlooked, and there is a need for bikers who want to go to church but don’t feel welcome. Bikers are welcome to attend church in full biker gear.

“They haven’t given up on God, but feel that the church has given up on them,” said John Smith, the church’s motorcycle ministry director. “We’ll do anything we can to get the Gospel message out.”

The motorcycle ministry joins a new horse ministry, Hooves for Heaven, and a paintball ministry. The church, founded in 1997, is on 25 acres on the northwest corner of U.S. 60 and Crismon Road, and has a popular paintball field.

Smith became the motorcycle ministry director in September after bringing the idea to the church. He moved to Mesa from a Pennsylvania church in June 2005 with a similar ministry that offered a blessing of the bikes event.

The church now has 100 members in the motorcycle ministry, although all church members are technically part of the ministry. Some members are even “closet motorcyclists.” Even though they don’t have a motorcycle, they enjoy bikes and riding.

“Our purpose is to serve God on two wheels,” said Smith, 35, who rides a Harley-Davidson 1200 custom bike painted in Steelers gold and black colors. He’s been riding for 20 years.

Dan Bethel, the adult ministries pastor who has a champagne-colored Kawasaki Nomad, loved the idea of the motorcycle ministry. The church has been planning the bike blessing day for a couple months. Along with blessing bikers, the event will also honor military veterans and public safety officials.

“Our main goal is to reach out to bikers and let them know Spring of Life Christian Church is biker friendly and to recognize those who protect our freedoms,” said Bethel, 57, of Mesa, who has been riding for 41 years. “We want people to feel comfortable no matter what their background is.”

The church sponsors monthly fellowship rides and ministry outreach rides, and hosted a Hog and Ham Run at Christmas, with riders delivering ham to needy families in the area.

A ride is planned for Tombstone on Friday and Show Low on Saturday.

After the blessing event Sunday, a “Loops for the Troops” ride is planned along loops 101 and 202.

As part of the Blessing of the Bikes, Scott Bloyer, the pastor to students, will ride his silver Kawasaki Vulcan down the center of the church auditorium during the ceremony.

Blessing of the Bikes

Where: Spring of Life Christian Church, northwest corner of U.S. 60 and Crismon Road, Mesa

When: Rear parking lot opens 8:30 a.m. Sunday, reserved for bikers only; services are 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.; blessing begins at 12:30 p.m. “Loops for Troops” ride after blessing about 1:30 p.m.

Includes: Free food and drinks, free ride pin and pocket biker Bible for first 1,000 attendees, live music

Information: (480) 218-1456 or www.springoflife.org.