Editor’s Note: For more information about Biker Sunday, click here.

I was milling around inside Skooterz Bar, waiting on the annual Biker Sunday parade to begin, shaking hands and thanking as many people as I could possibly touch with the love of my Lord, when I came across a couple of men who were waiting also. I introduced myself and thanked them as I had done with countless other people that day. They introduced themselves as leaders of the local Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) chapter.

It was a moment in which it was obvious they felt overlooked (Matthew 25 – the “overlooked and neglected” message) and wanted to be included. We exchanged addresses and I assured each other we would try to work together to escort returning soldiers from the airport.

Two months passed. Feeling an urge to visit with them, I called and made an appointment to come to their “house,” the VFW Bar. The Biker Chaplain met me outside (no one is allowed in the bar if you are not a member or with a member). When we got inside we began to make plans for a Veteran’s Day parade and bringing in a traveling Vietnam Veterans Wall that would be in our area around that same time. (Our church’s biker ministry, Hard CORE Motorcycle Ministries, joined in the ride 150 miles away to bring the wall, then rode in the parade.)

We began meeting at the airport to escort soldiers. On one such trip, Hard CORE M/M was invited to help host a dinner for a group of Marine reservists heading to Iraq in early 2009. Things went so well that we were invited to their “private” Christmas party.

One of the major driving forces of Biker Sunday is Toys For Tots. This year’s donations totaled $29,500. However, due to national guidelines, stuffed toys cannot be given away. On that first day in the VFW bar, I learned that the VFW ladies make bags for every child at a local elementary school (that happens to be very close to our church) where most of the children live at poverty level. Each child receives a stuffed toy along with the bag. The VFW needed 459 toys, but only had about 100. I told them, “I think we can help with that.”

We connected them with our Marine contacts who oversee Toys For Tots. Without hesitation, the gave 400 stuffed toys. Isn’t that like the Lord, using a pastor to connect the Marines and the VFW!

Not only have we been blessed to touch these children and the VFW, but also we learned of a family who is struggling because the husband is in Iraq. We received a list of needs and will be able to help them have a Merry Christmas.

We continue to be amazed at the Lord’s work through Biker Sunday and its effects on people in our community throughout the year.

-Rev. Gary Burd pastors Christian Heritage Church in Amarillo, Texas.  He is also the Great Plains Conference Bishop and the Director of M25 Ministries.

During the event, he shared his testimony with Megan Miles of the IPHC.  Watch below as he shares how God used Biker Sunday to transform his life.

Christian Heritage Church is pastored by Rev. Gary Burd, who also directs Mission M25, an network of ministers and ministries that outreach to non-traditional people groups in the U.S.

Original Post @ http://comm.iphc.org/blog1.php/2008/10/25/bobby-s-story

As people walk into the church, an usher greets them at the door and hands out bulletins.  Families say hello and catch up on the week’s events while children play around them.  As people make their way to their seats, the worship team begins to play.

Sounds normal, right?  Just like your church?  Well, imagine this: 90% of the congregation - including the pastor - is decked out head-to-toe in biker gear.

Welcome to the ninth annual Biker Sunday at Christian Heritage Church.

The event is held in conjunction with a Toys For Tots drive with local Marines.  The weekend begins with a Saturday swap meet, where vendors sell their goods in the church parking lot and youth hall.  The church also sells raffle tickets for a Big Dog bike, and all the proceeds go to Free Camp.

On Sunday, the church is packed with worshipers wearing their “biker clothes.”  Pastor Gary Burd wears jeans and a leather shirt; his brother Keith, who organizes the event, is wearing leather chaps and a leather vest that says “Hard Core Ministries” on the back. Hard Core is the church’s biker ministry.  Many other Christian “patches” are in the congregation today, including a Hispanic ministry called “Los Perdonados” - The Forgiven. But as the worship service begins, it is obvious that today is a day to celebrate as one Body of Christ.

The service concludes with a special event.  Over 20 bikes are parked in the sanctuary.  The congregation takes communion together; then, the riders rev their engines and ride their bikes out of the church to kick off the annual biker parade and Toys For Tots drive.  They drive to a local bar, where other bikers are waiting to join them.  For the next hour, the church talkes to men and women from all backgrounds.  Some are in gangs; some ride for fun.  They all have toys strapped to their bikes.

At 1:00, the parade kicks off.  Over 720 motorcycles ride an 8-mile route through town.  When they arrive at the church grounds, a crowd of people line the street, waving American flags and cheering them on.  Then they line up to deliver their gifts to the Toys For Tots truck.

Then comes the fun.  The church property transforms into a bike-themed carnival.  There are bike competitions: the potato race, a slow race, the burnout competition, and drag racing.  There are stunt riders who perform daredevil tricks for the crowd.  The local radio station, whose D.J. attends the church, comes out to promote the event.  There is even a concert by a local rock/blues band.  The church motorcycle ministry also performs “biker blessings,” where they pray for God’s guidance and protection over a rider and his/her bike.

At the end of the day, the crowd gathers for the final event.  Pastor Gary introduces Ox, his longtime friend and evangelist to the biker community.   Ox shares the Gospel with the crowd.  Then they sing “Amazing Grace” together.  As they sing, “Thu’ many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come; ’tis grace that brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home” many in the crowd close their eyes or raise their hands in worship.

Afte the devotion, the church hands out awards for the bike games, then has one final event - the bike giveaway.  The winner receives a free Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

The entire event, including the Harley-Davidson giveaway, is free to the public.  It’s quite an investment for the church, but check out the return:

• 720 bikes in the parade
• 3,000 event attendees
• 20 biker blessings
• Over $29,000 in Toys for Tots gifts
• $9,300 raised for Free Camp

But here is the best return of all: a woman who had been involved in the Wiccan relgion (witchcraft) gave her heart to the Lord that day.

Biker Sunday reminds us all that the church is not made up of a sanctuary and a fellowship hall.  The church is the Body of Christ. It’s time for us to go outside the walls of our building and reach out to our community.

Let’s do as Jesus did - as Pastor Gary and Christian Heritage Church did - and go into all the world.

Click here to see more event pictures.

Original Post Found Here

On Sunday, September 14, 2008, Christian Heritage Church in Amarillo, Texas celebrated a $10,000 gift from Church Education Ministries of the IPHC raised during the denomination’s annual Youth Quest. Senior Pastors Gary and Carolyn Burd stood on one side of the platform, backed by all the teenagers, representative of the teenagers who gave in the offering at Youth Quest and Fire & Ice events. Children and adults with Royal Ranger attire also joined the right side of the stage. On the left, joining Pastor Craig Lawlis and Secretary Betty Smith, were all 8-12 year old children who represent the multitude of who will attend Free Camp this coming year.

A photograph of the check which was presented to Carolyn Burd by Shandra Youell of the IPHC’s Resource Development Center was displayed on the big screen, but then a bag of 10,000 one dollar bills were presented to the people. We drove home the fact that this money was not given by some folks writing a large check, but was basically received from teenagers and Royal Rangers one dollar at a time. You could hear people gasping as all the money was presented and they realized it was given by young people and children for outreach to children.

We want to thank each and everyone for assisting us in reaching out to the children by offering a free church camp. Free Camp has been done in Amarillo, TX for 18 years, two years in Phoenix, AZ and one year in Petersburg, VA. We are looking forward to our first National Free Camp in Greensboro, NC July 19-22, 2009 in conjunction with Youth Quest and the Cornerstone Conference.

For more information, visit http://www.bikersundayamarillo.org

Audio and Video within full post.

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]]> http://www.missionm25.org/2008/08/06/five-l-evangelism/feed/ http://www.missionm25.org/2008/08/06/five-l-evangelism/ http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MissionM25/~3/321926848/ http://www.missionm25.org/2008/06/27/freedom-bike-the-miracle/#comments Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:51:51 +0000 admin http://www.missionm25.org/?p=97 ‘That’s weird, the locks are missing’ I thought as I walked by the back of the enclosed trailer by the parsonage that held my grandson’s new four-wheeler and a custom motorcycle. We purchased the bike to ‘make some money’ to help fund our annual Biker Sunday. A sick feeling in my stomach hit after the door was opened to find them missing. Even though we called the police and all the reports were filed, there was little hope we could recover them.

The following Saturday we posted pictures in some of the motorcycle shops around town. Within a few hours we received a ‘blocked’ call to tell us they had seen the two when a tenant of his tried to settle his debt by selling him one of the vehicles. He described the property where he had last seen the two. A call was made to the Vice-President of one of the 1% motorcycle clubs to get his advice on handling this issue. If it was a biker we wanted him to first have the chance to bring the bike back and not get them in trouble with the law. We were sandwiched between the need of the bike back and the continual burden to touch this culture with the Love we have found in our Lord.

The Vice-President came to our home and we discussed the process together. He advised me we had no choice but to ‘turn this in to the law’ due to our obligation to the insurance company. He immediately began seeking for the bike by going out on Saturday and Sunday nights telling them, ‘no one steals from my church’. A call was made to the local police department to inform them of it’s location but the receptionist at the police department only laughed.

On Wednesday a member of our church did enough work on the internet to find the man who called us with the information. A call was placed to the informant who he told us the last time and place he had seen the motorcycle. The two of us drove up to another bike club member’s house. As we approached the door the first thing we noticed was the two pit bulldogs on log chains guarding the door. Now what do we do? Thank the Lord for His timing and guidance, the man exited his home and came to us to find out what we wanted. The conversation was short but full of tension. He denied having the bike but stated that he might know where it was and that he would be glad to look into it. He was assured that we would not get the police involved and that all we wanted was our bike back.

Within hours there was almost constant contact by cell phone. The statements where made that they did not know it was our bike. The person who had purchased the bike from the drug addict that had stolen it was very upset that he was caught between the thief and the church.

Early Thursday the plan was made to have the bike returned to the parsonage. Around noon the police called, ten days after we had turned it in missing, and wanted to know if we had any more information. He was told to stay out of it because the bike was coming home. He wanted to know by who but we would not give names of the bike club. The officer became angry but we chose to stay with the ones who could bring our bike back and save our hope of reaching out to these men with the love of our Lord.

By 4:00 p.m. that afternoon three brothers from the bike club brought the motorcycle to us on a flatbed trailer in ‘a hundred parts’. The bike was disassembled to sell as parts. It had been wrecked but seemed to be all there. When we called the insurance company they could not believe the bike was recovered due to the fact most custom motorcycles never return to the owner. The four-wheeler was never recovered but a new one made the mends with the family.

In a devotion a few days following the recovery of the custom motorcycle the thought hit me, ‘how can we sell a miracle?’ There was a sense of excitement as we could see the Lord putting this thing together to give Him glory. He was going to use this as a witness on how people who are touched with the Love of God can help you when you are in need. If you respect and honor them, it will be returned at your point of need.

Christian Heritage Church, Hard CORE Motorcycle Ministry and Mission:M25 ministries have chosen to thank the veterans on Run For The Wall, an annual motorcycle trip from Los Angeles, CA to Washington D.C.. We endeavor to ride with this group of men and women protesting to our government for the POW (Prisoners Of War) / MIA’s (Missing In Action) of all wars and use it as an opportunity to say “THANK YOU” for the churches in the USA.

The statement the pearl white custom, stretched and racked, soft tail Harley Davidson with a wide back tire and an ample amount of chrome makes has been well received.

1. On top of the tank is a picture of Jesus with the crown of thorns and the words, “Thank You For My Freedom”
2. The front fender has the “Fallen Soldier Memorial” of boots, a rifle holding dog tags and a helmet.
3. The rear fender has a POW / MIA flag with the words, “The Price Of Freedom Is Not Cheap”.
4. The right side of the bike is dedicated to Christian Freedom by a graphic of the three crosses. A ray of light shines through the clouds on the center cross.
5. The left side of the bike is dedicated to our American Freedom by a graphic of a soldier in battle gear kneeling to pray with a ray of light coming through the clouds on him.
6. The right side of the engine has a cross on the timing cover and the left side has a cross on the derby cover and a POW/MIA flag on the inspection cover.
7. On the right side of the windshield the words read, ‘My Christian Freedom’ with a Hard CORE sticker that centers on the Cross. On the left side the words read, ‘My American Freedom’ with a RFTW patch. In the center of the two are the words, ‘Scars On The Chrome Remind Us, Not All Scars Are Visible’
8. The seat has a Hard CORE patch sewn in it to link it all together.

The bike has drawn a lot of attention and will be used during the year to welcome soldiers home at the airport and to escort them to their destination. It is our desire to make each one putting their life on hold or on the line to serve our country feel like a hero when they come to our city.

The bike is to lead a parade on July 4th in Canyon, TX to honor a local pastor’s son who was KIA (Killed In Action) in Iraq in 2007.

Make a Gift the Freedom Bike Fund!

Mission:M25 serving those who have served us on Run For The Wall and Rolling Thunder Parade on Memorial Day weekend in Washington D.C.

• Seventeen evangelists serving as Chaplains, Riders, and Hydration Team workers traveled from Los Angeles, CA to Washington D.C. over a ten day period. Team members from Texas, California, Florida, Alabama, North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee, endured the grueling ride on a motorcycle in a pack that varied from 300 - 450 riders. Then the weather - hot, wet and even hail stones (bruised and flesh torn open happened). Their extreme passion was displayed considering they slept on the ground; received no offerings and lost pay checks only having M25 pay for fuel, few meals and campsites.
• Professional handling of approximately 12,000 bottles of water and sport drinks spoke to the veterans.
• Churches holding banners on overpasses along interstates made a huge impact.
• Churches from the North Carolina and Redemption Ministries Conferences provided the staff and the free food at two campsites in the D.C. area.
• Given the mandate of being a light, not a mouth - learning to serve brought many opportunities to minister - so many stories - One of our team members prayed with a woman who had been raped while serving in the military and was released from active duty when she tried to get help.

The key to all of this was to say “THANK YOU FOR SERVING” for the churches in the USA that enjoy the Freedom of Religion. Every time they came to get water, sport drinks or snacks they were met with the banner that stated our appreciation. We thank all the churches and conferences that assisted us this year!

This type of prayer requests energize the staff of a Free Camp to keep going. Children were given a break from the hell holes they live in. One little girl was homesick, never been away from home this long, called home only to be told to stay because there was no room (eleven people in a small two bedroom house).

The camp scurry’s to find clothing, bedding and toiletries for children ‘dropped off’ with little or no provisions. One such girl was dropped off for the entire camp with the clothes on her back and a towel. One leader went home and found clothing and bedding when this was discovered. One leader gave away all of his bedding to little boys with nothing to sleep in or on with the exception of a sheet for himself.

Free Camp is an extreme measure of evangelism due to an extreme problem in our nation. The children are with us for four days and three nights so we can keep them out of the ‘ugliness’ of their home environments and to build a relationship with the kids. We don’t ‘perform’ for them - we build a relationship with them. It is our hope and prayer that the seed of love and Word of God will have a chance of survival. It is a time of ’serving’ the ‘least of these’ for the Kingdom of God.

A total camp size of 373 was present from all social, economical and racial classes. It was a power packed, busy, fun, spiritually empowered experience! God truly worked through the workers who joined the 117 volunteers of Christian Heritage Church, Amarillo, Texas from Oklahoma City, OK; Dumas, TX; Greenwood, SC; Franklin Springs, GA; Albuquerque, NM and Petersburg, VA. Children ‘walked on water’ after hearing the story of Jesus and Peter walking on water; experienced worship led by teenagers with a full powered smoke and light show; swam at a high end swimming pool; witnessed two Christian motorcycle stunt riders show; spent quality time around the altar seeking God; was built up through ACE Awards, lessons that told them they were special; and was blessed to be exposed to a Global vision by praying over and signing soccer balls to be used in evangelism throughout the world.

We would like to thank CEM and Rev. Talmadge Gardner for making it possible for the National Royal Ranger leader, David Moore and his three sons and the National Youth Pastor, Rev. Charles Boyd, to be present for their contribution to the camp.

Pastor Scott Brown, South Greenwood IPHC, SC brought a team of ten to assist in the camp and Pastor Kevin McBride, Crossroads Ministries, Petersburg, VA sent two of his children pastors, Amber and Stephanie to assist and help prepare them for the upcoming Free Camp in Petersburg, VA. Rev. Marcus Brown, Sr. Pastor and church planter of Albuquerque, NM brought a team of six and ministered in two services.

Free Camp, in its eighteenth year, is becoming an option for young people who want to do a missions trip and not leave the country. We believe in the future we will see them across the country where young people raised in church will be able to do an evangelistic camp to reach out to children that cannot afford to attend a camp without a huge expense.

The Mission: M25 team was in Jackson, MS during a stop on Run For The Wall in 2006. Billy Woods, Mission:M25 Pointman for Southern California, had given us all a medallion to give to someone. Bill had been chosen to receive the medal but wanted me to put it on him. I did and we both shed tears together as we hugged each other.

Two weeks later Bill re-dedicated his life to the Lord. But the pain continued and health seemed to be something far away. Bill chose to send me his medal from Viet Nam that showed he was a Corporal when he was released. I wear it on my vest in honor of this hero that few people know. We have been blessed to be in touch by phone a few times.

We had talked that we would see each other again in 2008 as Run For The Wall came through Jackson, MS. We made the plans but when I called the day before, Bill was very weak and had been running a fever. To my amazement his wife, Diane, had driven him the one hour and forty minutes, one way, to “hook up with me”. It was a special time for us both. During our short visit Bill again blessed me when he gave me his Good Conduct Medal. It was an emotional moment as he told me he wanted to “ride with me” wherever I went. It is an extreme honor to wear these two medals on my vest.

A few days later I received an email saying Bill was on a ventilator and was very weak. It did not look like his life here on earth was going to last much longer. On Wednesday, May 28 at 2:00 p.m. Bill’s son Mike emailed us. He said they did not think Bill would come off the ventilator. Our hearts were broken, but we all prayed for the Lord’s will to be done.

At 5:00 p.m. the family was called back to the room in ICU. They found Bill sitting up without the ventilator and greeting them! He said he had been with Jesus and that Jesus was not through with his life here on earth. This is truly a miracle without explanation; the doctors, nurses, and even Bill’s family can’t explain his sudden recovery. His story reminds us that we serve a wonderful God who is looking for us to simply trust and obey!

- By Rev. Gary Burd, Mission: M25 Director

Original Post found at IPHC Blog