In line with the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions’ (SBOM) Intentional Evangelism strategy, Trinity Baptist Church, Roanoke, recently formed a new F.A.I.T.H. Riders motorcycle ministry. The effort was sparked by a conversation about motorcycles between SBOM Director of Evangelism Sammy Gilbreath and then-visitors to Trinity Baptist John and Vicky Pratte when Gilbreath spoke at the church’s One Day Harvest Event in October 2007. Gilbreath encouraged the Prattes, who had only recently moved to Roanoke, to consider starting a F.A.I.T.H. Riders chapter.
The Prattes joined the church, which is in Randolph Baptist Association, the following week and approached Pastor Richard Richie about starting a motorcycle ministry. Willing to try anything that might reach people for Christ, Richie gave his blessing.
Gilbreath put John Pratte in touch with Marcus Merritt, SBOM coordinator of F.A.I.T.H. Riders ministries, to help form the new chapter. After several weeks of preparation, a F.A.I.T.H. Rider’s commissioning service was scheduled for Dec. 2 at Trinity.
Prior to the event, a host of bikers met at an old Winn-Dixie parking lot in Roanoke to ride in a procession to the church. Members of sister chapters around the state showed up for the event.
Merritt led the service and gave the commissioning sermon. Richie said a prayer and then, along with John Pratte, the new chapter’s leader, signed the official commissioning documents.
“I believe our church is up to the challenge,” Richie said. “We are seeing and hearing more enthusiasm every day about the start of this ministry, and everyone has high expectations of reaching a different segment of our community that we have been unable to reach before.”
For more information about starting a F.A.I.T.H. Riders chapter, call Merritt at 1-800-264-1225, Ext. 368.
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