Meet God's Ministry of Bikers
T E M E C U L A, Calif., Dec. 7 -- They came roaring into the parking lot of a popular Mexican restaurant in south-central California soon after sunrise.
It was a Saturday morning and the 150 bikers, clad in black leather, looked as menacing as Hells Angels. But these bikers have little in common with the notorious biker gang.
Most of them belong to the Black Sheep Harley Davidsons for Christ bike club, a group of Christian bikers that has grown from five to more than 200 members in only two years. They gathered for breakfast, fellowship and prayer.
"Christ told us to go into all the world and preach the Gospel," said Pastor Marty Edwards, who founded the club. "There's over 600,000 people who own Harley Davidson bikes and they're just like everybody else, they have spiritual needs."
Edwards, who has shaved his head, wears a diamond stud earring and looks every bit the outlaw biker in his black leather jacket, leads monthly get-togethers at the restaurant's outdoor patio.
After signing a giant "get well" card for a fellow biker who recently had hip surgery, several of the bikers gathered in small prayer circles to ask for spiritual help.
One member said he tried to commit suicide after his wife left him. Another said he wanted to give up drinking and smoking. Edwards joked with some of them, suggesting that perhaps they'd like to pray for a new Harley Davidson motorcycle.
Ownership of a big American-made cruiser is required to belong to the Black Sheep. "There's a mindset that goes with that kind of bike and that kind of riding," said Edwards. "It wouldn't work if you added a lot of Japanese racing bikes; that's a totally different mentality and group."
A look around the parking lot revealed nothing but Harleys — many of them decorated with religious symbols and inscriptions. "RDR 4 JC" read one personalized license plate. "Jesus is Lord" was stenciled across a shiny black helmet, and a golden crucifix was painted on a fuel tank.
‘Come as You Are’
Related Stories
ABC News Live