Issue link: http://cp.revolio.com/i/1028336
Page 4 | www.BlacksheepHDfC.org Black Sheep: laBor of love Josh Morris, BSHDFC Dallas, TX I have always been a racted to things on two wheels. Whether it was growing up riding dirt bikes, or messing around on motorcycles at an early age, I always felt a draw to the freedom that is only found when man meets machine and two wheels guide that man down an open road. The majority of the audience reading this is probably familiar with the effects and feelings that someone gets when they get "lost" on the open road. I'm not talking about ge ng lost geographically, but rather, lost in one's thoughts as they bond so close to the machine between their legs, that riding becomes second nature. This sort of bond creates in us motorcycle enthusiasts a juxtaposi on of adrenaline outbursts and freeing serenity. "A er ge ng into Harley-Davidson motorcycles, I knew I wanted to reconcile my love for Christ and the desire to glorify Him in all things" It is of li le surprise then that a er becoming a Chris an, while Christ transformed many aspects of my life, there was one area that remained the same; my love for motorcycles. That rush I had experienced early on in my life was s ll a freeing memory that o en allured me. A er ge ng into Harley-Davidson motorcycles, I knew I wanted to reconcile my love for Christ and the desire to glorify Him in all things including and my passion for riding motorcycles down an open road. Upon discovering Black Sheep Harley-Davidsons for Christ, I was immediately overwhelmed with a sense of inclusion, brotherhood, and that freeing feeling of riding, but this me, for the glory of God. I spent the next few months ge ng submerged into the Black Sheep community and specifically with the Riverside, CA chapter. Through the leadership and direc on of some very godly men and women, my wife Laura and I quickly fell in love with the vision of reaching the HOG community with the Gospel through Harley- Davidson motorcycles. A few months later I began the mentorship program with the Riverside chapter. I had begun to develop deep and las ng rela onships with several of the members; rela onships which I'm sure now will last a life me. As I neared comple on of the mentorship program, my wife and I received an unexpected twist in our comfortable life; God was calling us to another state. I was offered the job of a life me in a state where we had no friends, no family, and few Black Sheep chapters. Through many days of praying and contempla ng the direc on that would be best for our family, I made the decision to accept the job and make the move to Dallas. Upon researching the area, I realized that while Southern California was a hot bed for Black Sheep chapters, the North Texas region was as close to opposite as you could get. There were a couple of chapters spread out over the state but they were hundreds of miles away from each other; a stark difference from Southern California where there were some mes mul ple chapters in a 25 mile radius. In my immediate area, there wasn't a chapter, so we quickly realized that if Black Sheep was to flourish in the area, it would be largely up to us (and of course the Lord) to build up a las ng ministry in Northern Texas. Shortly a er our move, I received a call from Ma Gardner, the chapter president of the Alamo Chapter (San Antonio, about 250 miles south of where I live). We talked for over an hour on the phone; him listening to my story, and me his. I was immediately taken in with the warm brotherhood that had a racted me to the Black Sheep in Riverside, CA, some 1,400 miles away. I had two sessions le in my mentorship program when Ma asked me what I was doing for my "patching ceremony." In the motorcycle community, as I'm sure most of you know, a patching ceremony is a memorable occasion; o en met with a special me of worship, prayer, and embrace. The Black Sheep patching