Black Sheep

BSHDFC E-Mag December 2018 | Page 7 Two SideS of Life Richard Headrick, Founder of Hellfighters M/M h ps://headricks.com/Hellfighters Having been a biker for most of my life, spor ng a ponytail that extended to well below my belt, I'm now a cancer pa ent, with hardly any hair at all. But, with or without hair, I've been privileged to experience two grand sides of life—the wild and wooly and the slow and easy. Walking down the halls, or si ng in the wai ng rooms of some of the best cancer hospitals in the country, I have seen many men spor ng do-rags. Most of them are not bikers or biker wannabes. They're just regular guys who want to cover their thinning hair or bald heads. Each me I see an old crusty dude with his do-rag tethered loosely to his balding brow, I stop and ask, "Are you a biker?" Even if they're not, a sense of pride swells up inside of them and they smile and wish they were. If they were bikers, in their youth or adulthood, they express with a renewed posture that let's me know they were proud to have been part of a culture that only a few are ever granted the privilege to enter. These ol' mers may no longer be able to straddle their steel stallions and ride like the wind, but their life of excitement, adventure and adrenaline rushes is something they will always cherish. Their golden years of ac vity may be behind them, but the memories of days gone by are s ll vibrant echoes of the past. Many of those old bikers are on their last stretch of life, yet they have no fear of death. Why? Because they're ready to meet their Maker. Those old mers' smiles are real and a sparkle s ll shines through their eyes because they know where they're going when death comes for them. They will go to Heaven. Then there are those older guys who don't have the peace that passes all understanding—the peace that is so reassuring that one need not fear death. They've lived life to the fullest, on the edge and beyond, but never took seriously the fact that life does not end when we die. We must tell them. So, the next me you're in a cancer hospital, a shopping center, a café, a gas sta on or wherever you may be, and you see an older guy who doesn't move as fast as he used to, who has a look of "things are not going well for me" and whether he's spor ng a do-rag, a baseball cap or no cover at all, be nice to him and tell him, regardless of what's going on in his life that there is hope…His name is Jesus… In 1999, a rider could join the Black Sheep with li le or no training and no "prospect" period. Within a few months there was plenty of evidence that this was a big mistake. Some had no idea what it took to be in a motorcycle ministry. Some long- me church-goers (aka "Sunday School teachers") had no idea what to expect as they encountered the motorcycle culture. Rejec ng the idea of prospec ng, Black Sheep developed a ten chapter, five month mentorship program – and it's working GREAT! The ques on is o en asked, "Why do I need to be mentored? I'm a mature Chris an!" Much like any other kind of missionary work, motorcycle ministry is unique from work within the local church. Someone with a doctorate in ministry is not necessarily prepared for street ministry. We have had a number of well educated and experienced pastors join BSHDFC only to discover that their years of training and experience in seminary did not apply much to the streets. Those who have been Chris ans for many years s ll need special prepara on before going to a foreign mission field. Motorcycle ministry IS a foreign mission field for most Chris ans. Buying a new motorcycle and a leather jacket does not prepare anyone for ministry. Some ask, "But I'm coming in from another Chris an motorcycle organiza on! Why do I need to start over?" MC's and ministries can differ significantly. While on the outside we may have some similari es, it is the subtle differences that can create big problems later on. An incoming member from another M/M or M/C needs to leave that ministry behind and prepare to learn Black Sheep's rules, values and philosophy of ministry. Some will balk at the idea of five months, but let's ask the ques on: "What's more important: an embroidered patch on your back or an opportunity to minister effec vely?" Opportuni es for ministry start now even if the patch comes later. Immerse yourself in the work of ministry and you will soon learn a lot about yourself and others. If someone is too eager to "wear a cool patch" they've probably been watching too much Sons of Anarchy and their hearts and minds are in the wrong place. Mentoring Bikers into Ministry

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