Bikers and religion usually don’t go hand in hand, but there are exceptions.
Case in point, Grace Harbour Ministries in Kelowna.
“Bikers are really all about relationships — it’s a band of brothers type of idea — and Jesus was no different. He gathered a band of brothers around him,” says pastor, Brad Gamble.
Gamble started Grace Harbour Ministries four years ago. He holds mass on Sunday’s at a Rutland church but it’s not your regular service. For starters, there’s music and it’s loud.
“The music is not your traditional music. It’s anything from Kid Rock to Leonard Skinner,” says Gamble.
But he says like regular Christian churches, the message is the same.
“Basically I want to point people to Jesus.”
Vivian Kreeft is a member of GraceHarbour Ministries.
The Kelowna woman doesn’t ride anymore since a catastrophic accident nearly three years ago.
The motorcycle she and her husband were riding was rammed from behind by another vehicle — killing her husband and leaving her with life changing injuries.
- Joffre Lakes to close for 3 periods this year under agreement with First Nations
- ‘Why aren’t we doing more?’ White Rock on edge with killer on the loose
- B.C. carjacking victim says she doesn’t trust the ‘catch-and-release’ system
- Inquest into fatal Surrey hostage-taking recommends cameras for ERT teams
She says without biker religion, she would be sliding down skid row.
“If I didn’t have my faith, I would be a basket case. Bottom line. He (Husband — Jules) died across my legs. His heart exploded in our accident. If I didn’t have the friendship of church and bikers that are of the same frame of mind as me, I’d be a drunk. I know it.”
But for women, this group has limits. Even though she’s the pastor’s wife, Tannis Gamble can never become a full member of the ministry’s parent group called Bondslave. Women cannot become members. But that’s alright with Gamble.
“I respect the men’s club. We’ve been given plenty of opportunity to know why it’s a men’s only club and we make the choice of supporting our husbands — our men.”
For the record, there are no outlaw bikers in Bondslave or Grace Harbour Ministries but that doesn’t mean they’re not welcome.
“They are more than welcome. We as Bonslave attend their rallies and stuff. Just because – yeah, maybe they’re not going to come to church so the church needs to go to them,” says pastor Gamble.
The church’s membership fluctuates between 10 and 30 members.
Comments