How My Harley Got Me Removed from Church—and Then Reinstated as a Deacon
They told me I couldn’t serve communion anymore. Why? Because my Harley was “sending the wrong message” to the congregation.
Forty-three years as a deacon at First Baptist, never missed a Sunday, tithed faithfully even when money was tight. But the moment our new young pastor saw me roll up to the church picnic in my riding gear, straight from visiting shut-ins, suddenly I was “incompatible with our family-friendly image.”
Those words hit me harder than any sermon. I’d taught Sunday school here. I’d baptized kids. I’d held my wife’s memorial service in that sanctuary. And now my motorcycle made me a liability?
For six months, I kept it quiet. Early service, back row, slip out before the final hymn. I stopped wearing my “Bikers for Christ” patch, stopped talking about church with my riding brothers. I told them I was taking a break.
But some truths refuse to stay hidden. Sarah Williams, who’d known me decades, confronted me at the grocery store. Her eyes didn’t miss a thing. I told her everything—about Pastor Davidson, the deacon board, the ban. She listened, then said something that would change everything:
“That young fool,” she muttered. “He has no idea what he’s done.”
Sunday morning, I expected nothing. I parked my bike, prepared to sit quietly. Then I saw them. Dozens of motorcycles—Christian Riders, Veterans Motorcycle Club, Masonic riders—all parked right where everyone could see. The sanctuary was full. My brothers in leather vests sat alongside longtime church members.
Pastor Davidson stumbled through announcements, clearly unprepared. That’s when Sarah stood up.
“For forty-three years, Mike Thompson has served this church faithfully,” she said. “He’s taught your children, visited your sick, fixed your building, driven teenagers home, and led people to Christ—many of them bikers who would never step inside a church otherwise. And you told him he couldn’t serve communion because of a motorcycle?”
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