Ministry Motors Past 10-Year Mile Marker
Ten years (and countless thousands of road miles) ago, four Men’s Club members of the Hendersonville, North Carolina Corps approached their corps officer with a wild and outlandish idea for a way to attract younger men to their fellowship.
The Sons of the Savior Motorcycle Ministry (SSMM) was born. By-laws were drawn and registered, and the idea gradually took root.
Today, the SSMM has mushroomed into five thriving chapters across the Southern Territory (Fayetteville, North Carolina; Fayetteville, Arkansas; Austin, Texas; Walhalla, South Carolina; Hendersonville, North Carolina) fast approaching 100 members. Each chapter has their own moniker: Exodus, Agapé, Dauntless, Redeemed, Genesis—respectively. There is even a network- wide chapter of children and teens called Legacy—quite possibly the SSMM of coming decades.
Not all patched members are actual riders, but all are enthusiasts for combining their love of sharing the Gospel with their interest in motorcycles.
The forward-thinking corps officer that day in Hendersonville was Major Chris Thornhill. It was fitting, therefore, for him to be invited as the special guest for the group’s tenth anniversary weekend—he is also presently serving in Atlanta as the Territorial Mission, Evangelism & Cultural Ministries Secretary, which includes Men’s Ministries across the South.
“Those four guys wanted to do something, and I wanted to support them,” Major Chris says. Although it was birthed as a means of attracting men into Christian fellowship, the idea quickly spread to include women and young people.
“Folks anywhere can look at the Sons and say, ‘Hey, I ride a motorcycle,’ or, ‘I like the idea of spreading the Gospel even though I don’t ride, so maybe that’s something we can do in my corps, too!’”
People want to be a part of something bigger than themselves, he explains. SSMM gives them an opportunity to be a part of something important in their community.
SSMM members often “special” at other churches to tell others about their mission and ministry while representing the Army. They also have highly anticipated appearances in several divisions, including roaring into Men’s Camps with great fanfare.
“I am so proud and humbled that they still consider me a part of the Sons even though I don’t ride, but I display that patch in my office wherever I am stationed,” Major Chris says.
Although he calls himself “the fifth Beatle” of the founding group—referring to little-known drummer Pete Best of “the Fab Four”—Thornhill does not consider himself one of the founders. But he was involved from the beginning and even created their shield design which is reminiscent of the Army’s familiar red shield.
“The Sons wants everyone to be included, and young people are coming along as Legacy members, and adults joining in as prospects, proves to me that Jesus doesn’t need a building to spread the Gospel,” he says.
Chris Stepp, David Gurley, Dexter Allen, Jo Ann Doane, and Cadet Chris Swinney all shared moving testimonies of how SSMM affected them in their Christian Walk, or how they have witnessed countless encounters in public where someone noticed their unique vests and asked about their ministry.
Thinking, “Who are these clowns?” David Gurley was immediately drawn in by the Sons’ sense of humor when he met them just before COVID.
“The Lord put these guys in my (and wife, Lisa’s) life because He knew we were going through some tough times and some serious issues,” David witnessed.
Several references throughout the evening were made to one particular encounter that typifies the SSMM’s outreach.
“I was invited to ride for the first time with the Sons, and we stopped for dinner at SideStreet Pizza,” remembers Chris Stepp. “I had been running from God for nine years after being raised in a thoroughly Christian home, and I knew I needed to fill a huge void in my life.”
Chris goes on to tell of a young man who approached the riders when he saw their Christian patches on their vests.
“He came up to us and pleaded, ‘Guys, I need prayer!’ We laid hands on him and prayed over him out there in the middle of a pizza joint parking lot,” Chris says.
“That night I went home and fell on my face and begged God to change me. Because of the Sons of the Savior, and the ministry of [Captains Phillip & Sherrie] Stokes, I am a better husband, better father, and a better man!”
The constant example of these Christian warrior-riders is showing others how Christ changed their life and how he can change yours.
One positive outcome from the COVID pandemic is that, to continue outreach, weekly podcasts of Bible studies and special guest features continue to attract viewers.
“It’s like we always pronounce at the end of each podcast and gathering,” says Roy Snelson: “keep the shiny side up, the rubber side down, and your eyes on the Cross!”
