Author: Jeremiah Hayes

Jeremiah Hayes joined ASR in 2017. He was elected Vice President in 2022, and is currently serving as International President.
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One Hand On The Throttle, One Hand Held Out

Outreach is not an uncommon word. Many of our churches do outreach. There are community events throughout each year dedicated to reaching the community around them.  Many of our ASR chapters facilitate Biker Weekends, with an outreach oriented goal of purposely making an impact on the souls in their immediate area of influence.

I fell in love with ASR, not because of being able to ride with others of like faith, but because of the unity of the Spirit, and the goal to reach the lost. We are unified in our mission, to reach the lost with the gospel of Jesus Christ!

Out of curiosity, I decided to google the definition of outreach. There were 2 definitions found in the search.

  1.  noun; an organization’s involvement with or activity in the community
  2. verb: reach further than

When I read those definitions, something stirred in my spirit. I know that most of our outreach has been the noun version, to get involved with activity in our local community. I am not throwing stones, or trying to criticize the efforts and willingness to serve our communities. It is still needed!

But, as I read the definition of outreach in verb form, I began to understand that there is a shift that needs to take place. We are accustomed to being involved in our community. The church world in general has outreach in noun form down to a science. But, I believe God is calling us beyond what we’re accustomed to. I believe it is time to shift to the verb form of outreach, and begin to reach further!

Further than the world!

Further than addiction!

Further than idolatry!

Further than routine!

Further than our comfort zone!

We are being called to deeper waters, and to reach further than any other program, ministry, or endeavor has ever reached before!

 

Although riding with both hands on the handlebars is always recommended for safety reasons, there are times when only one hand is on the bars. Whether you are resting the other hand, taking a drink of water, or giving hand signals, there are moments when you have one hand on the throttle, and the other hand free.

However, the hour we live in, and the condition of the world around us, demands that we, as Apostolic bikers, filled with His Spirit, washed in His blood, wearing the Azusa Street Riders back patch, spiritually ride one handed throughout this world. One hand on the throttle, and one hand reaching out into the dismal darkness.

There are countless souls holding out their hand, hoping someone will come by in time, to pull them out of the fire. There are opportunities all around us. God forbid, that we get so focused on being so in tune with the ride, and seeing the scenery, that we roar past the dying souls lying in the gutter of sin and despair. It’s time to reach with everything in you! Lean out, grab a soul, and pull them to safety!

Jeremiah Hayes
President
Azusa StreetRiders International

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How Great Is My God

By: Johnathon Mcguire
Vice President
Mid Michigan Chapter

A  year  ago  I  met  Brother  John  Zerbe  in  Midland  Michigan.  Pentecostal  Temple,  the  local  UPCI  Church,  was  preparing  to  participate  in  the  Midland  Memorial  Day  Parade  2023.  Pastor  Willis,  Brother  Zerbe  and  Sister  Zerbe  were  going  to  ride  their  bikes  in  the  Parade.  I  was  to  drive  the  Church  van.  As  we  prepared  for  the  day,  Brother  Zerbe,  or  as  I  now  with  respect  call  Zerbz,  talked  to  me  about  a  motorcycle  ministry.  This  thing  was  called  Azusa  Street  Riders.  He  explained  to  me  how  it  wasn’t  a  club  but  a  ministry.  That  the  bike  and  the  patch  were  tools  the  LORD  uses  to  start  conversation  with  people  and  minister  the  Gospel  of  JESUS.  He  wanted  to  start  a  Chapter  in  Michigan.  This  caught  my  interest  since  I  have  a  history  on  2  wheels.  I  wanted  to  become  part  of  it  and  do  what  I  could  to  help.  Shortly  thereafter  a  Chapter  was  formed  in  Midland  Michigan.  At  the  1st  meeting  of  the  Mid  Michigan  ASR  Chapter  with  its  humble  beginning,  I  was  voted  in  as  its  Vice  President.  With  Brother  Zerbe,  as  the  President.

I  hadn’t  rode  since  receiving  the  HOLY  GHOST.  I  was  associated  with  people  where  that  bike  and  I  had  existed  unGODly  and  in  darkness.  Five  years  had  passed  without  a  ride  because  what  it  meant  to  me  to  be  on  my  bike,  the  mindset,  the  lifestyle  and  what  I  was  involved  in  had  all  ceased  to  exist.  The  old  man  was  dead.  Now  that  I  was  made  new  in  CHRIST,  coupled  with  the  focus  of  a  motorcycle  ministry,  well  that  gave  new  meaning  to  –  lets  ride.

Zerbz  talked  to  me  about  how  people  would  come  up  and  start  the  conversation.  I  found  out  how  true  that  is.  Recently  I  was  invited  on  a  ride  by  Brother  Thomas  Newman  from  Yorkville  Ohio  UPCI  Church  where  my  dear  Brother  David  Forsythe  Pastors.  Our  destination  was  Gatlinburg  Tennessee  to  meet  up  with  several  people  who  needed  a  witness.  We  rode  through  West  Virginia.  On  our  way,  stopped  in  Jane  Lew  West  Virginia  and  visited  with  Pastor  Jeff  Cochran  of  Buchannon  UPCI  Church.  At  breakfast  that  morning,  us  three  Brothers  ministered  to  the  kind  waitress  GOD  had  put  in  our  path.  She  felt  a  strong  presence  of  the  LORD  as  she  let  tears  flow.  Phone  numbers  were  exchanged  so  that  Sister  Cochran  could  reach  out  to  her  and  help  that  relationship  with  JESUS  grow.  After  leaving  Jane  Lew,  we  rode  to  Charleston  West  Virginia  and  met  up  with  the  National  ASR  President  Jeremiah  Hayes  for  lunch.  How  refreshing,  iron  sharpens  iron.  Then  on  to  Gatlinburg  where  I  had  the  opportunity  to  give  a  lengthy  version  of  my  testimony  to  a  married  couple  at  the  cabin  where  we  stayed,  and  so  a  seed  was  planted.  The  man  and  Thomas  work  together.  I’m  sure  Brother  Thomas  will  do  plenty  of  watering  there.  After  the  beautiful  ride  through  parts  of  Tennessee  and  North  Carolina,  Thomas  and  I  rode  out.  Heading  to  Glen  Ferris  West  Virginia  for  Men’s  Conference  where  Brother  David  Bounds  spoke  what  GOD  put  on  him  and  the  place  just  came  undone.  Wonderful  worship  and  what  a  move  of  GOD.  So  energized,  and  full  of  the  HOLY  GHOST,  away  we  went.  Back  toward  Yorkville  Ohio.  Just  north  of  Flatwoods  West  Virginia  we  stopped  at  a  rest  area.  A  woman  approached  us  and  asked  if  she  could  take  a  picture  of  the  patch  on  the  back  of  my  vest.  A  conversation  began.  As  she  talked  to  me  about  her  walk  with  GOD,  Brother  Thomas  received  a  word  from  the  LORD  for  her  and  jumped  in  and  spoke  it.  Immediately  she  broke  out  in  tears.  As  we  prayed  for  her  and  laid  hands  on  her,  GOD  filled  her  with  HIS  SPIRIT!  A  day  she  will  never  forget.  And  all  this  happened  in  front  of  two  tour  busses  of  people.  A  witness  of  a  move  of  GOD  for  all  of  them  to  see.  I  traveled  on  to  Midland  Michigan.  Where  I  had  some  things  to  work  out  at  my  tax  preparers  office.  On  that  Monday  morning  the  owner  was  in  and  he  noticed  my  vest.  He  said  “Azusa  Street!  Charles  Parham  and  William  Seymore!  Are  you  Pentecostal?”  When  I  said  yes  he  strolled  around  the  tax  office  singing  old  hymns  and  praising  GOD.  Stopped  in  front  of  me  and  as  the  presence  of  GOD  fell  on  that  place  he  was  filled  with  the  HOLY  GHOST  and  spoke  in  tongues!

I  write  all  this  to  honor  my  ALMIGHTY  LORD  GOD  JESUS!  Understand  people,  this  Azusa  Street  Riders  thing  is  ordained  of  GOD!  No  matter  where  you  ride  and  stop  with  this  patch  and  the  Anointing,  GOD  is  with  you.  Angels  are  encompassed  about  to  help  prepare  the  way.  This  is  a  Missions  work.  In  a  field  where  most  of  the  people  you  come  in  contact  with  have  never  met  a  Oneness  Apostolic  believer  and  been  ministered  to  by  one.  This  is  to  help  the  lost  who  are  hungry  and  hurting.  This  is  to  impress  upon  them  to  yield  their  mind  to  the  HOLY  GHOST  and  not  a  substance!  It  is  evident  that  GOD  honors  this  because  of  HIS  manifest  presence.  Because  of  HIS  miracle  working  power  evident  at  every  stop.  And  because  people  come  to  you,  GOD  draws  them  by  HIS  SPIRIT.

A  week  after  the  Gatlinburg  trip,  Midland  Michigan  had  its  first  ASR  Biker  Weekend.  What  a  joyous  time.  Brother  Hayes  and  his  family  came,  along  with  other  Brothers  and  Sisters  from  out  of  state.  We  raised  funds  for  Motorcycles  for  Missions  which  purchases  bikes  for  missionaries  overseas.  Great  fellowship.  Great  food.  Thank  you  Sisters  of  Pentecostal  Temple  Midland  Michigan  for  preparing  meals  for  us.  Pastor  Kevin  Willis  of  Pentecostal  Temple  invited  his  brother  who  is  also  a  Pastor  to  preach  for  us.  He  preached  about  “The  Pulpit”.  That  got  us  stirred  up!  Great  worship  and  Alter  call  followed.  We  rode  Saturday  and  Sunday.  A  little  rainy  Saturday.  Didn’t  let  the  rain  stop  us.  This  is  ministry,  nothing  can  stop  it.  The  gates  of  hell  shall  not  prevail  against  the  Church!  We  are  the  Church.  We  are  GOD’s  modern  day  remnant!  Out  into  the  highways  and  the  byways.  To  the  uttermost  part  of  the  earth  –  lets  ride!

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2024 Upcoming Events

2024 EVENTS

July 12-14
Northern Indiana Biker Weekend
Location Northwest Indiana

July 20
Princess Within Conference Run
Chillicothe, OH

August 1-3
ASR National Rally
Omaha, Nebraska

August 4-10
Black Hills Ministry Tour
South Dakota

August 9-10
Heaven Bound Hoosiers Overnight Ride
Bloomington, Indiana

August 17-18
WAPC Biker Weekend
Wooster, Ohio

August 17
2nd Annual Bike Night
Sanctuary of Sikeston, MO

August 24 – August 25
6th Annual ASR Weekend
Jacksonville, IL

August 30 – September 1
Muskingum Chapter Biker Weekend
Zanesville, Ohio

August 31- September 1
7th Annual Biker Weekend
Sparta, Tennessee

September 13-15
7th Annual Biker Weekend
Clendenin, West Virginia

September 20-22
Motorcycles for Missions Biker Weekend
Toledo, Ohio

September 21
Hocking Hills Biker Day
New Straitsville, OH

October 19
2nd Annual Floyd’s Backyard Run
Madison, Alabama

November 7-10
Lone Star Rally
Galveston, Texas

All events will be listed in the monthly rumblings newsletter and on the ASR website.
If you have an event planned, please create an event on the Facebook Group under the events tab, and also send the event information along with any flyers to jeremiah.hayes@azusastreetriders.com

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National Rally Volunteers

At this year’s National Rally, volunteers have been requested by the host church to help with clean-up after each meal. We would like to set up teams to be able to rotate these responsibilities, so the same people don’t have to pull double duty. If you are willing to volunteer for this, please email the board at asr.national@azusastreetriders. Thank you for your willingness to serve in the Kingdom of God!

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Motorcycles For Missionaries

Fundraising has been underway by multiple chapters across the country to raise funds for Motorcycles For Missionaries. There are several different ways to raise funds for this awesome program.

Some chapters take up designated offerings during their Biker Sunday services, while others host M4M Fundraiser runs, in which donations are collected.

Others host raffles by donation, in which proceeds benefit Motorcycles For Missionaries. There are several fundraiser giveaways going on right now. Reach out to a local chapter for tickets, and be a part of taking the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the foreign mission field by way of 2 wheels!

Maryville Chapter (TN)

 

Myrtle Beach Chapter (SC)

 

Appalachian Chapter (WV)

 

Wooster Chapter (OH)

AR-15 Diamondback
Drawing to be held on Aug 17 after ride
$10 per ticket, or 6 for $50.
Optional $600 cash payout.

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National Rally Q&A Session

At last year’s rally, we met with Chapter Presidents, Area Coordinators, and Chaplains in a separate Q&A session on Friday morning of the rally. This allowed a smaller group to meet with the board, and cover some specific questions and concerns without disrupting the annual business meeting. We plan to once again have a Q&A session at this years rally in Omaha. Details on the time and meeting location will be forthcoming. If you are a Chapter President, Area Coordinator, or Chaplain, please plan on attending this session.

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Happy Father’s Day

I want to wish each of our ASR fathers a Happy Father’s Day!

In a society where the role of the father is minimized, I am honored to be part of a ministry where Godly men still raise their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

I also want to say a special Happy Father’s Day to the father of ASR, Bro Fred Beall. Thank you Bro Beall for your unwavering devotion to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

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Lost & Found

Every so often, I run across a heartwarming story of someone who has been reunited with a motorcycle they believed was gone forever.

Brady Morton was just 18 when his dad Gavin died from cancer at the age of 50. The 1998 Harley was sold to pay for Gavin’s funeral, but in the years since,  Brady has regretted selling the bike. “I’ve been kicking myself ever since over why I let it go,” Morton said.
He hoped to one day buy a Harley Davidson of his own, in his father’s honor, but his wife and sister did one better. Morton’s sister Ashlee started the search for their dad’s old bike, enlisting Brady’s wife Alisha to help.
“It meant a lot to me because I just knew how much it would mean to him to have a piece of his dad back,” Alisha Morton said.
It took the pair 10 months of searching to track down the bike’s current owner.
“I think it went through four owners but it was about five to six contacts that I had to go through,” Morton’s sister said.
The pair managed to track down the bike’s most recent owner, Dean Briggs, who said he felt honored to help out and sell the bike back to the family.
“I did tell them the bike hadn’t started for a while,” Briggs said. “But once they turned the key, it started straight away, so I think it was meant to be – this bike was meant to be with them.”
Morton, who was given the beloved bike on the weekend, said the 30th birthday gift was “massive” to him. Morton said he had no plans to ever sell the Harley. Instead, he said it would become a fitting family heirloom to be passed down through the family.

“So although I get to ride it, it’s a good gift for everyone.”

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Donald DeVault was reunited with his 1953 Triumph Tiger 100 nearly 50 years after it was stolen. The 73-year-old DeVault learned that California authorities had recovered his motorcycle at the Port of Los Angeles. The bike was about to be shipped to Japan when customs agents who checked the vehicle identification number discovered it had been reported stolen in February 1967. 

The bike was valued at $300 in 1967. Today, it’s worth about $9,000. DeVault’s first reaction? To hug the man who found the bike. His next move was naturally to take the motorcycle for a ride in the parking lot. DeVault had had the bike for only a year or two when it was taken from his fenced backyard. DeVault already has a Harley-Davidson and a Kawasaki motorcycle in his garage, so he plans to reserve the Triumph for special rides.

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I’m sure many days and nights are spent by those who have lost something, such as a motorcycle, thinking of the times when it was theirs. They reminisce on the rides taken, and the scenic vistas they had witnessed from two wheels. They no doubt, deal with sadness and despair about the loss of their prized possession.

How much more, does the King of Glory, who gave His life’s blood to purchase his most valuable possession, sorrow each time one of His children wander away? As a father, I can’t imagine how He must feel when He sees the ones who He gave everything for, simply turn, and walk away.

He remembers the times when the relationship was so special. Never a day went by that His child failed to talk with Him. And now, the thief, who comes to steal, kill, and destroy, has seemingly been victorious, and stolen the one He loves.

But, I am persuaded, that there is coming a day, when joy will spring forth from the portals of Heaven, as those thought to be gone forever, lost in a world of iniquity, once again find their way back to the Savior that gave everything for them.

 Luke 15:20-24
And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

Do not lose heart, do not lose hope, but keep trusting, keep hoping, keep praying, and keep believing! The day is coming, when the Lost, will be Found!

Jeremiah Hayes
President
Azusa StreetRiders International

 

 

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“Fire” Up Your Engines

The Great Wall of China is a fascinating and opposing structure. It’s purpose was to deter incursions by nomads from Inner Asia. Stretching for more than 13,000 miles, it is possibly the most recognizable symbol of China.

On the top of the wall, an estimated 25,000 watchtowers were built every 200 yards, standing approximately 40 feet above the main wall. It was from these watchtowers, sentries would stand watch, scanning the countryside for any movement, or potential threat of an attack.

These towers were not simply used for observation, but were also signaling posts . Each tower had a storage of firewood, hay, and sulphur. If and when the sentries would spot a hostile force, they were instructed to to light a signal fire to let the other watchtowers know that the enemy had been spotted. If up to 100 enemies were spotted, they would light one signal fire. If up to 500 enemies were spotted, 2 signal fires were lit. 3 fires meant 1,000 of the enemy had been spotted. 4 fires meant 5,000 enemies, and 5 fires meant more than 10,000 of the enemy was approaching. 

Although the threat was real, and the enemy was on the attack; the greater the attack of the enemy, the greater the light was broadcast.

We live in an ever darkening world, where sin is rampant. Evil is called good, and good is called evil. Wickedness is abounding. Society has reached new levels of sin. The enemy is on the prowl, seeking to steal, kill, and destroy.

The stronger the attack, the greater the light of the church will shine. The greater the ferocity of the forces of evil, the hotter the fires of revival will be. The attack of the enemy is nothing more than a call to action, so the fires of revival and the fire of the Holy Ghost will shine brighter than ever before.

The prophet Jeremiah, when he was struggling, and felt like giving up, would say “but His word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones!”

Don’t be disheartened and discouraged at the enemy’s advance, but use the opportunity presented by him, to light a fire in your life that cannot be extinguished. Use the enemy’s advance to shine brighter than ever before. Use the condition of society as a rallying cry, to move forward with the fire of the Holy Ghost leading you to someone who needs the Light!

As summer arrives, and events kick off, we embark into a mission field of souls that need to hear about the grace and mercy of God. Just as a sputtering, misfiring bike causes us to fall behind the pack, a smoldering ember will cause us to fall behind in our calling.

As you fire your bikes up this summer, and head out on the streets with the message of hope, make sure the fire of the Holy Ghost is kindled, and burning more brightly than ever before in your life, and you will start fires wherever you put your kickstand down.

Jeremiah Hayes
International President
Azusa StreetRiders