I was raised in a Christian home, but never felt like I fit in. Although I went to Sunday school and church almost every time the doors were open something was missing. I heard all the sermons and knew the bible pretty well and even went forward many times to get “saved”, but it just wasn't right.
I believed in God and Jesus and asked him into my heart and my faith was strong but, throughout my life, even into the army and my first marriage and divorce it was an up and down thing that just didn't have the substance that I thought religion should have. My religion didn’t give me the staying power to be a Christian all the time. It was good when I was in church, but for the most part, I was just like the world when in it.
Moving from Western Pa. to New Jersey was a pretty big step in my life and I did it on my own. But that made my religion even harder, no church, and the only friends I had were the ones I left behind or the acquaintances I made at work who were not Christians. I married for all the wrong reasons the 1st time and had no intention of doing it a 2nd time. I met my present wife Jo-Ann (JP), who is the best thing that happened to me, she gave me a reason to care and to love. In my backslidden state JP although not saved seemed more a Christian than me.
After JP got saved and she starting growing in her spirit, we now both longed for something more. We heard about a church called Calvary Chapel and thought we would give it a try. From the first time we attended services there we knew we had found what we were looking for. We found a home. It was there that I recommitted my life to Christ and through the teaching of Pastor Lloyd I learned that being a Christian was not about how much you know about God, but it was about having a personal relationship with Christ that makes you a Christian. It was that personal relationship that changed me. It was no longer a chore or a ritual that I had to perform to keep in God's good graces.
It was no longer how much of God I had but rather how much of me God had. My life had changed and was changing on a daily basis. God was doing a work in me and I was now the man of God that I always thought I should be. I'm not saying I then became perfect, however, as I walked with Christ, I was not sinless, but I was sinning less. Christ gave me the desire to serve Him. JP and I were serving at Calvary and attend CCOB Bible College. I was no longer striving to earn my salvation; rather because of my salvation I was eager to do His will.
Dirt bikes, boats, and cars were some of the many pleasures I have indulged myself in over the years. I had fun but they never gave me the opportunity, or I never took the opportunity to use them to share Christ with others. Until about two years ago all my toys were strictly for my pleasure. I would enjoy them for a season and then move onto the next thing that struck my fancy. My next venue became motorcycles. Only this time God said why not do it with Me. At that point, I began to search out different motorcycle ministries and I believe that God led me to Lost and Found MM. Before I even purchased a motorcycle I knew this ministry was where God was leading me.
Since joining LFMM, I have been able to witness to others, mostly bikers. The ministry’s focus is to lost bikers and the “bike” is the common denominator which helps to start communication. Talking about Christ to strangers is something I have never been good at, but God is helping me extend myself in this area. It has also opened new doors to finding a church in our area. Since we moved farther away from CCOB it became harder to serve because of the distance. We began searching for a new church home but after months had gone by we became overwhelmed and somewhat discouraged. God is faithful - And in His time He led us to the fellowship which we currently attend. It is a “Biker” Church that has the same philosophy as Calvary Chapel: Come as you are, be who you are, we will meet you and love you where you are at and we will grow together in our love and knowledge of Jesus.
Finding a church where the pastor and I have the same vision allows me to serve again - where JP and I can together serve God, our Pastor, the church body and community as we had done in the past. God is GOOD! All things do work together for those who love the LORD.