Newsletter

My dad was born to Frank and Mary Walker on October 24, 1915 , in or around Sandy Lake, Pa. He ended up going to Lincoln Chiropractic College in Indianapolis , Ind. , where he met my mom.

She was born to John and Ollie Moore on January 3, 1917 , in Indianapolis , Ind. . She was working for the phone company, at the time she met my dad.

Can't say their relationship started off with a "bang". You see dad tried to kiss mom goodnight on their first date and she wouldn’t let him. Dad left mad thinking she was stuck up, and had decided that was the end of that. But he couldn't forget her! He called her up for a second date and from there things took off. They would ride the trolley car home at night together and hopefully hear their favorite song which was Moon River . I guess you could say the rest from there is history! They were married (after waiting for" hour's" for the minister to get back from his fishing trip), on May 23, 1938 . This month they will celebrate 70 years of marriage!!!

I do have to tell you this funny story that happened to them when mom went to cook dad their first meal. They had gotten a chicken to fix for supper, just one problem---mom had never fixed one! The lady they were renting from came in just as mom had put the chicken in the boiling water. She let them know real quick that the chicken wasn't dead yet!!! I guess mom had forgotten to plucked it too, because she said the feathers all floated to the top of the pot. (Now don't you just feel so sorry for that poor chicken even after 70 years??? ) On top of that, when it was done, and mom went to take it out of the pot, it slipped out of her hands and slid across the floor! Did they end up eating it after all of that??? You bet! Love covers many things!!!

Well life went on and besides being a D.C., dad became a minister. They traveled a lot because dad helped to build and start new churches, besides pastoring . This was obvious because all of us were born in different states. John Walker, the oldest was born in N.C., myself, Mary A. Walker Thornton, in Ky. , my sister, Linda Walker in Ind. , and my youngest brother, Thomas Walker, Jr., in MI.. After my older brother was born, mom and dad wanted more children, but couldn't seem to have any more. Mom, out of desperation, prayed she'd get pregnant again. Guess what--God answers prayer! After 15 years, she had me and then she couldn't stop! She then had Linda, who was born with Down’s Syndrome, 3 years later, and then Tom Jr., 2 years after that. Mom remained at home with us kids until we were all grown. Even though some may think raising a child with Down’s Syndrome would be extremely hard, mom and dad always gave Linda the same opportunities that they gave us to learn and to be a part of society. She was never a burden to them. Linda has always been known as "their little angel".

One thing I can truly say about my parents is that they have always, and still do, "walk the talk". We always had worship before bedtime and always prayed before each meal. Nothing has changed to this day. I believe that is why God has blessed them with heath and long life. "Together" they have held the Word high in their lives and have touched, not just our family, but many outside of our family. Where ever they are they look for someone to share the Lord with. Even now they remain true to Him and to each other. Dad had every opportunity to be unfaithful to mom when he was in the Army, overseas in

Germany

, but he didn't. I have read the love letters he sent to mom while over there. They were truly from the heart!

They are still very much in love with each other! (Just ask my mom! ) I am so honored to have been born to them and have the opportunity to share a small part of their life with you.

They both still travel, by car lol, to our place in

Georgia

, to Indianapolis , Pa. , and N.C.. Dad and mom actually started riding a motorcycle when he was 63 and rode till he was 80! I can tell you they loved every minute of it!

They are still very active in prison ministry every Friday evening at KSR. They previously were involved in Bill Glass Prison Ministry and traveled to many prisons across this country. Dad on many occasions has said that they have led more people to the Lord through the prison ministry than they ever did in all those years of pastoring churches. That's why prison ministry holds their hearts the way it does! Even at 92 and 91 years of age. Once a month, they help minister to the soldiers from Fort Knox who come into town and meet at different churches. Dad was also involved in the Christian Truckers for awhile. It's also an honor to say that my parents were nominated for Missionary Couple of the Year (2007).

Too many times we hear about pastors who are so busy and caught up in their own church workings that their own families suffer and as a result, slip from the Truth. I can honestly say that you won't find one person in our family that hasn't been touched, in some way, by mom and dad. Their lives past and present, have painted a picture for all to see. A legacy born in Truth! One that will be handed down from generation to generation until our Lords return.

I hope you enjoyed that little peak into the life of my parents, Tom and Lela Walker. I could have gone on forever telling stories on them, but I decided to wait and share them "on the other side"! lol I'll have more time then and won't have to worry about writing space.

The Holy Ghost Riders TEAM (Telling Everyone About Messiah) is centered around Finchville , Kentucky . Vern Hawkins, the TEAM ’s charter and current President, tells about wearing his vest adorned with an MJM emblem while riding his motorcycle down the road. A man at an intersection got Vern’s attention by honking his horn repeatedly until Vern stopped & chatted with him. The man had an interest in joining a Christian motorcycle group, as did others in that area, and as a result, the Holy Ghost Riders TEAM was chartered in 2007 with the assistance of the MJM National Road Rep Administrator Fred McClincy.

Once a month the TEAM members hold a business meeting in one of the members’ homes, and once a week they plan a TEAM ride together, riding 50-100 miles each time.

The TEAM has taken a step of faith, starting the “ New Hope Biker Church ”. Services are held every Thursday evening at 7 p.m. in the 4H building at the Henry County Fairgrounds. They’ve had assistance from Charlie Nelson (the southern Ohio MJM Road Rep) and some of his guys, who have put the Holy Ghost Riders in touch with the Spirit Filled Christian Fellowship. If you’re in the area, plan to worship at the New Hope Biker Church located at 1106 Castle Highway , New Castle , Kentucky . For more information or directions, contact Vern Hawkins at 502-718-1187.

In addition to the New Hope Biker church, the Holy Ghost Riders combine their energies and efforts with other MJM members of the J.O.Y. Riders of Louisville for several events through the year. They minister every Friday night with the J.O.Y. Riders at the Kentucky State Reformatory, and spend countless hours providing Christmas stockings for the prison inmates’ children and grandchildren. Last year about 600 stockings were filled with precious gifts for the children by these tender-hearted bikers.

About 6 charity riders each year receive the support of this Holy Ghost Riders TEAM , including Relay for Life, and a cancer benefit run in Carrolton , Kentucky .

This new TEAM volunteered to host the National MJM 2009 Spring Kick-off, a very important event. They again called on their good friends the J.O.Y. Riders, to help with the prayers, plans and actions needed for a successful gathering. Mark your calendars now to attend the 2009 National MJM Spring Kick-off in Finchville , Kentucky , May 22-24 2009 . “Ride with the Spirit” will be the theme. Camping and hotels will be made available in the Finchville and Shelbyville area at reasonable prices.

After the Earth was created man sinned and had lost his ability to sit in the garden and just "talk" to God. He (God) had a way that He could again have man be close to Him because God could not stand to be around Sin. He had a plan...

There was a virgin named Mary, who bore a Son. She never had sex with any man but became pregnant by the Holy Spirit. This way He could truly be called THE Son of God. She named him Jesus. As He was growing up He KNEW as He walked past the shadow of a Roman cross that one day He too... would give His body over to death...

When Jesus was 30 years old He was baptized in the Jordan River by a man who ate locusts and honey, named John. In the bible it says: "Jesus also was baptized and while He prayed, the heaven was opened. The Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him and a voice came from heaven which said, 'You are my beloved Son; in You I am well pleased'".

After Jesus was baptized, he was lead into the desert by the Holy Spirit to be tempted by Satan. Satan said things like, if Jesus would bow down and worship Satan, he would give Jesus dominion over all the earth; or that Jesus should turn rocks into bread; or jump off a high place, telling Him that God promised that all Jesus had to do was ask the Father and He would be protected. Well, Jesus didn't fall for any of that stuff. He knew that if He just spoke the word of God He would put Satan to shame. (Which by the way He did, He just used scripture against all of Satan's attempts and this is what caused Satan to loose this battle.) Satan then left Jesus for a while, and Jesus was ministered to by angels.

Jesus knew that someday He would offer the world (us) another chance. His time of testing was to help Him become more dependent on the Father and to show us that we must be dependent on the Father for our strength. He knew that He had a very important job ahead of him. While he was in the desert, he did a lot of praying; you see, Jesus had only 31/2 years to get as much "training" into His disciples as He could.

After His time in the desert, Jesus had to get back to the city so he could start finding some very close friends whom He could trust, teach, and show what He was here for. They one day would be the beginning of what we now call the Christian Church. "Christian" means followers of Christ. He chose 12 men to be His disciples.

Jesus would go to the mountains early in the mornings to pray to the Father and gather strength and wisdom for the day.

Ever since the creation of time God has been in control of everything-- even down to the last blade of grass in the field, or hair on your head, and every little thing that has been going on... even after Adam and Eve blew it in the garden. You see, God knew that they would and He had a perfect way for us to reunite ourselves with Him since we were separated from Him because of the original sin of Adam and Eve.

He would provide an offering, a blameless Lamb (in the old testament it was blood that was required to pay for our sins-- the Jews sacrificed animals once a year for atonement of sins) to be killed once and for all for our sins. God requires blood to forgive sin, but ours is not good enough, and animals were only good for a short while. God Himself came down out of heaven and took human form, as a baby named Jesus.

This is how He would provide you, and all of us, a way back to Him... You have no doubt heard the story many times, but it is a fact. Jesus Christ died on the Cross as a final sin offering for you and me. The only "religion", or belief system, in the world that has this fact is Christianity.

He suffered a death we could never imagine... the whipping of his back, shoulders, and legs with a whip with iron balls in the ends so that they would rip the skin and muscle until it was nothing but shreds of flesh, the placing of a crown of thorns, with LONG needles on them, smashed onto His head, then while all the wounds were still fresh, He was forced to carry the heavy wooden cross until He could go no more... taken to Golgotha, slammed down onto that rough, hard wooden cross. A long spike was hammered through each of His wrists, to hold His arms across, then through His Feet. He was then hoisted up, with the weight of His body pulling His arms against the iron spikes, having to push against the nail through his feet so that He could breathe... this lasted for three hours. When He finally died, they thrust a spear into his side between his ribs; water and blood came out-- a positive sign of death (the water is serum, something that is only present when something isn't alive anymore).

But that is NOT the end of the story! Guess what? He was placed in a tomb, and 3 days later He was not there!! He came out of the tomb alive!, and He is coming back!... once to gather up His Church (those who have accepted Him as a Savior and have a personal relationship with Him), and once for JUDGMENT on earth for those who have not accepted Him as Savior.

He is KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF L0RDS, no matter what you or anyone else thinks or tells you. He loves you and wants to have a personal relationship with you... no matter what you've done in your life-- nothing is bad enough for Christ to reject you. He loves you unconditionally. His mercy and grace, although we don't deserve them, are given freely to you and me. "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast. (Eph 2:8-9)

Well now it's up to you; there is a choice to be made. Will you come to Him today and start your life with a fresh, clean slate? This is all that is required of us...

1. Admit your a sinner (Romans 3:10 )
2. Realize that Jesus Christ's atoning death on the cross for your sins is a FREE gift to you from God. (Romans 6:23)
3. Ask Jesus to come into your heart and take control of your life, and that you want a personal relationship with Him. (Revelations 3:20)
4. Then tell (confess with your mouth) another person that you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord. ( Romans 10:9-19)

Find yourself a well balanced church and join in the fun of being a child of a King!! He promises us that "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." When you have truly accepted and believed in Him, there is a change within you that some notice right away, and you will know in your heart if you truly believe.. .there will be a change.

I would like to say we had a very nice time in Gettysburg , PA. A fine job was done on the Spring Kickoff. We met a lot of nice friends that we won’t forget. We sure miss see the ones that couldn’t make it. It’s been a long time since I was able to travel and I was looking forward to seeing old friends Bob and Kathy, Karl and Kerma and many others, maybe next time in our state of Kentucky . Hope all is well with everyone and blessing s to all.

There are two motorcycle churches beginning locally. One is Vern Hawkins, New Hope Biker Church , meeting each Thursday at 7 pm at Henry County Fairgrounds, 1106 Castle Highway , New Castle , KY. Vern's cell is 502/718-1187

The second church is Bikers, Cars & Automobiles Church , meeting 3rd Saturday of each month at Big Springs Assembly of God, 2345 Taylorsville Rd. , Bloomfield , KY 40008 . Eric Gilbert is preaching and probably singing too, his cell is 502/262-1027.

It has been a privilege to be a part of creating a newsletter each month. Thanks to the wonderful people behind the scenes who have submitted articles over the past two years, enabling the MJM Voice to be read across the many states MJM has TEAMS in. Thanks to all who have written and called in their encouragement on a job well done and keep it up. A special thanks to Karl Wardlaw whom has supplied the Birthdays, Anniversaries, Years of Service, New Members page, along with mailing labels. I thank my wife Donna, for her “ TEAM TALK ” editorials and much more help.

Motorcyclists for Jesus Ministry (MJM), Inc. Established in The Commonwealth of Kentucky , February 1989

To Make Donations. Send to: MJM National Treasurer, 1704 Suman Ave , Dayton , Ohio 45403

Motorcyclists for Jesus Ministries Inc.

Purpose:

The purpose of MJM is to guide the motorcyclist into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and give a positive direction by example on how to live one’s life through the authority and power of God in Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit.

Mission :

The primary mission of MJM is to lovingly share the gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world, focusing primarily on the motorcycling community through secular and Christian events, worship services, helping hand activities, and other related motorcycling activities.

M.J.M. members are to seek out and assist fellow motorcyclists with his/her physical, personal and/or spiritual needs. To organize witnessing groups called TEAMs (Telling Everyone About Messiah), and to establish fellowship within the local TEAM.

MJM White Pages

What are the “White Pages”, you ask. Contact Karl Wardlaw at mjmtrikers@peoplepc.com or give him a call 937-833-3818, for complete information. It is a great way to receive or give assistance while traveling – and it’s free! If you have procrastinated, Karl will still sign you up at the Kick-off.

NOTE: Many of you enjoy reading the VOICE newsletter on line. If you recently changed your e-mail address, please contact Bob Dillon at mjmroadrep@indy.rr.com so he can correct his membership listing and contact you when the MJM Website has been updated.