The Crusader Newspaper Group

Riders attend Motorcycle Sunday at New Shiloh Church

By Carmen M. Woodson-Wray, Gary Crusader

If last week was your first time visiting New Shiloh Church, then you were probably surprised by the number of motorcycles surrounding the church. The motorcycle riders came from all over the area to receive a blessing for themselves and for their bikes from a pastor with a special connection to motorcycles on Motorcycle Sunday.

Rev. Corey Jackson is the pastor of New Shiloh Missionary Church in Gary, Indiana. Jackson is very passionate about motorcycles and has ridden a Harley-Davidson Ultra for the last four years. His church has quite a few members who also ride motorcycles. About six years ago, Jackson came up with the idea of Motorcycle Sunday to provide a place riders could come to receive a very specific blessing for their shared passion.

Jackson added there was a second reason for establishing the annual service. He said, “It allowed the opportunity for those who particularly don’t attend our services to come and share with us.”

MOTORCYCLIST BEING BLESSED by Rev. Corey Jackson—Members of a local motorcycle club receive a special blessing from Rev. Corey Jackson, pastor of New Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church following service during Motorcycle Cycle Sunday. (Photo by Carmen)
MOTORCYCLIST BEING BLESSED by Rev. Corey Jackson—Members of a local motorcycle club receive a special blessing from Rev. Corey Jackson, pastor of New Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church following service during Motorcycle Cycle Sunday. (Photo by Carmen)

Motorcycle Sunday over the years has generated quite a reception from motorcycle enthusiasts, members of motorcycle clubs from throughout the area and even riders from other churches. They come for the service and to fellowship with one another. Rev. Jackson said, “We accepted them in and it has been a great relationship ever since we started.”

Although Jackson is not a member of a club, he rides with a group of his church members.

He said normally there are four to seven different clubs that attend Motorcycle Sunday. Some of them are members of The Sin City Disciples, which is one of their biggest supporters, The Cobras, The Rough Riders and even a women’s riding group attends. On Sunday morning there were close to 50 motorcycles parked outside the church. He said, “Our best year was four years ago when we had 150 motorcycles outside.”

Rev. Jackson said the service has been a blessing to the riders over the years. He said, “One year after a Motorcycle Sunday, I was at the ATM machine and a guy on a bike pulled up and told me he was listening to my sermon and could quote from it. He told me what it did for him. It was then that I knew I had to continue to have them.”

He went on to say that when a cyclist from one of the clubs dies, they always ask him to give remarks or they have asked New Shiloh to host the funeral. “Because of this, our church’s relationship with the cyclists has really grown,” he said.

Mr. Locke, a member of The Cobras said it was his first time coming to the church service to get his bike blessed. He said he has been riding his Harley-Davidson for 30 years. He said, “I belong to Tarrytown Missionary Baptist Church and I am here with other members of my club. I think this is worthwhile to get your bike blessed, it certainly can’t hurt anything.”

Theodore Hawkins, a member of the Armed Forces, The Sin City Disciples and a State Provost Marshall for the State of Indiana was there too for the blessing. The State Provost Marshalls honor the American flag during military services.

Hawkins said he came to church because he goes to church every Sunday. He said, “I had my motorcycle blessed week before last in East Chicago, but I came here today because it is Gary, Indiana. I ride a Harley-Davidson that I have been riding since 1991. I think this is worthwhile for the riders and the motorcycles to come and get blessed because this is the season that we have to be extra careful on these bikes. A lot of times we need a little praise.”

 

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