Rushing Wind Biker Church

Yesterday we worshiped at Rushing Wind Biker Church, 5715 East Pike, Zanesville, OH 43701, 740.923.5002, www.rushingwindzanesville.com, Pastor Michael McGuire.

Scripture – ESV

Revelation 19:11

Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.

Mark 11:7-10

And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!”

Philippians 2:5-11

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Isaiah 53:2

For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.

John 1:10-11

He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.

Revelation 1:7-8

Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Bob’s thoughts:

It was unfortunate that we worshiped at a different kind of church. The service is on Saturday night, but that’s not what made it different. It is a church oriented to bikers, but that wasn’t so different either. What was unfortunate was that this was one of the few we have visited that worshiped our Savior Jesus Christ unabashedly. The enthusiasm was contagious as the pastor and congregation worshiped with abandon. The female leaders seemed unaffected, I thought maybe they were concentrating on the music.

We were greeted and warmly welcomed. We sat near a large wooden cross with a crown of thorns and I noticed a smaller wooden cross at the other end of the chancel.

The praise band was uplifting, and they were loud and I didn’t mind the noise level. The room was packed and the screen was blocked from our vision by a speaker, but we may have been the only ones not singing. It was so good to hear the singing response of this very healthy age mix in the congregation, especially so many male voices.

The pastor used a lot of familiar Scripture to develop his message on the ride of Jesus. As Christ came into Jerusalem on the foal of a donkey, about as humble as could be, He came as the Lamb to the slaughter, willingly sacrificing His life for our sins. It was a short, humble ride (biker church). Heralded as King and condemned to die by the same people by the end of the week, the debt had to be satisfied and He willingly paid it. Christ’s return will be a wild ride when He comes in all His Glory. We hope to ride with Him.

There was a young man of the congregation who was called to ministry and is leaving for Alabama. He was commissioned and prayed over by his family and church family, and we were blessed to be there to pray for him.

We were admonished to leave our addictions to Christ, to which I add my witness. I smoked, on a good day, 6 packs of cigarettes, and drank accordingly, just about anything with alcohol. I had tried to quit many times without success, but when I gave it to Christ, I was done with both and never a desire for either since. I understand being addicted, but now I also understand the cure. He can heal you of whatever has a hold on you. If you believe, the power of Christ is in you to overcome.

Someone once told me that the best church they could imagine would be empty on Sunday because its members were out witnessing for Christ. The pastor told me they meet on Saturday evening so they are free on Sunday to visit other churches and to go witness to the lost where they are. If the one who needs Christ is at home in a bar, you need to meet them there.

Jan’s thoughts:

We clipped a newspaper article about this church approximately two years ago and it has been on our list since, as we wanted to experience this unique ministry.

We arrived just as the worship service began at 6 p.m. The moment we walked in I realized I was out of my comfort zone, but we were warmly greeted and made to feel very much at home. We were given directions to the restrooms and the worship area and as we made our way further inside we were welcomed again. The worship area was nearly full with people of all ages and backgrounds, many who were obviously bikers and others who, like us, were just as obviously not bikers.

As worship began we realized there were bulletins and we did not have one, so I asked one of the women we had spoken with where I could find one. When she discovered they were gone, she promised to give me hers after she gave the announcements. As it happened someone else gave us one before she finished, but the experience spoke volumes about the culture of the church leadership.

First-time visitors were asked to raise their hands so we could be given cards to fill out our names, addresses, and other information. I was surprised as it looked like there were about 12-15 first-time visitors.

We were not surprised at the volume of The Rushing Wind Band, but they were exceptionally talented. The pastor played the lead guitar, and the voices of the three female vocalists blended superbly.

It was fascinating to watch impromptu prayer as people joined others off to the side and in corners for private prayer.

We were privileged to be present for the commissioning of a young member who was preparing to leave for further schooling in the ministry. His parents and grandparents were all present to participate in this important occasion and toward the end of the service he gave some impressive testimony. The commissioning involved the use of anointing oil and he was reminded that leading a church means serving others, not ruling over them.

The message was called “We Will Ride” and focused on the differences between Jesus’ first ride – on a donkey on Palm Sunday – and His next and future ride – on a white horse, carrying a sword, and wearing many crowns when He returns. On His first ride, He came as the Suffering Savior, but at His next, He will come as the Conquering King with all power and authority. Until then we should adopt the name “whosoever” as in John 3:16: “

After worship several members generously took the time to talk with us, answer our questions, tell us the stories behind some of the articles of interest, and introduce us to some other folks. We were each gifted with a special, handmade cross necklace as a reminder of our visit..

This was one of those visits that help me remember what I love about what we do: visiting various members of the Body of Christ whom we have not met before and talking about how God has worked in our lives. I am grateful for this visit and the chance to meet these people.

Our prayer for this church:

Lord, we pray earnestly that You would continue to bless this ministry. Prepare this congregation, that when You come they will be ready to ride with You. Amen.