Editor’s note: People of Faith is an occasional question-and-answer feature highlighting various people of different beliefs in Bartholomew County’s diverse religious community.
Dennis Martin steered himself in the direction of speed even as a 12-year-old with his first mini-bike, tweaking the engine so he could go a little faster.
“We did everything we could (for that),” he said with a laugh.
Today, the 62-year-old Columbus resident, now astride a 2001 Harley Davidson Ultra Classic, is hardly such a speed demon. But he loves bikes as much as ever. And he loves Jesus — and to share his Christian faith with others.
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He’s president of the local Wheels of Faith Chapter 533 of the Christian Motorcyclists Association. And this is the time of year when the group is seemingly rolling throughout south-central Indiana, making plenty of vroom for its unique evangelism, with soft hearts and tough leathers.
“The chapter is important because there are a lot of bikers who need Christ,” Martin said. “A chapter like ours can help reach a biker much easier than a preacher or someone in a suit and tie on a Sunday.”
He recently put down his kickstand long enough to answer a few questions about the chapter and its mission.
What is the chapter’s main impact or strength?
It’s a group of people that love God, love to serve others, and love to ride.
How do motorcycles open the door for evangelization?
A motorcycle is a tool to help reach a specific group of people. Like I said before, a biker will be more likely to listen to someone talk about the Lord that also rides a motorcycle. Motorcycles are a tool to open the door.
Have these kinds of chapters impacted the image of bikers today?
Most definitely. The community sees groups like ours doing random acts of kindness and sees groups like ours serving the public. It lets everyone see that bikers are good people, too.
Your best experience so far with Wheels of Faith and why?
My favorite experience with the chapter has been all the traveling we’ve been able to do.
I have a lot of good experiences with working at particular functions and talking about the Lord, but it’s going other places — other states and other chapters and other rallies — that is good for us to know that there are other people out there with a heart for the lost and a desire to serve the Lord just like we do.
Being able to go all across the country with friends and fellow chapter memories is something I’ll remember for the rest of my life.
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Age: 62.
Born: New Albany.
Family: Wife Bonita, son Denny Martin of Columbus, a grandson, Noah Martin, 10. Two dogs.
Role: President of the local Wheels of Faith Chapter 533 of the Christian Motorcyclists Association.
In the chapter: 10 years.
In Columbus: Since age 10.
Favorite Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11: "For I know the plans I have for you, not to harm you but to give you hope and a future." It lets me know that no matter what I go through or no matter what happens in my life that God has a plan for me.
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