After recovering from a motorcycle wreck in which he nearly died, Jim Hutson’s time on bikes became even more special — and he wanted to share that time with like-minded people.
People as serious about his Christian faith as he was.
“I thought, ‘There’s got to be other Christians out there riding motorcycles,’” said Hutson, a well-known local Christian radio personality and southern Gospel singer.
Suffice it to say that he found them.
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That was a few years and many miles ago. The Columbus resident, his wife Mary, and around 20 of their friends in the local 35-member Wheels of Faith No. 533 Christian Motorcyclists Association are revved up about their annual Run for the Son celebration and fundraiser at 11 a.m. Aug. 1.
The 110-mile, rain-or-shine, meandering event, open to all bikers for a $20 entry fee, raises money for four national Christian outreaches.
Forty percent of those proceeds will go to the Jesus Film Project. That initiative involves helping fund the worldwide presentation of a film focusing on the life of Jesus of Nazareth, with a script adjusted to the language of whatever globally remote village it is being shown in.
“Some of these people still have never even heard the name of Jesus before this,” Hutson said, adding that seeing weeping people watching the movie in their native tongue is both emotional and moving.
Hutson has raised $2,500 so far for the event. Last year, the chapter raised more than $12,000 for the cause.
The Run for the Son, coordinated by Mary Hutson this year, is also held as a celebration of all that the chapter has done in a year, though the COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically affected the schedule for other rides and activities since March.
Yet, service efforts this year have included volunteer help at the Love Chapel food pantry in Columbus and also at a couple of Edinburgh pantries. One of the chapter’s most visible functions, offering testimonies at area churches, has been dramatically curtailed by the novel coronavirus and the fact that many houses of worship have been closed.
Plus, the lockdown period earlier this year changed things.
“You can’t really evangelize much if you can’t get out,” Martin said.
Many of the chapter meetings have been held via Facebook Live.
Wheels of Faith President Dennis Martin mentioned that the run this year will include about three stops along the way: one to pray for organizational leaders, the military and more and two stops for gas before ending at a member’s pole barn for a ribeye lunch, included in the entry fee.
Ideally, Martin and others wish such events were an even bigger draw for prospective new members for the organization aiming to reach out with the gospel to other bikers, including those at the large and sometimes party-oriented events such as the Sturgis Kentucky Bike Rally.
“For some reason, many of the younger people today just don’t seem to have caught on to this (biker craze),” Martin said. “And I know, also, that the bikes themselves aren’t necessarily cheap today.”
Yet, the Wheels of Faith perspective is as strong as ever: A biker can build bridges and speak to another biker about Jesus as well as anyone.
“Sometimes you have to earn the right to speak to someone about faith,” Hutson said. “If I were to go to the (Bedford) Boogie in a suit and tie while carrying a Bible under my arm, I wouldn’t last very long.”
Both Martin and Hutson mentioned that weather clearly reigns as a major factor in the number of bikers participating in the run.
But, obviously, for them, any day behind the handlebars is a figuratively sunny one.
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What: The Wheels of Faith #533 Chapter of the Christian Motorcyclists Association’s annual Run for the Son celebration and fundraiser.
When: Registration from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Event at 11 a.m. Aug. 1, beginning from Mann’s Harley Davidson at 3250 Market Place Drive at Indiana Premium Outlets in Edinburgh.
Cost: $20 for one rider and $30 for two on the same motorcycle.
The trip: A meandering 110 miles from Edinburgh to Shelbyville, ending at a member’s pole barn for a cookout featuring ribeye sandwiches.
Information: Dennis Martin at 812-371-3682.
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