Regional motorcycle retreat in Kerrville aims to foster community and worship

The first Light Up the Hills Regional Motorcycle Retreat will be hosted in Kerrville, TX on Sept. 13 and 14. This retreat will provide Christian riders a chance to gather together and be encouraged through a motorcycle rally approach. It is free to all participants. 

Dee Slocum, pastor of First Baptist Church Adrian and one of the event’s primary organizers, encourages Christian bikers around Texas to attend the event. He explained that the retreat will be an opportunity to gather with fellow Christian riders and create a tight-knit community, as well as an opportunity to bring non-Christian friends to a more relaxed, biker-centered worship event. 

The retreat will be held in the Texas Hill Country, one of the top motorcycle riding destinations in the state. Daily rides will be coordinated, with guided tours available for those unfamiliar with the area. A Jericho ride will also take place on Saturday, Sept. 14, offering an opportunity for bikers to pray over the surrounding towns and cities. 

In the evenings, praise and worship services will be held at The Coming King Sculpture Prayer Garden. The Broken Chains Praise and Blues Revue Band will lead the music for the retreat. Award-winning Christian comic Elijah Tindall will speak on Friday night, and Saturday night will feature Kenneth “Doc” Dennis, Senior Pastor of the Full Armor Fellowship Biker Church in Decatur, TX. Both evenings will conclude with an alter call and will provide an evangelistic opportunity for those seeking the Lord. 

A biking ministry

The event’s organizers have also hosted national rallies in the past. Slocum explained, “We want to create a motorcycle rally from a Christian perspective.”

These rallies are safe places for Christian bikers to gather together and worship. They also provide valuable ministry opportunities to bikers who may be otherwise reluctant to attend a traditional church. Slocum compared the movement to cowboy churches, saying that much like cowboys, bikers often center their entire lifestyle and identity around biking. It is a culture all its own, and churches need to be created to foster that culture in a healthy, Christian setting.

They estimate that between 6.5 to 7 million Christians ride motorcycles in the United States. Opportunities like the regional rally in Kerrville provide these riders with a biking community centered around Christ. 

More information about the Light Up the Hills Regional Motorcycle Retreat in Kerrville can be found on their website, Facebook page, and MeetUp. Though the event is free, participants are highly encouraged to register here before attending the retreat.