Michael Smathers is a man on mission – on his Harley.
Smathers and his Harley Davidson proclaim a clear message.In at least two ways, Smathers “fits the bill” for a Harley Davidson rider. The average Harley rider is 47 years old, with a household income of more than $60,000. Smathers, a resident of Columbia, is nearly 50 years old and a successful businessman.
But Smathers is not your typical biker in some other ways. For the past three years, he has been one of nine members of the Rugged Cross Riders, a motorcycle ministry based in the midlands of South Carolina.
“We are ministers first, representing Jesus Christ,” declared Smathers. “We are not a fellowship group.”
To make his point, the former pastor trotted out some statistics. “Through the ministry of the Rugged Cross Riders,” he said, “more than 400 people came to know Jesus as their Lord in 2006. So far in 2007, nearly 170 have asked Christ into their hearts. People young and old are being baptized and discipled to become fruitful to God’s glory.”
Smathers emphasized that the Rugged Cross Riders have “taken the Great Commission to heart,” believing, as Jesus did, that “it is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.”
“Our desire,” he declared, “is to reach the ones who need Jesus the most.”
The Rugged Cross Riders carry out a ministry that is far flung. They reach out to troubled teenagers at the Wil Lou Gray Opportunity School, lead Sunday services at the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice, give special care to cancer victims during the summer at Camp Kemo, lend a hand to those battling drug addiction through a program called U-Turn for Christ, and through a caf? ministry offer help to the homeless.
Smathers with Joe Covino, leader of the Rugged Cross Riders.The riders also offer a strong witness at the annual biker rallies at Myrtle Beach.
And that’s not all. The bikers speak at youth rallies and revivals, and have even taught motorcycle ministry classes at the state Baptist convention’s Salt and Light conferences.
The Rugged Cross Riders “are a group of believers who come from many walks of life,” according to their website. Despite their different backgrounds, though, “we met the Lord and Savior of the world on an ‘up close and personal’ level. He reached out of heaven and called us, saved us. What that means to us is, we go everywhere the Lord sends us.”
The founder and leader is Joe Covino, pastor of Calvary Community Church in Lugoff. Smathers said of Covino, “After spending many years as a church leader at Friendship and Spears Creek Baptist churches, Joe felt the need to reach out to the needy within our communities. He speaks at churches all over the state, and his message is powerful and challenging.
Smathers, a Georgia native and a biker since the age of 16, was an outstanding athlete in high school. He achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and is a black belt in karate. He attended the University of South Carolina part-time from 1977-79 and completed clinical pastoral education at Palmetto Richland Memorial Hospital. He has served as a chaplain in the hospital’s ICU unit. He currently is taking online courses through Trinity College in Illinois.
He is a former associate pastor at Ariel Baptist Church in Coward. For four years, he was senior pastor at Eason Memorial Baptist Church in Eastover. He also has served on the Nominations Committee of the South Carolina Baptist Convention.
Smathers helps feed the hungry at Finlay Park in Columbia.Smathers now is a regional representative in South Carolina and parts of North Carolina and Georgia for Return Solutions, Inc., in Knoxville, Tenn., which deals with pharmaceuticals.
He and his wife Jill have four children, one grandson and one granddaughter. They all attend Beulah Baptist Church in Hopkins.
Confirming what the Rugged Cross Riders website declares, Smathers said the bikers “preach Jesus Christ crucified. We preach salvation and that Jesus loves us all. And he doesn’t care what you ride – a scooter or a cage, a Harley or a Honda. It doesn’t matter as long as you and your heart belong to him.”
The Rugged Cross Riders. By admission, they are “not your typical Christians.” And some churches have been “reluctant to invite us.” Nevertheless, when they speak to the congregations, “numerous people tell us that they have a brother, a sister, a father or a neighbor they believe we could reach for Christ. And that is what we are about.”
The riders want to help churches and their families – and they would like for others to join their ministry. “You don’t even need a scooter,” they make it clear. “Jesus is the only requirement for this ministry.”
Smathers said he is praying for “an awakening by our churches” that will compel them to “get out of the entertainment business and go where the lost are.”
“In my years of serving as a pastor,” he pointed out, “I spent too much time preparing sermons that would last exactly 30 minutes, making sure every announcement was made and noting who donated the flowers.”
“The most important thing for our churches is to understand that Jesus calls us to love one another, love God and to fulfill the great commission of sharing Jesus with a lost and dying world.”
More information is available at RuggedCrossRiders.com.