Thirteen met at 8:00am for breakfast at Bob Evans in Blue Springs to Ride out to Boonville taking I-70. A good collection of bikes for sure with Hondas and Harleys, Yamahas and a Beemer. A great time at breakfast to fellowship and to make some new friendships. We had all come with a purpose for the day, to go into the Boonville Correctional Center on this special Day of Ministry, and spend the day with the entire population.
Pastor Pete joined in our caravan of bikes at Oak Grove as we headed east on I-70 towards Concordia and on into Boonville. Enjoying the great weather and the Ride we arrived in Boonville at 10:30 and made our way through town to Nelson Memorial Methodist Church, our gathering point in Boonville.
For those going into the BCC this will be a day like most of us have never experienced. This the 11th year for the Event where a motorcycling ministry is allowed to come inside the fences and spend the day with the entire population of 1500 men.
As the 50 bikes gathered that were cleared to go inside the fence today, you sensed that this was going to be a big event. The AZ-U-R band had arrived early and “Rock”, the 4-time loser evangelist speaker also arrived from St. Louis. After emptying our pockets and our bikes of all but our ID and bike key, we ate lunch prepared by the church women and Larry gave instructions. So with no cellphones, money, tools or luggage we headed over to the BCC entrance gates on the bikes.
Riding up to the gates and seeing the razor wire atop the high chain link fence gave you a better understanding of where we were going to spend the day. Entering through the first gate to get the bikes searched, showing ID and our hand stamped we were then sent through the next gate and rode to the Rec Yard where the band was set up and we parked the bikes there.
No cameras or pictures were allowed inside so all these photos were taken outside the facility.
First 28 House came and walked down the rows of bikes, visiting with us as they felt comfortable. Then when they returned back home the inmates from the South Housing came down the hill. The band played and Rock spoke for about an hour then those men were taken back and the yard cleared.
As the last section of prisoners from the North Housing came in we knew what to expect and again many great 1-on-1 conversations were had. Sharing the brief time with these mostly young men was emotionally hard to see as their faces lit up when they knew someone cared for them and would spend an hour of our lives together. The bikes were the draw as was the band, but 100+ people giving up the day to come spend it with them, I think had the greatest impact on them.
We were all once again ID’d, checked and cleared to leave just as we had come in, leaving much conversation behind and taking a heart full home. It was hard to watch as they walked away from us and returned to their life inside the fence.
At 6:00pm we returned with only 8 folks for Chapel Service. Walking in through the gates this time and leaving the bikes in the parking lot. ID’d and other hand stamped we walked across the campus to the Chapel. A regular Chapel service will draw 16 men, but this was not a regular service as God had touched these men’s lives today and 61 men came for worship.
I don’t know how many came forward to receive Christ last night, but Pastor Pete, Rock, Larry and the only two BMW riders got an opportunity to share the love and grace of Jesus Christ with them. Many came and we all prayed as God led them to the alter. The day began with fellowship and it continued for the entire day. Our God had a plan to bless and touch everyone willing to enter into His presence and shine His face upon them on this Day of Ministry at the Boonville Correctional Center.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 NIV
