Faith Riders Fellowship Church - We're Backkkkkk

On the way to Church Sunday evening Diane was looking at her Facebook page and came across something from another Church that was about their morning service. It read in part, "No whoops, no hollers, no jumping crazy in here..."  

Pastor George Tallmage
Thursday Evening Aug 10th, 2017

Well it is about time we got back to whooping, hollering, and jumping crazy. It is about time we returned to feeling the Spirit of God in our services. We had been watching our congregation as it slowly dwindled away and people began to feel as if the Lord had left our Church. There was no feeling of that spirit we once had. People had become apathetic and seemed to have lost all emotion. We seemed to have lost our way. Lost our purpose. We had lost the reason we were founded in the first place and the reason we loved the Church and each other. Never have we seen such a divided Church as we have over the last several months. We had become lost and floundering. Someway, we had allowed the devil to slip through those front doors to try to "kill, steal, and destroy" from within. Our leaders and "core group" who have been there for years had begun allowing the turmoil to get between them, their friendships, and our love for each other. We saw a division building between husbands and wives, parents and their sons and daughters, brothers, sisters, and friends who have always loved and respected each other. We saw, and heard, people in their own little groups talking to, and about, each other. What was happening to these people who just a short few months ago were so loving, giving, and caring?

Thursday, August 10th, 2017

The Church was destroying itself from within and Satan was sitting back watching and laughing, enjoying every minute. The sad part about all this was that the leaders, myself included, were allowing it to happen. In fact we had pushed for the changes that were taking us down this path. Now we felt helpless, with no direction, and were actually being told there was nothing we could do. We were told the Church didn't belong to us anymore. All told, the Church belongs to the Lord but it needs administration from competent leadership and many people to help it stay the course, not one man.

How had we gotten to this point? Late last year we saw that some changes had to be made. When it finally came time to admit that something needed to be done we allowed ourselves to be backed into a corner and accept things too quickly. Those things should have been thoroughly investigated and researched before we jumped in with both feet. We had placed God in the back seat, and not in the driver's seat where he belonged. We were now being treated by God as his misbehaving children, which we were. We needed a good spanking and we were getting it. It was our fault, our responsibility, and we now had to find a way to make it right again. We all knew that once again we were about to embark on a trail that could complete the destruction taking place and if Satan had his way, this Church would disappear.

Thursday Evening August 10th, 2017

On the other hand change now could possibly renew us and let us stop the carnage and begin to rebuild what we once had. Now, it was up to the deacons. All this was placed on their shoulders and they accepted the blame, although it belonged to everyone in a leadership role. There were arguments and deep, hours long, discussions behind closed doors. There were divisions and hurtful decisions that had to be made. They saw what needed to be done and did it by finally getting down on their knees and giving it back to God. There were many sleepless nights as they lie awake praying. "Which way do we go from here God? Please lead us. We're putting it where it should have been all along, back in your hands. We need you to lead us."

Lead them, he did. This past week decisions were made without knowing what the final outcome could be. Now God was placed back in his rightful position of authority and was once again in control and leading these men. We began to see immediate results.

On Thursday evening we had the most amazing attendance we've had on a Thursday in quite some time. People just don't believe in giving of their time during the mid-week. Even if that giving is to God. Everyone of us there that night was treated to a wonderful evening of "whoops, hollers, and jumping crazy."

As I walked through the front doors that evening I could instantly feel a difference. God was in the house. Diane, Celena, Jessie, and myself took our positions at the door to start greeting people and you could feel the change of attitude with each person entering. Everyone had a huge smile on their face as we gave and received truly sincere hugs and handshakes. After the opening prayer Leon and the band had the congregation on their feet praising the Lord. Arms were raised toward Heaven and there was a reaction to what was happening like we haven't seen in over six months. As I was told by several people after the service, "We felt a freedom to worship again." Think about that for a moment. "Freedom to worship." We live in a country where we are free to worship as we see fit, at least for now, yet people had been feeling stifled from speaking up and speaking out. Our sermons had been overbearing and services over structured. Now people were letting months of frustrations empty from deep within their souls. When music alone can call people to the alter to pray and thank God for their blessings, he is without a doubt there, listening, and joining in. I was in amazement as I watched the Spirit take hold of this Church once again. I also felt the call and as I stood up front clapping and singing along, I fell to my knees at the alter. I wasn't there to ask for anything for myself, only to thank God for giving us a second chance and to please, please keep watching over us. "Please Lord, guide us in all our decisions from this point forward, and thank you for putting our Church back on the road where it belongs, in your hands and the hands of the congregation and the leadership of your Church."

Pastor Ray Boone
Sunday Morning Service
August 13th, 2017

Myself, and I'm sure several others, couldn't wait to see what Sunday would bring. I was impatient, scared, and nervous. When Sunday morning finally came Diane, me, and our grandson headed to Church. We stopped for a quick bite to eat then continued on an apprehensive, short, ride to Church. Why was I apprehensive about going to Church? Because I didn't think anything could top the Thursday evening service. I was so afraid of being let down. I felt as if God might be have been telling us, "See what you could have had if you had not pushed me aside." We do worship a good and forgiving God and as we pulled into the parking lot a couple of cars were already there. We made our way inside and spoke to others gathered in the foyer area. Once again the feeling was palpable. It was evident once more that our Savior had made a return visit. People were laughing, talking, and enjoying each other's company. Everyone was hugging each other. I looked to the sky and said a quick, "Thank you." I felt safe and secure and seemed to know that it's going to be alright. Amazing Grace how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.

Leon asked leaders and members to please stay for a short while after Church as the Leaders wanted to speak to the congregation.

As Leon, Tony, Chris and Cathy began to play and sing one person got up, then another, then another, then another. Before long, again, almost the entire Church was on their feet with praise and worship. People were making their way to the front where they were singing along, clapping and moving to the music and Spirit. Some people were kneeling at the alter. The people who weren't on their feet were those who just couldn't stand or couldn't stand that long. Turning around and looking, they had the same enthusiasm everyone else was feeling and they were clapping, tapping their feet and singing along. I think the Lord told Leon at the end of their set to sing Amazing Grace before I exploded. That was what I had been feeling all morning and I let it out, singing at the top of my lungs right along with them. Apparently I wasn't the only one feeling that way as the entire Church body was singing along. The Spirit was going throughout the Church.

Yes, there were a few people who had left over the changes and they are missed. Everyone is loved there and we hated to see anyone go and as the Spirit filled us there were tears of both happiness at what was happening there, and sadness for those who could not see the great things happening.

Next up was Pastor Ray Boone. For those of you who may not know Pastor Ray, he is about five foot nothing and I may be exaggerating. But when he starts preaching you'd swear he is eight feet tall. He is a fireball that I really believe God speaks to directly. His message on Sunday hit the nail directly on the head about everything that had been going on and the struggles we've had at the Church. He was preaching to each of us individually and we heard praises and amen from all over the congregation. I know his sermon was talking to me and I was devouring it like a man who hasn't in eaten in months.

Such an awesome service Leon didn't have to ask us to stay. It's as if no one wanted to leave anyway. Leon spoke for a minute and then turned the mic over to Tony who explained to everyone what had been happening and the changes being made. They stated that we had lost the Faith Fellowship Church name in the transition and were considering other names. It was brought up that we started as Faith Riders Fellowship Church and it was felt that we needed to return to our roots. There was an overwhelming positive response from the congregation and they stated they would discuss it. After each of the Deacons spoke for a minute the service was dismissed.


Several of us from the Faith Riders For Christ Motorcycle Ministry rode to Batesburg after the services to attend the memorial of member, Larry "Cowboy" Keisler. Before attending the memorial several of us went to get a bite to eat and discussed what we have experienced at Church the past two services. Everything was positive and once again that word, "Freedom," was brought up.

Diane and I arrived extra early for the evening service. As we waited in the foyer to greet people I was disappointed when only a few people showed up. I began to think that maybe we jumped the gun on believing we were on the upswing this quickly. Once again I began to get nervous and anxious. I just told God, "It's okay, I understand."

As we got within just a few minutes of the service start time I was amazed by God's power once again. It almost looked like a parade as vehicle after vehicle pulled into the parking lot. They were entering as fast as we could say hello to them. The final count was larger for an evening service than we had all year. It was a wonderful sight to see those seats filling on a Sunday night. That is a sight unseen in most much larger Churches. I'm not about to question God on how. I will however praise him for the work he is helping us do and what he is giving us.

Before the service Leon made an announcement which gave me the title to this article. It was decided by the Deacons after the overwhelming response during the morning service that the Church would be returning to it's prior name.........Faith Riders Fellowship Church.  Yes ladies and gentlemen we are returning to where we came from. Now it's on to completely returning to our roots and extending a hand to those who truly need us.

The service started with praise music and everyone once again on their feet. I just can't believe we keep on doing all this whooping, hollering and jumping crazy. We must really be nuts. What fun it is. We should be committed. Yahoo....God is definitely in this place!

Pastor Brad Jay began his sermon with more outstanding praise music and went into his great sermon. Once more God had given him the right words at the right time. He was simply amazing. Pastor Brad always brings a powerful message and this was no different. I caught myself giving several amen's and several "Praise the the Lord" comments. I haven't done this in months as I just have not felt it. This is something that must come from the heart and my heart had not been in it. I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings but I have to tell it as I feel it. I did realize about halfway through the sermon just how happy I am with what God is doing in my life. A great part of my happiness is what has happened in such a short time with my Church. That's right....My Church. I hope that each person who now enters the front doors into that Church realizes as I take their hand for a handshake, or as I wrap my arms around them to give them a hug that this is my Church and I will fight for my Church and everyone inside it. I hope that each member will feel the same, that this is their Church and we all have a stake in it and each one of us will also fight for it.

Those that have returned and those who were drawn to the Church over the last few days, we would also like to welcome you and tell you that you can also make this YOUR CHURCH and allow all of us at Faith Riders Fellowship Church to become your family. I am proud to call each person here family and I believe we have weathered the storm. Satan we rebuke you in the name of God and we want to let you know we have reclaimed our Church.