BURKE’S GARDEN, Va. (WVVA) -The Burke’s Garden “Blessing of the Bikes” was started by local ministers more than two decades ago. Now under the leadership of local nonprofit “Iron Titans Motorcycle Club,” it’s still going strong, bringing people back year after year for food, fellowship, and a blessing.
We spoke to one returning biker who says it’s a way to meet people from all over who have a love of motorcycles and a love of God.
“…You know, you have certain things that tend to start your year off to make you feel like your year’s complete, and we come over here and fellowship with the other bikers. We get over here and, you know, meet new friends and everything and that’s probably the biggest part of it for me,” says Bill Asbury, who has been coming to Blessing of the Bikes for 20 years.
Each bike gets blessed individually, with pastors praying for their riders’ protection on the potentially dangerous roads.
Along with the returning bikers, many of the pastors return annually as well. One such pastor, Pastor Jim Scott, has been participating for the past ten years and says the bikers are always appreciative of these blessings.
“Well, I hear it every year. Several bikers thank us for putting it on. We’ve been out here in the rain and done this and there’d be five pastors out here getting soaking wet blessing these bikes. They know that we love them, and they love Jesus, and we’re all in this together. And so, we’re glad to do it for them,” says Pastor Scott.
The president of the Iron Titans, Quinto Falgiani, says with so many returning through the years, the Blessing of the Bikes helps them connect with old friends that they may not get to see throughout the rest of the year, helping to build a longstanding community.
“Family. I mean, everybody, we’re all one big family. We all have different lives and everything else, but the bikes brings us together. We’re all one group,” says Falgiani.
Pastor Scott encourages others to give their own blessings to bikers, by looking out for them while on the road and giving them room to make sure this motorcycle riding season is a safe one.
Falgiani says the Iron Titans plan to keep holding the Burke’s Garden Blessing of the Bikes in future years. He says you can get more information about the Iron Titans on their Facebook page, including how to donate to help fund their community efforts like “Shop with a Cop.”
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