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Sanctified Motorcycle Ministry is a nonprofit based in Fort Worth that partners with the Texas Department of Transportation to clean up debris on a section of U.S. Highway 377 to lessen the chances of obstruction on the road for riders. (Marissa Greene | Fort Worth Report)
” data-medium-file=”https://fortworthreport.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/IMG_2921-scaled.jpg?fit=300%2C200&ssl=1″ data-large-file=”https://fortworthreport.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/IMG_2921-scaled.jpg?fit=780%2C520&ssl=1″ tabindex=”0″ role=”button”>Brandon Smith’s favorite mode of transportation growing up — and still to this day — often involved two wheels. Whether riding dirt bikes or on the back of his dad’s Harley, Smith knew he wanted to ride motorcycles when he got older. “I’ve always told myself I’d never ride any other bike other than a Harley because that’s what my dad rode,” Smith said. “When I was a baby, I remember a picture of me on that bike with him. I just kind of fell in love with that.” Smith bought his first Harley while he was in the Navy. During his enlistment, Smith felt he was “battling faith and trying and battling the world at the same time.” He was hundreds of miles away from family and friends, including those at his church. While overseas, he lost two of his best friends during deployment. “It was probably one of the hardest things to do, because you feel like nobody understands, even the people you grew up with or your families, you feel like they don’t understand anything, and the only people that do understand are overseas or in a completely different area,” Smith said. That made transitioning back to civilian life challenging, he said. Over the past year, however, Smith has found a new sense of belonging in Sanctified Motorcycle Ministry, a group that marries two important things in his life: his faith and motorcycles.Sanctified Motorcycle Ministry is a nondenominational nonprofit based in Fort Worth. The group aims to bridge the gap between the Christian church and the general motorcycle community through partnerships like the Texas Department of Transportation’s Adopt-a-Highway program.Members of the Sanctified Motorcycle Ministry visit a section of U.S. Highway 377 between Stevens Drive and Tiger Trail to clear the road of any possible obstructions at least four times a year through a partnership with Texas Department of Transportation’s Adopt-a-Highway program. (Courtesy photo | Brandon Hart)Brandon Hart founded Sanctified Motorcycle Ministry and registered it as a nonprofit in September 2023. The organization is not affiliated with any singular church, Hart said, but rather brings in members from a variety of Christian denominations so that motorists in search of a church home have different options to choose from. It also offers a motorist the option to not visit a new church alone, which can sometimes be intimidating, Hart said. “When you walk into anywhere — not just a church — with a leather vest and patches on it, there’s some people that look at you a little funny, and maybe you’re a little bit hesitant,” Hart said. “I’m kind of fighting against that stigma.” At least four times a year, the group’s five members visit a section of U.S. Highway 377 between Stevens Drive and Tiger Trail to clear the road of any possible obstructions like blown-out truck tires, litter or remains from previous accidents on the highway.Looking back on the ministry’s first year, Hart said the organization does more than clear debris on the highway. It offers a place for motorists to connect with their faith and other Christians through Bible studies, group rides and chapel servicesMembers of the Sanctified Motorcycle Ministry sport their patches on their leather jackets on Sept. 3, 2024. The patch colors — rust, black and bronze — symbolize the group’s belief in the Holy Trinity and for unity between the Christian church and the motorcycle community. (Marissa Greene | Fort Worth Report)
Sanctified Motorcycle Ministry has joined the United Clubs of North Texas, a statewide council and collection of various motorcycle clubs, riding clubs and motorcycle ministry groups. The nonprofit also received its biker patches in late August. Biker patches are something typically earned within the motorcycle community that are sewn on the motorists’ leather jackets or vests to symbolize what group the rider is in. Different colors or symbols on the patches illustrate the characteristics of the group. “There is a respect that you don’t just put patches on, you want to integrate into the community that has earned that respect over the years,” Hart said.Sanctified Motorcycle Ministry uses three colors: rust, black and bronze. The rust symbolizes and honors the blood of Christ. Black serves as the background color for every patch, symbolizing the void of being separated from God. Bronze, a type of metal alloy that can be molded into different shapes, symbolizes how faith can shape a person. Now, as part of a statewide motorcycle group, Hart and Smith hope to see the ministry grow in the years ahead and continue to be a place where members can be themselves while deepening their faith. “It’s been a wild journey with this group of guys. Just trying to get everything started and trying to start a club is very hard to do,” Smith said. “But it’s been a blessing because God calls us to be in community with one another, and what better way to do it than with the people you hold dear.” Marissa Greene is a Report for America corps member, covering faith for the Fort Worth Report. Contact her at marissa.greene@fortworthreport.org or @marissaygreene. At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.