This past week we saw hundreds of thousands of motorcyclists’ roar into town for the Daytona Bike Week Motorcycle rally. It officially marks the beginning of the Biker Rally season, and the circuit will wind its way around the country until it finds its way back to Daytona in October for Biketoberfest. In the meantime, we saw motorcyclists from all over the world fly, ride, trailer, or cage to Daytona Beach. Even the actor, Keanu Reeves was out and about riding his motorcycle this week. It becomes quite the kaleidoscope of colors, patches, bikes, characters and vendors. This year found us setting up our tents at various places around the County and as we did so, we got the opportunity to speak to thousands and present them with information about Human Trafficking.
As you can imagine, it is always tough going out into the areas where trafficking occurs but if no one attempts to pierce the darkness, then doesn’t the darkness win? Bikers Against Trafficking (BAT) believes that we have to go out into this world to educate, empower, and partner with those who want to get out, and battle the very evil that seeks to suffocate our world. There are times when life is heavy, when there is danger in what we do, but…isn’t that why we are all on this planet? Aren’t we all called to be the hands and feet of God? It is tempting to only go where it is comfortable, to only seek to make a difference when it is convenient, to obey God only when it makes sense to us or when we can afford it. However, the strange thing about God (I mean let’s face it – who really understands God? Is that when He calls us to serve Him, He often neglects to give us the step-by-step guide that we desire. AND we forget that each one of us is called to serve Him.
When Moses was charged to go to Egypt and talk to Pharoah so that God’s children in  Egypt could be set free from slavery, well, God did not exactly lay out the plan for Moses. He simply said, go! Pharoah will resist and then eventually you will see God’s miracles. Moses naively went. However, when he asked Pharoah to let the people go, Pharoah did not react as Moses had anticipated. Instead, Pharoah got angry, and things looked bleak and then Moses got into the face of God and yelled, “Do you know what you are doing?”
Of course, nothing surprises God, but it is always a surprise for you and me.
Moses led the people out and for 40 years he had to battle against those times when God didn’t seem to be making any sense.
Eventually, the leadership of Moses passed to Joshua and God moved. The Jordan river opened, the giant city of Jericho had its walls collapse and God did miracle and after miracle. But all it took was for the people of Ai to kill around 36 Israelites and Joshua got into the face of God, “Do you know what you are doing?”
Of course, nothing surprises God, but it is always a surprise for you and me.
Of course, God did, and God does…but when you are in the midst of following the path of God for your life… at times… the path seems faint, the way seems strange and our expectations… well… they just don’t go the way we think it should.
As Bikers Against Trafficking nears its tenth anniversary, the path before it seems more muddier than ever. It seems as though the United States is making great inroads into human trafficking. There are posters and signs in many places, movies have come out that depict what is going on and the legislature is creating policies to now regulate places that seek to work with Human Trafficking “survivors.” I am sure that this regulating was meant for good, but it is having the opposite effect. Religious groups, men and women with hearts for God and hearts to make a difference have now been told that they can only work with Human Trafficking “survivors” and provide housing IF the State certifies you to do so. The result? Less places for those who have been trafficked to go. As I see the regulations around us, the statistics that say Human Trafficking is multiplying at an insane rate, when I see legislature not getting at the root and so many getting away with trafficking children, women and men…I find myself looking up into the heavens and screaming out, “God, do you know what you are doing?”
As we worked in and around Daytona, we saw so many being trafficked and those who could do something, simply turning their heads and looking away. We have become a nation that only seeks comfort, relaxation, our own sense of pleasure and the people around us…burn. But we often don’t care.  I say this not because I want to be mean. Rather, so many are planning their lives based on what they want to do. They want to just go through the motions, get away, relax, enjoy the riches of their labors… while others rot in captivity, are forced to be sold in sex acts day and after, and people are beaten and murdered… in every city in America. Somehow, we have forgotten that we are on this planet to be agents of change for God. That is it, it was never about our own comfort. It was always about fighting for God and allowing God to fight through us.
BAT will never surrender and as we continue to push into the dark, we ask for your continued prayers and support. We have no idea about the future, but we know God knows the future and His will, will prevail… even when they don’t make any sense to us. As BAT seeks to grow into more States and Countries, we are grateful for all those who have stood by us. We have no idea how we are going to afford to do what we believe God is calling us to do but… but… but… we believe in faith that there are those that God is tasking to pray for us, to send funds to help support us and there are those who God is inviting to join with us.
Thank you for your prayers, partnerships and giving. If you would like to donate, please click on the link and donate via our website www.BikersAgaintsTrafficking.org.
Peace,
Doc and Rainey
Thank you.
