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Ore. biker: 'I'm full throttle for God now'
Courtesy of http://www.katu.com/news/

Mac McAllister, left, Dennis "Poot" Haney, center, and Don Garino stand in front of "The Shop" in Winston, Ore., on Monday, Nov. 24, 2008.

YouNews™Story Published: Dec 6, 2008 at 3:42 PM PST

Story Updated: Dec 6, 2008 at 3:49 PM PST
By CARA PALLONE The (Roseburg) News-Review WINSTON, Ore. (AP) - Dennis Haney has always loved motorcycles, but he hasn't always been a fan of Jesus Christ.

That relationship developed in a helicopter as he was flown to a Portland hospital.

The years leading up to the motorcycle crash that almost killed him were spent raising hell, said the Roseburg resident. He supported his drug habit with a job at a mill.

Two years ago, his motorcycle brakes failed as he sped to make a yellow light. He flipped over the front of his bike, slammed into the windshield of an oncoming car and came to rest on the pavement with 600 pounds of roaring metal crashing down on top of him.

Haney spent the summer in the hospital. His entire left side was crushed and he suffered brain trauma. After his crippled body was rebuilt, he began relearning to live.

He prayed a lot during that period, more specifically - to be able to ride a bike again, even if it was just one time.

Today, Haney's speech is slurred, he limps and his hands and knees are shaky. The 55-year-old is scarred from the accident, but his prayers were answered - he cruised a bike again last summer.

"I knew if I kept faithful and prayed I would get better and ride a motorcycle again," he said. "But God said, 'You're going to do it my way this time.' "

Haney began attending New Beginnings Christian Assembly after he was released from the hospital. It was there he ran into an old biker friend.

Don Garino, 58, is the state elder of Bikers for Christ - a nondenominational evangelical organization that spreads the gospel to the motorcycle community. Garino invited Haney to attend a Douglas County Bikers for Christ meeting.

"I said, 'I'm gonna have a home here,' " said Haney.

With his drug-induced days behind him, Haney now proudly sports a Bikers for Christ patch on his leather vest. He said he's happier now than ever before.

His story and the stories of others who have found their niche with the group are shared within the walls of a small building on Winston's main street.

Tentatively dubbed The Rescue Shop, the large room is on loan from the property owner until it is rented. Garino is hoping that's not anytime soon. The recently opened space is a place for bikers and people on the fringe to get together and reminisce, page through motorcycle magazines and hang out in a safe environment while they piece their lives back together.

Drugs and alcohol are not permitted, but the group does not aim to shoot its wounded, said Garino.

"We're not going to beat people up with the gospel message here," he said.

Bikers for Christ, a nondenominational motorcycle ministry, was founded by a pastor named Fred Zariczny in the early 1980s. There are chapters in 49 states and 10 countries. There are five chapters of Bikers for Christ in Oregon and more than 20 members in the Douglas County chapter.

With a strong support system, the group helps people like Haney refrain from falling into the old routine.

Two years ago, Haney would have smacked his biker brothers if they called him "God's little sunbeam" as they do now.

"But it's true, I am," he said. "I'm full throttle for God right now."

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On the Net:

Bikers for Christ: www.bikersforchrist.org

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