A divine appointment led four members of Bell Shoals Baptist Church to a Bike Fest in the Clearwater area. While at the Bike Fest they met Buddy Newsome, Director of the Lakeland Chapter of F.A.I.T.H. Riders from First Baptist Church at the Mall, Lakeland.

Buddy and Jim Wigh, Bell Shoals F.A.I.T.H. Rider’s founding director,  began discussing the possibility of beginning a F.A.I.T.H. Riders Chapter at Bell Shoals. Buddy told Jim all that was needed to start a chapter was the  desire to “want to”.  Since that was our desire, an appointment was arranged to discuss the mechanics of beginning our own F.A.I.T.H. Riders ministry.

They met at a restaurant, necessary information was discussed and duly recorded, and returned to Bell Shoals to formulate a plan and implement.

A survey was taken during the morning Worship service to determine if there was an interest within the Church family for such a ministry.  There was a great response. We went forward with our plans, putting together the necessary leadership team and designed a Bike Night to be held the first Thursday of every month.

Our first bike night was held on August 7, 2003, with a little over one hundred in attendance. The Chapter Certificate was signed and presented and the Bell Shoals Baptist F.A.I.T.H. Riders chapter was started.