NATIONAL LEADERSHIP
National Director
MIKE STEWART
Mike Stewart was born in Warren Ohio March 31, 1950 but moved to Deming New Mexico when he was around 4 years old where he lived until graduating from high school in 1968. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1968 and served as a Hospital Corpsman for 30 years serving in Viet Nam with the Marines, aboard three different submarines, surface ships and retired as the Force Master Chief of the Medical Department in 1998. He began riding motorcycles while in high school and the love and passion for motorcycling has never left him. He has been involved in Christian motorcycle ministry since 1999. He was the original Director of the Hibernia Baptist chapter in Fleming Island FL, was named as the State Coordinator for Florida, then became the Assistant National Director in 2013 and in April of 2016 was named as the National Director. Mike is married to Diane, has three daughters who are all married to wonderful men and has 10 grandchildren.
Assistant National Director
Phillip Cook
Phillip was born in Shelby County Alabama on April 30, 1965. In 1976 his family moved to Jemison, Alabama. Phillip graduated from Jemison High School in 1983. He married his wife, Lesa, in 1984. They have one son, Clay. Phillip went to work as a Stone Mason for a large company in Bessemer, Alabama. In 1994 he opened his own Tile Business and in 2000 opened a Marble & Granite Shop. Currently, He manages his own Residential & Commercial Properties.
In April 1988 Phillip was under the conviction of the Holy Spirit and accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. (Thank You Jesus!) He followed up with believer’s baptism and joined Mineral Springs Baptist Church. He was ordained as a deacon in 1996. He has served as Brotherhood Director, Sunday School Director, and taught Sunday School and Discipleship Training Classes. Phillip has a love for sharing God’s word through local & foreign missions. This has lead him to serving locally with the county’s jail ministry and taken him as far as trips to Nicaragua & Guatemala. He has been involved with the Chilton Baptist Builders since 1996 and is currently serving on the board of directors. This group travels the U.S. and constructs new church buildings. He currently attends Enon Baptist Church in Montevallo, Al. where he serves as a deacon and works with the kid’s ministry and bus ministry.
While at Mineral Springs Baptist Church several couples began riding motorcycles and a short time later started a F.A.I.T.H. Rider chapter. Phillip served as the event coordinator and now is honored to serve as the State Coordinator for Alabama.
He must become greater, I must become less. John 3:30
National Chaplain
ROBERT RHODES
I was born in 1965 in Santa Barbara, CA. I married my wife, Sherry, in 1988 in LaFayette, AL. We have 2 daughters and 4 grandchildren. I surrendered my life to Christ in 1990 and was called into the ministry the same year. I began pastoring in 1994 and am currently in my third pastorate at Cottonton Baptist Church in Cottonton, AL. I have been a part of FAITH Riders since 2011 and have been a part of starting chapters in my last two churches. I am enjoying serving as the FAITH Riders National Chaplain and look forward to helping disciple others to evangelize the lost through this ministry.
National Road Captain
ROB POCHEK
Rob Pochek was born in Southern Illinois in 1970 to parents who both rode motorcycles. In fact, his mother rode her own bike during her pregnancy, so, technically, he was riding before he was born! His first official motorcycle was a Honda Trail 70. While in college he met and married Susan. They were married in 1989, and they have two adult children. In 2005, he began riding street bikes. As of March 2020, he has ridden over 165,000 miles on the road and has made three cross country trips. In April of 2018, he completed the Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s RiderCoach Training. He currently coaches at the Motorcycle Safety Center of Virginia. He currently rides a 2016 Harley Davidson Ultra Limited and a 2016 Yamaha FJR1300A.
In addition to his motorcycle pursuits, Rob has served as the Senior Pastor at First Baptist Church in Charlottesville since April 2016. Before that, he served churches in North Carolina, Illinois and Missouri. He has a M.Div. and a Ph.D. from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. He is also an Adjunct Professor at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, NC.
National Merchandise Coordinator
DEBBIE MCDONALD
Debbie McDonald was born in Macon, Georgia, Aug 22, 1959, and grew up in the small town of Reynolds, Georgia. She lived there until she married Johnny McDonald in 1977, and they moved to Cochran, Georgia. She has one daughter and three wonderful grandchildren. Johnny and Debbie moved to Tennessee in 2014 to be closer to their grandchildren.
Debbie began a long career at Robins Air Force Base in 1977 and retired in 2012 with 35+ years of civilian service. She has a master’s degree in Information Systems and has long been interested in computers, technology, and photography. She began working with the quilt ministry (Peace*Love*Quilt) at The Glade Church in 2015 and now enjoys quilting for the ministry and family.
Debbie and Johnny both rode motorcycles during their younger years and bought small bikes in 2008 to take on camping trips. That sparked a more serious interest in motorcycles, and they both soon moved up to larger bikes. They went to Rally to Ridgecrest for several years in search of Christian motorcycle activities and that’s where they first became aware of the F.A.I.T.H. Riders Motorcycle Ministries. They were active in the Friendship Baptist Church, Warner Robins, GA, chapter until they moved to Tennessee, where they are now active in The Glade Church chapter in Mt Juliet, TN.
Debbie became the National Merchandise Director in May 2014 and began managing the merchandise store virtually from her home in Tennessee. Last spring, the inventory was also moved to Tennessee, and now she manages all store functions from Murfreesboro, TN
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