Hellfighters
by Teddy James

  Jesus got in trouble with the religious elite for dining with “sinners and tax collectors.” He had a vision of going to those the world rejected. Making an effort to walk in those shoes, Richard Headrick and his wife Gina are following a similar vision with Hellfighters, a motorcycle ministry established in 2000.
  When they are not on a motorcycle or passing out self-printed tracts, they run Headrick Signs and Graphics, a business in Laurel, Mississippi. Richard said, “Our main focus is that we take our business and make money so we get to do ministry.”

Beginning a ministry
  Richard loves to pass out tracts. His own tract, “Richard the Rhino Man,” describes his personal journey with Jesus. Rhino Man is his biker name. The couple gained a passion for personal ministry many years ago and have ministered in 80 countries. Then God brought them back to the U.S.
  In 1999 the Headricks went on a company sponsored motorcycle ride to California. A man named Big Daddy accompanied them on the trip. As much as Richard loved passing out tracts, Big Daddy loved it more. Big Daddy saw the response to “Richard the Rhino Man” and wanted his own tracts to pass out.
  “He was a firefighter,” Richard began. “He told us the horrors he had been through, reaching for some guy who was burning and watching the flesh come off his bone. To me it had the resemblance of hell and since he was a firefighter, I thought ‘Hellfighter’ would be a great title.” Big Daddy didn’t agree; he wanted the title “Momma told me not to play with matches.” Headrick gave in, but the word Hellfighter never left him.
  Soon they began printing Hellfighters tracts, T-shirts, hats and pins which read “Only the bold qualify.” They printed New Testaments with a cover bold enough to deserve the name. Gina said, “The rough and tough guys who would never carry a Bible because it looks wussy to them will actually ask for one of these.”
  While they were attending a biker event in Huntsville, Alabama, a man approached them and expressed his desire to start a biker ministry named Hellfighters. The first chapter was founded in Huntsville. The Headricks headed back to Laurel and started the second chapter. Hellfighters is now spread across 11 states.
  “The men and women that get into this are a different cut,” Richard said. “We’re talking about those who come out of the drug culture, out of the rough life.”

Birthing a new vision
  While God was growing Hellfighters, He gave the Headricks a new vision. They began Mission at the Cross, a 24-hour ministry, open seven days a week. It is completely run by Hellfighters members. This is for “the man who wants to get off the booze, the woman who has been beaten, or a guy who has lost his job,” Richard explained.
  The people who come get more than a roof and a full stomach. They “get Jesus in the morning, in the afternoon and all night,” according to Richard. They currently have two Mission at the Cross locations, and have a goal of 98 more.
  Each Mission at the Cross will have a T-shirt printer and a motorcycle repair shop. This gives revenue to the individual ministries and teaches a trade to those who come.

Being a Hellfighter
  Gina was emphatic about what it takes to be a Hellfighter. The Hellfighter is a person who has experienced life at its hardest.  She said, “You don’t have to have a patch to be a Hellfighter. A Hellfighter is someone who really and truly loves Jesus with his heart, mind, soul and strength.
  “Hellfighters is growing daily, striving to reach the person who has lost hope.”
  “As long as Jesus is around, there is always hope,” Richard said. “Our number is 601-649-HOPE (4673), or contact us through www.hellfighters.org. We would love to minister to you.”