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Jesus Keeps Passion Revved

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By DEREK MAUL

Tribune correspondent

Published: June 7, 2008

PLANT CITY - Free Rider Fellowship is a different take on church. Aaron Brown is a different take on clergy. He rides a big motorcycle; he preaches in a leather jacket; he likes hard rock 'n' roll.

At the heart of things, however, Brown is all about Jesus.

Q. How long has the church been organized?

A. Right at two years. Our affiliation is Southern Baptist, but we're autonomous. We have a very diverse church.

Q. By diverse you mean?

A. We're casual and appeal to a larger audience. People from all walks of life; people come because they are comfortable here.

We don't mind if you come with tattoos and piercings; just come as you are.

Q. How did this begin?

A. I was working as a volunteer chaplain with the Faith Riders at Bell Shoals Baptist; the late Pastor Forrest Pollock was very supportive of the ministry.

The Lord laid it on my heart to do this.

Q. How's it going?

A. We started with 20 and spent some time getting it all figured out. Now we're up around 50 people; we're still very new.

Q. How many bikes on a Sunday?

A. Anywhere from 15 to 40; a lot of people ride. Scooters, trikes; you name it - a man even came in on a Vespa.

I ride a Yamaha Royal Star Venture, 1300cc. I'm 6-foot-5-inches; I weigh 260; I need a big bike.

Q. Where were you raised?

A. Born 1971 and raised in Sanford; I'm ninth-generation Floridian. We moved to Brandon just before my senior year, and I graduated Armwood High in 1989.

Q. How about college?

A. Palm Beach Atlantic, then Baptist College of Florida up in Graceville.

I studied theology and then biblical studies; over 140 credits, but no degree. Life caught up with me, and I've been kind of busy.

Q. Are you married?

A. I married Leigh Anne LaRue in 1993. We have two kids: Carli, 10, and Paul Aaron, 8.

Q. Have you always been bi-vocational?

A. Yes. I felt called as a senior in high school but not to typical ministry. Now I understand why I felt that way! I worked as a manager at fast-food restaurants and did part-time youth ministry. Then I got into banking.

Q. What brought you back to the Tampa area?

A. There was a fire in our house in Graceville, and we lost everything. So we came back here and got involved in Bell Shoals Baptist. My wife grew up there.

Q. What's your "other job" now?

A. I'm a vice president with Bank of America. I work out of Riverview and Big Bend. I'm also a cluster leader, so I help out multiple stores.

I've been in management with them eight years. I love working with people, and the bank is a part of that. I can see a time when I'd be full time in ministry, but as the Lord provides; God's time.

Q. What gives you joy?

A. Nothing is better than seeing someone finally find the peace they've been looking for. That's awesome, that God still touches people.

Q. What does the future look like?

A. We're in the midst of looking for a piece of property. We want to do a motorcycle instruction course as part of the church. Long term, we'd like a large building with motorcycle parking across the front.

Thousands of people coming - no matter how they come - hearing the good news.

Q. What's your invitation?

A. Come. No matter how you come, come as you are. There's a hope and a peace that can only be found through Jesus Christ. The heart of the ministry is Jesus.

Q. Who's your Bible hero?

A. Paul; he's just such an awesome guy. He's the opposite of what you'd expect. He's not afraid of anything. I can't get enough of his writings.

Q. Do you have a Scripture to share?

A. Luke 9:23: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."

Everyone's looking for their purpose, and it starts with denying yourself.

Q. What do you do for fun?

A. I like geocaching, exploring with the GPS Global Positioning System; hikes in the middle of the woods; and getting away as a family. This week I have an appointment with my family to watch the new "Narnia" movie

Q. Why Plant City?

A. I really felt called. I just knew this was where we need to be. I love the quaint downtown, the rural side, hardworking down-home honest people; I just enjoy them. This is the way life should be.

This is an occasional series spotlighting faith leaders. Aaron Brown is pastor of Free Rider Fellowship, 610 N. Alexander St., Plant City. The telephone number is (813) 294-6015. The church meets Sundays at 9 a.m. for Bible study and 10 a.m. for worship.

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