10:00am Sunday 18th November 2007
By Duncan Eaton
YOU have heard of Hell's Angels. Now meet Hampshire's version of God's Angels.
They are a group of dedicated bikers who use their high-powered machines to wheel out the Christian message.
It is believed that it could be the only group of its kind in the country.
Calling themselves the Romsey Riders of Christ Our King (RROCK) they are based at the Romsey Christian Centre - the Elim Pentecostal Church - where they hold prayer meetings.
They have their own mission statement which they display outside the Middlebridge Street church.
Phil Stawinoga, aged 38, who is a member of the Romsey Christian Centre, said it started about seven years ago.
Summing up the ethos of the group, he says: "We share a love of God and a love of bikes."
The Christian bikers are aged from their twenties to late-50s.
He said it also helped to boost the image of bikers.
One of the highlights of RROCK's packed programme is a Saturday morning get-together when after a full English breakfast they hit the road.
Their trips have taken them to Studland, Dorset, the Ace Café at Brighton, Motorcycle World, Beaulieu and the Brooklands Race Track.
Putting Christianity into motorcycling also helps to boost the biker image and Phil says: "We try to create a good image and we keep to all the road limits."
The Rev John Cuthbert, minister of the Romsey Christian Centre, said: "The motor cycle group is an outreach of the church and we fully support it as part of our fellowship."
On December 2 it will be Bikers' Sunday at the church with services at 10.30am and 6.30pm. At one of the services an ex-Hell's Angel will tell how he became a Christian. The service is open to all.
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