Rally for Ally

Some folks from Shiloh Church participated in, and the congregation co-sponsored, a very important community event this past weekend. It was called the "Rally for Ally." It was held at T.J. Chumps, in Englewood.

The Rally for Ally began with 70 participants in a morning run/walk, breakfast, a bike poker ride in the afternoon, featuring more then 70 riders, and a dinner, raffle and entertainment in the evening. Shiloh provided chairs for the event and the use of the small sound system. We also provided the blessing before the poker run and simply helped out throughout the event.

Rally for Ally supports families whose children are suffering from cancer. Ally is a survivor. Other survivors and sufferers were present and participating in the day's events. The several thousand dollars of funds raised will be utilized through a not-for-profit organization, called We Fight Together, to assist families at Children's Hospital, here in Dayton, whose children have been diagnosed with cancer and who are being treated at Children's. Each family will receive a care bag upon arrival at the hospital. The bags contain more than $150 of direct discount and assistance around and within the hospital. Since most families travel hastily to Children's such support is vital to their care. We fight Together and Rally for Ally are important support ministries within the local Dayton community. I hope you will each find a way to support the effort.

I began setting up the sound system at about 10:00 a.m., outside on a very humid morning. I was sweating quite profusely by the time one of the bikers' who had arrived early for the poker run, asked me if I might need some assistance. I said that I would appreciate his help. We laughed and joked through the remainder of the set up. Afterward, he offered to buy me a beverage. I agreed and we sat, talking, at a table on the patio at T.J. Chumps.

He assumed that I was a d.j. of sorts. We talked about the sound system and how nice it was to have a portable unit. We talked about poker rides and the nature of local fund raising. Less than an hour after our conversation, a few announcements were made. I was then introduced to conduct the blessing of the ride. The gentleman with whom I had sat and shared both beverage and conversation looked quizzically at me from the crowd. Immediately after the blessing, he came up to me and apologized. He did not know that I was a "preacher," he said, and that he was embarrassed by some of his language and by "making" me drink a beer.

Those who know me know that it is not hard work to get me to drink a beer. You likely also know that I am not particularly shocked by any form of language, unless it demonstrates outright prejudice or is unkind.

This gentleman and I then had a conversation about the church's involvement in community fund-raising and social/secular events. His assumption, and he admitted it, was that the church did things only for itself, and that it raised funds only for its own purposes. The church, he said, did not tend to pitch in with other events and help people in the community. (He put that rather more colorfully, but I think that is, in essence, what he meant.)

I told him about Shiloh. I explained that we are a church that sees itself "Living the Word by Serving the World." I even pointed out the church logo, that appeared on the shirts and literature for the event. I told him that we invest our time, talent, treasure and energy in the community, to enhance the lives of those who are in need.

The ride started a few minutes later and he took off on his Harley with the rest of the riders. I hope that our conversation and our brief work together changed his mind about the role of the church in the community. I hope that involvement in events like Rally for Ally, and continued support of organizations like We Fight Together, continue to teach the community about a different kind of church, one that they can again get behind and support.

I know that my new biker friend learned something about us through the event. I hope that we can continue to express a different kind of faith to, within and through our community, that we may, someday, see a resurgence of the church's ministry and service.