I had the opportunity to speak with Pastor Brian Smith of The First Heavy Metal Church of Christ (F.H.M.C.C.) in Dayton, Ohio and Katie Kilpatrick, who is an aircraft mechanic retiree for the United States Air Force Base and member of F.H.M.C.C.
Smith believes his ministry attracts those who have been hurt by the church. “I have a bar ministry in Jackass Flats Bar and Grill. Under the submission of my Pastor Stan Tharp of Christian Life Center, I was released in ministry two years ago. I began with a small group in my living room with five or six people, baptizing members in my swimming pool. Now we hold services in the bar banquet room, full to capacity, standing room only, baptizing new members in the Great Miami River. I sing secular music in a Rocker band for six years and now after two years pasturing, I am soon resigning from the band to enter into full time ministry,” Smith said.
“I’ve been a Christian all my life but became turned off by the church and its legalism and self-righteousness. I thought I didn’t need the church anymore and I could live my life on my own. It was like I was chasing my tail in the desert.”
Smith also believes that as Christians, we are called to catch the fish, and God will clean the fish through our non-condemning, non-judgmental and forgiving love. “I have five atheists who have converted from atheism to living a life for Christ. We at F.H.M.C.C. literally ‘love the hell out of them,’” said Smith.
Kilpatrick, road name Gypsy, stopped in at the Bikers bar one Wednesday night, and with her curious nature, she went over to check out a table with the sign that read “Free Weed.” “Even though I am a nonsmoker but at the time a Jack Daniels drinker, I thought it was funny to see this illegal plant without a prescription for free. I felt it couldn’t hurt anything to see if this was for real. It was all a set-up. I ended up with a Bible and a weed bookmark,” said Kilpatrick.
“I am a military retiree who served only six years with an honorable discharge because at the time, I had cervical cancer. But by God’s grace, I am now completely healed. I remember not even praying during that time. I had very loving parents, but I did what me, myself and I wanted to do and did not believe God existed. I was even married and divorced twice within six years, and I am still in my 20s. But God had a different plan for me. I was invited on Facebook to attend an event by F.H.MC.C. with free food.
“I soon became irritated because I would get these invites constantly. One night, stoned out of my mind from drinking, I inboxed Pastor Brian with a bunch of sarcastic statements and questions, not expecting a response. He responded quickly and challenged me to attend four services and give him a hug if I was interested. I began asking myself the question, ‘What if I was wrong?
“I reluctantly attended and ended up hugging him on the fifth service. It’s been a little over a year now since my Baptism and in September, I am marrying my husband, whom at my first service I attended was baptized. After serving in the military, I became a bartender but now I am a caregiver for my grandmother with full blown Alzheimer’s and leads the post-abortion recovery group ministry and volunteers in prison ministry,” said Kilpatrick.
“We lovingly welcome all people with non-judgment, from full-body tattoos to body piercing, ministering from the Bible without candy-coating the truth,” said Smith.
What does love have to do with anything? Everything when it comes to a soul. God is love and his love working through us never fails.
Website for Heavy Metal Church of Christ www.heavymetalchurch.com
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