Jeff Stultz the Motorcycle Missionary
Hello, my name is Jeff, I am a believer in recovery from drug
addiction.
I’ll start by saying I come from as normal a family as everyone
else. In other words, completely screwed up. Most of my family
life growing up was great but my father was an alcoholic who’d
fought in Korea and Vietnam and that presented problems of its
own. When my father drank he was physically abusive to my
mother and mentally abusive to us kids. I have a brother and I
did have two sisters, but one passed away in 2001, and they are
nothing like me. They all went to college and into the business
world. I grew up as a heavy kid that was picked on and scared. In
the summer of 1976, at 13 years old, I drank my first beer and
smoked marijuana for the first time. At last I was accepted by
some cool kids so I started getting high on a regular basis. I also
got into weightlifting and boxing in high school and decided that I’d
never be picked on again. Fighting, drinking, and getting high
became normal for me in my teenage years.
At nineteen I joined the Army and learned that drinking alcohol
and fighting were all I wanted to do when I wasn’t working. Soon I
was shot in the leg in a bar fight and this took me off my feet for
quite a while. As I recuperated, I again put on weight.
At 5’8” and over 300 lbs I didn’t fit in with the other soldiers but
I had bought a motorcycle for cheap transportation to work and
spent a lot of time in the biker bars. Before long I realized the bike
clubs accepted anyone, especially violent drug and alcohol
abusers.
I had finally found a place where I fit in. I was big, I was angry,
I was violent and in the biker world the meanest, nastiest guy in
the bunch was in charge. I worked at being that guy. I physically
abused my wife and would get into bloody fights with my dad
anytime we drank together. I was involved in drug dealing,
stabbings, and shootings. It wasn’t long before I became the
president of the club. I soon went AWOL from the Army and
ended up with a dishonorable discharge. I spent the next fifteen
years leading as an outlaw motorcycle club president.
In 1993 I met my second wife. She had a six month old
daughter. I fell in love with both of them and slowly became more
responsible eventually adopting her. When my daughter was
around four years old I decided that I needed to leave the
motorcycle club because I didn’t want to die in some stupid bar
fight and cause her to grow up without a father. Unfortunately, I
left the club but didn’t leave the lifestyle.
Alcohol, Drugs, and Violence consumed me. In 98, my
daughter was 5, and my wife finally had enough. She was done
and filed for divorce.
At this point I got worse and the only thing that kept me from
slipping off the deep end completely was a misplaced sense of
responsibility to my daughter.
I thought I was a good dad, spending every other weekend
with her. I took her to the bars with me and at 6 years old she was
forced to experience violent behavior that would have been
disturbing to most adults. I used her to meet and pickup women.
I even rode her around, on the interstate, on my motorcycle when I
was drunk. I can remember thinking how cute she was
carrying around an empty jim beam bottle and a cigarette,
acting like daddy.
I bragged about how I spent so much time with her but in
reality I was completely unfit and should have been put in jail.
At this time in my life I was a functioning addict. I owned a
successful business, I had a beachhouse, boats, trucks, trailers,
motorcycles…………… I thought I was living the dream.
Finally, Christmas 2001, the first Christmas after my sister
died. I tried crack cocaine and I was almost instantly addicted.
As I started going through all the money in the bank I was able
to convince my parents that my business was failing and that I
needed financial help. They thought they were helping me by
loaning me money and credit cards. But within another year I
caused them to go into a bankruptcy.
I had lost it all, including my daughter, her mother had moved
and taken her and wouldn’t let me or my family know where she
was. One of my last memories of my daughter as a little girl
was her buying me an eight pack of cigarette lighters for my
birthday. It would be six years before I spoke to her again.
Even my outlaw biker friends wanted nothing to do with me. In
the outlaw world we had a saying, “you have to be really honest to
be an outlaw” and they couldn’t even trust me.
At this point I came back to Fayetteville, NC where my parents
lived, I continued to lie, steal, cheat and do anything else I needed
to do to get dope. I robbed drug dealers quite often and soon
there were a lot of people that wanted me dead. My parents
finally convinced me to enter a treatment facility. I only did it to
please them. Soon I was having drugs delivered to me, in the
rehab. It wasn’t long before I was found out and kicked out.
Finally at Christmas I snuck into my parent’s house and stole
the 100.00 dollar bills my mother intended as Christmas gifts for
all the family members. This was not discovered until Christmas
morning when they all opened the empty envelopes.
When my mother realized what I had done she wanted nothing
more to do with me and told me that she would buy me a one way
ticket anywhere in the country but she did not want me in
Fayetteville any longer.
I’ll never forget, before I got on the train to Miami. My mother
gave me a card to carry in my pocket with her contact
information so she would at least be notified when my body
was found.
At this point I was on the street in Miami and I realized I
would soon be dead or in prison, after a month I called my parents
again. They made a deal with me that if I would commit to a year
and a half rehab program they would let me come back to
Fayetteville.
I entered the rehab again for all the wrong reasons however it
was impossible to get drugs into this place so I soon resigned
myself to the fact that I was going to quit using….. at least while I
was there. This was a Christian rehab but I was not buying
into any of that Jesus stuff, I was way too smart for that.
About four months in to my stay my old girlfriend called me and
told me she had inherited quite a bit of money and wanted me to
come to Minnesota.
I left the rehab more than a year early, never having taken my
recovery seriously, never finding a sponsor, never working the 12
steps but feeling as though I was cured from my crack addiction
and it would be OK to drink and use other drugs.
I left the rehab and got on a train. Within 12 hours I was drunk.
When I got to Minnesota we decided to travel the country. We did
this for about six months, partying the entire time. As we were
traveling we stopped in Nashville, TN, and being the smart guy
that I am, I came up with the idea of buying a bar.
Now here is some good advice, never leave the rehab and
buy a bar! Big mistake!
We opened the Filling Station, a biker bar and again, I truly
thought I was living the dream. Booze, dope, prostitutes,
gambling, violence, everything I loved and it would all lead me
down one of the darkest paths in my life. As I was in this dark
place literally one ray of light shone through, Doc Ray.
The one thing I never expected to find in the bar was a
preacher. Isaiah 59:1 says Surely the arm of the Lord is not too
short to save, nor his ear to dull to hear.
Doc rode a motorcycle and hung out at the biker bars
ministering to us as we needed him. He was very careful to not
force religion on us, he just made sure we knew that he loved us
and he was always there, loving us, in times of crisis offering
prayer and friendship. Doc became a good friend of mine
although I wasn’t buying into any of his Jesus talk either. However
it was clear that he really cared about me and so many of the
bikers in the bar.
Within 6 months of buying the bar, I lost everything else and
became a homeless, crack addict. My girlfriend left, I lost contact
with Doc Ray and every other decent person in my life. For two
and a half years I was homeless. I ate out of dumpsters, slept
under bridges, in abandon cars, and even in the crawl spaces
under houses.
I was in and out of jail. In fact in 2006 I was arrested over 30
times. I stole cars, robbed people, wrote worthless checks,
shoplifted, and was always able to lie to my father and talk him
into sending me money behind my mother’s back which almost
caused them to divorce.
March 1st of 2007 I had been on a binge for days. It was about
3:00 in the morning and I ran out of drugs but I still had money in
my pocket. I had to have more. At 3:00 in the morning in a
ragged, falling apart, borrowed truck with expired tags, knowing
there were warrants for my arrest, and driving with no license I
headed into one of the worst drug areas in town. Of course I was
pulled over and arrested.
By the way, when I was arrested I weighed 108 pounds and
was covered with open sores due to staph infection. You can still
see the white scars on my face, neck, and arms.
Going to jail that morning was one of the best things that ever
happened to me in my life. I was arrested on a probation violation. Because of the nature of this charge my father couldn’t bail me out this time. I was going to have to sit in jail and wait to see a judge. When I did finally get out my father had come to Nashville to help me again. I had
nothing except the clothes I was wearing. My father helped me
get a vehicle, a place to live, clothes. I was just waiting for him to
leave so I could get high. When he left it hit me that what if next time he didn’t help, what if next time I got out of jail and he was done with me. I had, what we call in recovery, a moment of clarity and I made a decision to quit getting high.
I now see that the first time my father didn’t bail me out, I hit
bottom. I often wonder how much sooner I might have had this
moment of clarity if I were not being enabled by my parents. They
thought they were keeping me from dying. It was all done in love
but, they almost loved me to death!
As I made this decision to quit using I tried to think of anyone I
knew in Nashville, TN that didn’t use dope. The only person I
could think of was that biker Preacher, Doc Ray. I looked up his
number and called him. He was happy to hear from me and
invited me to church.
I accepted, still believing that church was just a weekly
inconvenience where “holy” people went to talk about how good
they were and how bad everyone else was. However I knew I
needed to meet more people that didn’t get high.
I showed up the next Sunday. Hair down to my waist, white t
shirt, jeans, I was waiting for the judgement but it never came.
These people were actually nice to me, they showed me love and
respect, and I decided to come back.
The next week I had no idea what was in store for me. I can’t
really describe what happened but I can tell you April 22, 2007 I
had an experience with Jesus Christ and I was changed forever.
Psalm 40:2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud
and mire, he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to
stand.
I’m so very grateful to Doc Ray for his ministry to me.
He made sure I got home safely when I was too drunk to
stand. He picked me up from jail when I was released. He was
my friend when I didn’t know how to be anyone’s friend. He loved
on me when I was unloveable and he prayed with me when I was
hurting. Doc accepted me right where I was, flaws and all, without
judgement, without condemnation, without beating me over the
head with a Bible. He was simply kind and caring and I’m not sure
that God could have used anyone else to get through to me.
Within three weeks of my salvation I attended a church dinner.
I sat by a couple that I had never met, Jim and Deb, and we began
to talk.
I told them a little bit about my story and wanting to meet other
Christians my age they told me about a ministry they went to on
Friday Nights at another church called Celebrate Recovery. They
invited me the following Friday. I remember telling them how
Jesus had delivered me from addiction and I really didn’t
need a recovery program. They convinced me that I would be
able to make some Christian friends there and I finally agreed to
go.
I was terrified to walk in to that place but once inside I was
amazed. I remember how freeing it was to attend a share group
and listen to others like me. I realized I wasn’t alone in my
struggle and I was able to be honest about myself without shame
or embarrassment. I realized I didn’t have to be perfect to be a
Christian.
The love, acceptance, and freedom I felt were beyond
comparison. I can remember leaving CR and thinking only about
being back there the next Friday.
Within two months of attending I began working the Christ
centered twelve steps and found a sponsor. I committed fully to
the program. I realized the Lord had delivered me from the dope
but there was much more to recovery than to stop using.
The 12 steps took me through a healing process, taught me
how to live sober, how to handle this world, as it is, not as I would
have it. I did what my sponsor told me to do, I was accountable, I
was honest, and I took correction well. I began to work the 12
steps and to apply the principles to my life on a daily basis.
Wow, what a change in my life! I began passing out Bibles in
drug neighborhoods, helping feed the homeless, volunteering at
my Church, and any other service work I could find to do.
Finally, Christmas of 2007, I had been sober for eight months
and my mother wanted to see me for the first time in four years.
After a short visit my mother asked me to come home.
I can’t express my gratitude to God for giving me this time, as
a sober Christian, with my parents. Finally being the son God
intended me to be.
Shortly after moving back to NC, with a year of sobriety, the
Lord opened up a door for me to feed the homeless and needy
and to be able to share the Gospel with them! I formed Jeff Stultz
Ministries and was able to secure chairs, canopies, coolers, and
funding for food. I set up dinner and church in crack motel parking
lots.
I began attending a church, Destiny Now, and shortly after I
met the Senior Pastor. He was excited about what I was doing
and what I wanted to do so I began seeking others to help me
start CR at Destiny Now. Leading this ministry is truly one of the things that God has called me to do. I came to know my wife at Celebrate Recovery.
My daughter showed up at my wedding and I was able to hug her
for the first time in six years. I’ve made friendships that I know will
last a lifetime. I’ve had people I’ve grown up with whom I had not seen in
years find healing and recovery. I’ve had damaged relationships
restored and repaired. I’ve seen changed lives. I’ve learned that
it’s not about me, and the blessings that come from doing for
others.
Remember all that “stuff” I lost, Glory to God, we serve a Lord
of restoration. God has given me back my family.
I was able to comfort my father daily during a long hospital stay
which ended with his death in September 2009, I was also able to
pray with him to receive Christ before he died.
I enjoyed 8 years of sobriety, loving on my mother and being
there for her until she took her last breath. In fact, I’ll never forget
the day she told me how proud she was of the man that I’d
become.
My daughter. Her mother died tragically while I was in my
addiction but now she has a father. God has restored our
relationship and she has forgiven me. She even brags about me
being her daddy.
I have a beautiful, Christian wife with a wonderful new family
that loves me, I have incredible friends, I own a successful
business. And yes, Glory to God, I have a Harley Davidson!
God has used me in many ways over the last 9 years
• In 2008 I started CR at Destiny now and served as the
ministry leader for 7 years.
• 2010 I came on board the CR Southeastern Team as a
NC State Rep.
• In 2011 I was ordained as a Pastor and served as the
Campus Pastor of Destiny Now ministries for 4 years
• 2015 I joined John Eklund, the CR Eastern National
Director, in starting and co leading CR at Temple Church
in Selma, NC.
• I am currently connecting with Celebrate Recovery at
Freedom Biker Church in Fayetteville, NC, my new home
church and I plan to serve in their CR ministry as needed.
I’ve come to realize my decision to accept Jesus as my Lord
and Savior has changed not only my life but the lives of my family,
my friends, and many others.
God has turned my mess into His message and I have been
blessed to be able to share my testimony all over the country.
In the fall of 2011 I entered a casting call contest for a role in
the movie “Home Run”. I won the contest and appear in the movie
as a little league umpire.
Through that experience God has opened a new door of
ministry for me in the acting world. I have appeared in several
other movies, tv shows, and commercials. God is using me as a
witness both in front of and behind the cameras.
Since accepting Christ, life is truly incredible but not perfect. In
April 2013 my wife and I separated because we could not seem to
get along. You see, we married soon after meeting, and then
realized we weren’t much alike. Although we had separated we
weren’t ready to give up on our marriage. We may not have made
the right choice in getting married so soon but now we had to work
towards making the choice right. I am so grateful for my CR
forever family who loved and encouraged us through all of this.
We sought professional help by the way of a Christian
Counsellor. It took more than prayer, it took work, determination,
commitment. We weren’t willing to give up.
We began to apply the principles of recovery to our marriage
and CR showed me that I couldn’t fix or blame Pamela, I could
only work on my part, my character defects. God began to heal
areas of our relationship and after a year I was able to come home.
God did a work of healing and restoration in our marriage as
we both began to take responsibility rather than blaming one
another. Today, we still have issues but we’re learning to accept the
things in each other that we cannot change, and to change the
things in ourselves that we can.
This year, after putting the biker lifestyle behind me for nine
years, associating that lifestyle with all my bad behavior. God told
me that it’s ok to be a biker as long as I do it for His Glory. In July,
some of us CR Bikers talked about starting a club. During the following weeks I was able to help start the Broken Chains Motorcycle Ministry, bikers who have found hope and healing in Jesus Christ through CR. I’m honored to serve as the President and in just 4 months we have grown to include members in 16 states. God is using my past and my passion for His Glory.
I,m a motorcycle missionary and God is using me to reach people
that others might not be able to reach. Glory to God!
The Lord has changed my life and used me to touch the lives of others through many different avenues, but Celebrate Recovery, the Twelve Steps, and Eight Principles are the greatest tools that I have.
I am grateful to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for my
salvation, and I’m grateful for Celebrate Recovery which helps me
to grow closer to my full potential by applying the principles I’ve
learned to my life everyday. 9 years later you can still find me at
CR every Friday night, why ……….because I still need to be here!
Recovery is a decision followed by a process.
Since I made the decision to quit using I’ve gone through the
illness and death of my father and my mother, I’ve gone through a
marriage separation, and I’ve been hurt in many other ways but
I’m sober today……. Because of the process.
I’m going to be OK, because no matter what, I no longer have
to turn to drugs or alcohol to deal with my problems, I have all of
you, a forever family and Jesus meets me in every smile, every
hug, every encouraging word.
WOW! Today, I’m living the dream one day at a time! 3,564
days ago all I wanted was to quit using dope……I could never
have planned or dreamed what God has done in my life since!
I’d like to share my life verse with you. Psalms 3:3 you, Oh
Lord, are a shield for me, you are my glory and the lifter of my head.
If you are reading this for the first time, I want to encourage you to get involved in the process of recovery and let God do a miracle in your life. Ipromise, the miracles are just ahead. I know, it happened to me!
Thanks for letting me share.