If you have followed me for a while, you know Kim and I like using motorcycles to wander. It gives us new perspectives on the world and the people we share it with. It also helps us find stories that may be unknown or forgotten and gives us the opportunity to share them with others.

Wandering find

Recently we were wandering the backroads of Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. Our final destination was the small town of Laurel, Mississippi. Yup, that Laurel, Mississippi. The one from HGTV’s Home Town television series with Erin and Ben Napier. Through their TV show, they are largely responsible for bringing the little town back to life.

While visiting, we spoke with a local resident who told us that only about five businesses remained open before the TV show. But now, according to that person, nearly all of the town’s business buildings are open or being renovated to open for business.

So by now, you may be asking, “What does Laurel have to do with motorcycles, and why is it being featured here?” Well, it turns out there is another story in town that should be told, and it includes motorcycles. It goes like this…

Hellfighters

A large building stands on South Magnolia Street, not far from the train tracks that can whisk you from Laurel to New Orleans, Louisiana, or Washington, DC. Previously a garment factory, it is now a mega-motorcycle dealership, repair, and accessory shop calledHellfighters. But what makes it different from other mega dealerships is that its primary purpose is to help those in need.

Inside, is a vast selection of gleaming used motorcycles. Cruisers, sportbikes, and custom machines grace the showroom’s floor. Of course, there’s a service and accessories department, but there’s far more inside.

Everyday Swap Meet

One of the shop’s bigger areas contains Mike’s (no not this Mike) Everyday Swap Meet. It is jammed with motorcycle parts which have been nicely sorted and beautifully displayed.

Other stuff

There are also many aisles and displays filled with clothing, accessories, and even stuff only indirectly or not at all related to motorcycles. You can find gifts like jewelry, scented candles, sunglasses, books, pottery, and similar trinkets. There’s even a restaurant and chapel.

虽然里面的人努力恢复otorcycles and sell pretty much anything else in the store, they restore something else. People.

Helping those in need

It turns out that Hellfighters is not just the name of a motorcycle store but also a philosophy. The dealership is also a motorcycle ministry created by Richard Headrick, a successful Laurel businessman. Although he passed away from cancer in October 2020, his wife Gina continues to operate it and their Mission At The Cross facilities.

It’s a long story, but Richard and Gina have done much to raise awareness of the homeless and provide help to people who need it. And through theirHellfightersand theMission At the Crossfacilities, people can recover their self-sufficiency and dignity. So whether the people have drug or alcohol addictions or are trying to get back on their feet from financial hardships, emotional trauma, prison stays, or similar issues, Hellfighters and the Mission at the Cross are there to help.

The “Want To”:

Hellfighters and the Mission At The Cross work to help those who “want to” get back on their feet.

From the Mission of the Cross website:

If a person going through a hard time has the “want to” to get back on their feet, get a job, kick their bad habits, restore their marriage, rebuild their home, get their kids back, or whatever their godly desire is, we have the “want to” to help them do it!

To help these people, the Headrick’s facilities offer pretty much anything necessary to help them get back on their feet. The Hellfighters store provides jobs and training for those who want to learn. Many of the beautiful machines in the store have been rebuilt or serviced by the people needing help.

任务在十字架上

In addition, the Mission At The Cross facilities offers life’s necessities. Everything from food, shelter, clothing, nursing skills, and spiritual support. Their doors are open to the needy 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. And all the people providing the support do so as volunteers; they receive no payment for their services. Instead, they do it because they believe in paying their good fortune forward to those in need.

And if you are still wondering whether the Headrick’s genuine desire is to make money, they are pretty clear about it. To quote the Hellfighter’s website:

Above all, the best thing about Hellfighters USA Motorcycle Shop is that every penny of profit earned within our 83,038 square feet facility goes to defray the operational expenses of Laurel’s任务在十字架上recovery center, so that thousands more men of addiction can get help, and Jesus, for FREE.

That statement is pretty inspirational. It helps to revive my belief in good people and doing good for others. And it all comes courtesy of Richard and Gina Headrick’s Hellfighters and Mission At The Cross, and of course, motorcycles.

Note: Neither Hellfighters nor Mission At The Cross asked for or gave anything of value in return for this article.