Redeemed member William Rudolf and his wife Gaynella
What does it mean to find redemption and is there hope for everyone?
In this programme, Sonia Sly meets members of The Redeemed Motorcycle Ministry, including founding member Amos Perese Ale, female rider Ni Te Pou, and Rotorua-based William Rudolf whose contrasting perspectives and experiences force us to question the power of faith and its ability to transform lives.
Amos Perese Ale calls himself a radical kind of Christian. After years of battling the temptation of drugs, alcohol and gang life he managed to turn his life around. Eight years ago he formed The Redeemed Motorcycle Ministry and as a result, today he’s a changed man who stands tall and proud.
When I meet up with Amos it is a beautiful, sunny, Spring afternoon in Auckland’s Aotea Square, and Amos has come out on his Harley Davidson to meet me. His bike is clearly a much loved possession and it shines like a well-polished medal. My eyes dart between Amos and the bike as we talk.
Amos Perese Ale in his leathers
“The bikes are really just a tool,” he says. “You don’t even need to have a bike if you want to join The Redeemed."
Amos reinforces that the bikes are secondary to the primary mission, which is all about fostering positive change in the individual and helping to assist those in need, no matter who they might be.
He and his wife embrace this mission statement whole-heartedly and in doing so, have taken in street kids who have had nowhere else to turn. Now the pair work for Child Youth and Family where they assist in transporting young people to court, with Amos taking on the additional role of mentoring the young people who find themselves caught up in the cycle of crime and the justice system.
Even as we talk, a young man stands close by looking for an opportunity to speak. I immediately assume he knows Amos, but in actual fact he has come to sell his wares.
“Kia ora Matua, I’m just selling these CD’s to help pay for my grandmother’s headstone …sounds kind of like ‘Katchafire…”
Amos isn't concerned about the music on the CD.
"Your grandmother will be proud of you boy!" he says as he hands the young man a ten dollar note.
The young man nods, “It beats stealing and robbing."
For Amos, the key into creating change has a lot to do with supporting the younger generation who inadvertently end up leading a life of crime as a result of their social disposition.
“There’s hope for everyone but sometimes they have to go out and get it. The youth have dreams [but] they won’t follow it because their pride gets in the way.”
To find out more information about their events and outreach, head to the Redeemed Motorcyle Ministry website.
