Jason Futch
reporter2@riverbendnews.org
Kem “Side Kick” Beaty gave his life to Christ in his 20s after fighting demons that followed him from South Florida, where he grew up, to North Carolina. Although he grew up in church, there was a period in his 20s when he had drifted far from his faith.
One day, he was invited to a church service, where Beaty said God made himself real to him. At 24 years old, he was saved, and by 25, he was baptized. “I have never lived another life or time outside of Christ since then,” he said. “I gave my life to him. He is my Lord.”
Now 67 years old, he has expressed his faith in the Lord through motorcycles, which he has been riding since he was 18. At 52 years old, after his children grew up, Beaty bought a new bike and began riding again. Shortly thereafter, he became involved with the Hellfighters Christian Ministry, based in Laurel, Miss.
The Hellfighters Christian Ministry was founded in 2000 by the late Richard Headrick, who sought to create a ministry seeking to reach all types of people with the gospel. According to its procedure manual, Hellfighters Christian Ministry is a non-denominational league of extraordinary individuals who have been saved by the forgiving grace of Jesus Christ and are bold enough to serve Him 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
The Jasper unit of the Hellfighters was commissioned on Oct. 11, 2024, at 5:59 p.m. “I remember it like yesterday because we had been waiting for eight years,” Beaty said. He and Michael Smith, who serves as the chaplain of the unit, had tried for years to get the Jasper location commissioned.
“In the motorcycle world, you have to have approval from the domineering motorcycle club in the area,” Beaty said. “We finally got our okay.” He said the unit was at a block party in Laurel listening to a minister when their chaplain came down and informed Beaty the unit was approved.
As he handed Beaty his president’s tag, Jasper was officially recognized as a legitimate unit, marking the beginning of something real.
Michael’s wife, Beth Smith, who serves as the unit’s secretary, assists with the logistics of the ministry and helps maintain the organization's balance. She bought her first bike when she was 18 years old; however, she soon found out she was pregnant with her son and had to stop riding for years.
“When he got a little older, my mother-in-law gave me the okay,” Beth said. She and her husband became involved with the Hellfighters after raising their child and going through their own trials.
“I always knew God existed and I always knew he was faithful,” Beth said.
In January of 2008, it was discovered Michael had melanoma. Shortly after the diagnosis, it was revealed his grandmother was dying of cancer, and Beth’s cousin was also dying of cancer. Beth said that, paired with financial burdens, she and her husband entered the hardest years of their marriage.
“I remember God telling me that if I wanted any of these relationships in my life to work, I had to prioritize this one,” said Beth. “We’ve been married for 22 years, and our son will be 18 soon. God has just been faithful.” She added Michael has been cancer-free for 18 years. “We can testify to His faithfulness.”
Beaty said the clubhouse for the Jasper unit is located at Corinth Baptist Church, which he and his wife, as well as other members of the unit, attend. Beaty emphasized that one of the requirements to become a Hellfighter is to be actively involved in a local church. Almost everyone at the Jasper unit, in some capacity, serves in a leadership role within the church.
Beaty said he is a Sunday school teacher at Corinth Baptist Church, while Beth noted her husband serves on the senior leadership team at The Orchard Community Church in Live Oak. She also runs the Cafe and First Impressions Team.
“Our goal so far for the unit this year is, if you see a need, fill it,” said Beth. “Right now, we’re still getting our footing, and if we see a need, we go after it.”
One of the community partners the unit has had the pleasure of working with is the Florida Sheriff’s Youth Ranch (FSYR), where they participate in some of the activities that happen there. The pastor of the FSYR, Dennis Young, is considered a “hangaround,” or someone interested in becoming a Hellfighter, but isn’t an official member.
According to Beaty, those who are a hangaround serve in that capacity for three months, followed by six months as a “prospect.” A prospect is someone who proves themselves worthy in the eyes of God and his Hellfighter peers by completing the mentor/prospect program.
Gradually, the prospect will receive their patches until they are fully patched and become a member of the Hellfighters. “Once you finally get patched in, you’ll get your center crest,” Beaty said.
The organization as a whole has provided goodwill to people across the country, allowing the Jasper unit to participate in missions, whether it be during the Sturgis Bike Rally in South Dakota or Bike Week in Daytona Beach. The Hellfighters provide resources and Bible tracts to educate and encourage attendees to learn more about the Word of God.
The national chapter also has a building in downtown Laurel, known as the Mission At The Cross, that houses men who are down on their luck and need assistance. The Mission At The Cross also operates in other areas of the country on a smaller scale, providing efficient services to those who need them. According to Beaty, the work that Mission At The Cross provides has a 100% success rate for those who complete the program. Beth also stated that their objective is to reunite families.
Ultimately, being able to share the gospel and their testimony through the Hellfighters Christian Ministry is essential to both Beaty and Beth. “It’s important for us to share what Jesus has done in our lives,” said Beth. “And you don’t have to wait. You can come in as you are.”
To learn more about the Hellfighters Christian Ministry, visit www.hellfighters.org. To learn more about The Mission At The Cross, visit
www.missionatthecross.com. To learn more
about the Jasper unit and how to get
involved, contact Beaty at 386-590- 9150 or email hellfighterkick@gmail.com.