Ben Mogg has been a Lutheran minister for 15 years, first in Chinchilla in rural Queensland and for the past nine years in Hobart.
He became a probationary member of the Hobart Chapter of God's Squad in 2002 and after three years apprenticeship he received his "colours" in 2005 when he became a full member. These colours are registered and copyrighted; the black cross represents our sin and wickedness whereas the red cross illustrates the washing away of sin by Christ's Blood.
For this interview, Ben Mogg was asked to re-tell one of the stories he told at the Australasian Religious Press Association annual conference in Hobart in early September.
He told how he was requested to conduct a wedding of a member of another bikie gang. He explained that as a Lutheran Minister he is a marriage celebrant but is only permitted to marry people under the rites of the Lutheran Church.
This meant that for the wedding ceremony at the biker's club house, where there was an eight-foot high devil's mask, the full rites of the Lutheran Church marriage celebration was conducted with prayers, vows, reading and a Gospel message explaining why Jesus Christ died on the cross for sin and the theology of security of the resurrection.
"In that weird situation, I gave my philosophical interpretation of the Lord's majesty over all peoples," Benn Mogg explained. "It was a remarkable and wonderful wedding where the biker club members readily heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ preached. The Holy Spirit moved amongst us all."
From time to time he would notice one of the regular members of some of the clubs was not around, but no one said anything. He would more than likely find them in the prison, when he donned his other hat as a prison chaplain, and he would take the opportunity to reconnect.
God's Squad has been around in Australia for 40 years and their ministry is widely accepted amongst the various bikie clubs across the nation.
Mark Tronson asked Ben Mogg how the Holy Spirit works in his life, and his response was that it was just the same as every other Christian's life. The Holy Spirit offered strength, courage and power in everything a Christian does and wherever he or she travels.
This interview by the Australian Missionary News IPTV can be viewed at
tv.bushorchestra.com/Mission/videopages/ben_mogg.html