Jump for Jesus brings the Word to Gunnison

World record holder spreads faith

Ask yourself: Do you think you’ll be jumping a motorcycle through a wall of fire at the age of 64?
I doubt it.

Furthermore, how does a 64-year-old man manage to jump a motorcycle through a wall of fire?
I’ll tell you how, with the power of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Gene Sullivan got his start in the stunt business as Evel Kneivel’s first bodyguard in 1969, touring with the famous stunt rider until 1972.
Sullivan was raised as a Catholic but once his “sins started getting bad,” he ceased going to confession.
Then, on May 20, 1972, everything changed for Sullivan when he attended a prayer breakfast.
“From that day I felt like the Lord put me on this Earth to give his testimony,” said Sullivan.
In 1978 Sullivan started his Jump for Jesus campaign and is now a record holder in the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest and longest touring professional motorcycle jumper.
For more than 30 years Sullivan has been successfully jumping his motorcycle over a 30-foot gap and through a wall of fire.
And you say there’s no God?
He’s spread the word to hundreds of locations and cities in the United States and as far as the South Pacific.
On Sunday, August 7 Sullivan and his Jump for Jesus International Evangelism made a stop in Gunnison to share his story, spread the faith and, of course, jump through fire.
“We’re here in Gunnison because we felt the Lord wanted us to set the table,” Sullivan told the crowd. “Someone in this community needed it.”
Following some songs from a women’s choir and a band, a couple of stories from members of the Jump for Jesus entourage, Sullivan took the microphone to share his story.
Despite a stiff swirling wind, Sullivan pressed on with his sermon and remained focused on the task at hand.
He did turn to the crowd for a little support and admit to some nerves as he prepared for the jump.
“If you’ve got faith out there, we got to ask the Lord to give us peace from this wind,” said Sullivan. “The Lord is good, he sees me through every one of these things.”
One might ask, what’s the correlation between the Lord and jumping a motorcycle through fire? Well, Sullivan pointed out the connection so clearly and coherently that it all made perfect sense.
“The takeoff ramp represents man’s launch into life, as he is old enough to be accountable for his life,” explained Sullivan. “The gap between the ramps represents the darkness and pitfalls of life which we all encounter. The wall of fire represents the gates of hell that stands between man and eternity, blinding him to the finished work of Jesus Christ’s death on the cross and his resurrection unto eternal life for all who call upon him. The landing ramp with the cross represents the other side of this life, eternity. Think about it, pray about it and we’ll see you on the other side.”
As Sullivan did a couple of speed checks and rode to the top of the ramp, Team Jesus prepared the particle board wall by raising it into place and dousing it with five gallons of gasoline.
Meanwhile, Elijah, a member of the Jump for Jesus contingent, said they’ve had to postpone only one jump ever, pointing out that they’ve seen conditions prior to a jump far worse than this, and every time, “the heavens opened up and the winds calmed right before he jumps.”
Sullivan’s granddaughter was equally unfazed by the wind. When asked if she was nervous she replied calmly, “No, he does this all the time.”
As soon as the wall was lit, Sullivan was charging down the approach, his Honda 450 opened up full throttle up the ramp and crashing through the wall in a ball of fire and brimstone—only to land safely, “on the other side.”
Following the jump, Sullivan admitted, “When I hit that wall, it rung my bell.”
Nevertheless, he closed with a prayer and offered individuals prayers and healings for those in attendance.
Sullivan and his crew spent the night in Gunnison before heading back to their home in Billings, Montana.
They get back to the road in two weeks when they return to Colorado to spread the word and share the spectacle of a 64-year-old man jumping through fire in Lamar.
The Lord works in mysterious ways. AMEN.