Chaus Neal, Alonzo Noble, Theodore Lindsey, James Trotter Jr. and David Dunn stand with their bikes outside Washington Hills United Methodist Church. Soul Seekers Motorcycle Ministry is working with the Covenant Keypers to raise money toward God-healthy marriages. The group is looking to sponsor 40 couples to go on marriage retreats to Mount Berry, Ga.

A motorcycle ministry and a marriage ministry join forces Saturday to help married couples keep their wedding vows.

The ministries, Covenant Keypers and Soul Seekers Motorcycle Ministry, will host the Ride for God-Healthy Marriages" this weekend.

"We want to help the family and Godly marriages survive," said Chaus Neal, local Soul Seekers Motorcycle Ministry president.

He will be one of an expected 100 riders participating in a round-trip 67-mile motorcycle ride from Chattanooga to Dayton with each rider paying a $25 registration fee.

"When the family goes, society goes. We're trying to help society out," said the Rev. Alonzo Noble, associate minister at Hawkinsville Baptist Church.

The ride, which is open to the public, starts at Eastgate Town Center's east side parking lot at 10:30 a.m. Saturday.

Gospel singers, bounce houses, food stands and a classic car show and contest will also fill the lot.

Proceeds will go toward sending as many couples as possible to the WinShape retreat center in Mount Berry, Ga.

The goal is to raise $12,000 to send 40 to 50 couples to the retreat.

Covenant Keypers co-founder Rosalyn Hickman wants the fundraiser to eliminate any excuse people may have for not attending.

"We've got a place close and we don't want money to be an issue," she said. The marriage retreat includes Family Life Today Weekend to Remember speakers Brenda and Clarence Shuler. The retreat is scheduled in October.

Hickman and her husband, Gary, co-founded Covenant Keypers in 2005. The ministry hosts date nights, supports marriage ministries in churches and offers free marriage counseling to help couples.

Even Christians get divorced at a rate of 49 to 51 percent, said Hickman.

And husbands and wives are getting divorced faster with some marriages lasting less than three months.

Sometimes the marriage can be saved, but couples need direction, she said.

"Because of counseling, people decide to stay together," she said.

Contact staff writer Yolanda Putman at yputman@timesfreepress.com or 757-6431.