Photo courtesy www.cmausa.org
By Gaye Bunderson
A local group called Christian Motorcyclists Association loves its wheels, and loves to use motorcycles as a means of fellowship. They’re a bunch of believers who know how to have a good time — all while acknowledging and serving the Lord.
A number of CMA chapters exist in Idaho, and the names of each chapter reflect the faith of each. For instance, the Boise chapter is named R-Wheels-R-His, and the Nampa chapter calls itself the Narrow Road Riders after Matthew 7:14: “For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”
The association launched in the U.S. in the ’70s and was founded by a man named Herb Shreve, who felt that God was calling him to be a preacher, according to Bev Amos, who serves as Road Captain (ride planner) for CMA in Boise. About Shreve, she said, “He and his son had drifted apart, so to help fix that, they decided to travel together.”
That meant getting some motorcycles, Amos explained. But the pair found that motorcycles had a negative connotation in the church; and when they went to motorcycle rallies, there was no mention of God.
Shreve wanted to fix that situation, and that’s what he did. He started the association, and in 1975 it was ‘legally formed,’ with paperwork and legal filings.
He and his son lived in Arkansas and likely never perceived how their original motorcycle bonding experience would grow. Over the years it became huge in the U.S. and eventually jumped oceans to become an international phenomenon. CMA is now in 36 countries, with 1,500 chapters and 180,000 members in the U.S. alone, according to Amos. And this year marks the 50th anniversary of the association dedicated to people who ride motorcycles. But not for the thrill of speed or daring but for Jesus, in His service and with ministry to others.
“We consider ourselves a servant organization,” Amos said.
An example of their service includes their visibility — with their cycles — all along Harrison Boulevard in September. “We meet with the people. They come out and greet us, kids and parents alike,” Amos said, continuing that, “in early May, we held a Run for the Son weekend; it’s to help raise money for the Jesus Film Project, which makes the film in various languages for people throughout the world — even for some of the poorest countries, where organizers may backpack in and use a generator to power electricity for showing the film. And even if it’s only on a hung-up sheet rather than a screen. They show the film in the people’s native tongue.”
She explained that in some of the places the motorcycle missionaries go to, the indigenous populations there may peek behind the sheet or screen expecting to see the people in the film back there.
Other funds from CMA go toward purchasing transportation means for pastors in Third World countries, such as motorcycles, bikes, boats, and even horses.
One of the members who personally experienced traveling for Christian Motorcyclists Association is Tom Hammond, Idaho State CMA Coordinator who went on a mission trip this past May. “The mission trip allowed me to participate in the distribution of transportation vehicles to pastors in Guatemala, enabling them to grow their churches, reach further into outlying areas, and also for basic emergency transport for their church families. 150cc motorcycles may not seem like much here in the U.S., but to them it is life-changing.
“Look up Run for the Son on the CMA website (cmausa.org) and watch our videos. I get to pray with the pastors and families, share their stories and sit at the dinner table with them to better understand the challenges they face. Often we service older motorcycles and conduct minor repairs when possible. The first-hand view we get on these trips helps us to communicate to our friends, neighbors and other members why it is important to support them in prayer and through finances.”
Hammond explained how funds are raised for the mission outreach. “Each year on the first Saturday in May is our ‘Run for the Son’ event. Our only CMA fund-raising effort culminates on this day to enable financial support; 60% of the funds raised are distributed to our partners to enable continued support of their missions. CMA partners with them in reviewing and approving their use of the funds we provide. Last year, each partner received over $1.25 M from our fund-raising efforts.”
Along with the Jesus Film Project, CMA partners with Missionary Ventures International and Global Christian Relief.
The CMA chapter in Fruitland offers a prison ministry. “Our national motto is, ‘Changing the World One Heart at a Time’,” Amos said.
There are activities to enjoy with CMA membership. “We go out on rides,” Amos said. In May, they hold a Dinner Ride, then a Day Ride on the second Tuesday of each month. They go to a motorcycle shop in Meridian called Cycle Gear and greet people. They give “bike blessings,” which entails going up to a man and his cycle and asking if they can pray for his safety, and also pray for the cycle. It’s all voluntary for Cycle Gear’s customers, but the response is positive.
Have members of the group experienced motorcycle accidents? Amos said yes, though not many. CMA stresses safety at all times.
People of all ages are members in the Idaho chapters of Christian Motorcyclists Association. Many members are retired and are ages 50 and above; however, any person of any age is welcome. There are singles, couples, and families with Mom, Dad and the kids behind them. There are also older people who used to ride motorcycles but no longer can due to age limitations, yet who come to group events anyway and are always welcomed.
Hammond said, “We are interdenominational and are from diverse backgrounds. We strongly encourage our membership to be grounded in a home church. There are no dues or membership fees to be a member. We don’t even require anyone to own or ride a motorcycle or ATV. We do require agreement with our doctrinal statements, which include:
Hammond continued: “As a servant ministry, we earn the right to speak. Building relationships with motorcyclists and their families, we are then able to share the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ.”
Jim Caulk, president of Narrow Road Riders in Nampa, said about his membership in CMA: “CMA means a lot to me because I can use my passion (motorcycling) as a ministry tool among motorcyclists to share my faith. There are many riders that won’t darken the door of a church but will go to a motorcycle rally. And if CMA is there to serve, I might get the opportunity to share or plant a seed that will lead that person to Christ.”
Idaho CMA chapters held their annual Idaho State Rally July 27 in Ashton, Idaho, eating, hearing messages of faith, going on rides, and camping out together or staying in hotels. Hammond said the annual rally is always open to anyone and everyone, and non-members may attend for free.
Praise and worship, a scavenger hunt, and ice cream were all on the agenda. Saturday at dusk the children’s version of the Jesus Film was shown in the Ashton city park, following hot dogs and drinks for all who attended.
The kinds of cycles that are welcomed in CMA are not limited and include Harleys, Honda Gold Wings, and other makes and models. Amos herself rides an adult tri-wheel cycle; other configurations of cycles are welcome as well.
“It covers the gamut,” Amos said.
CMA is not the only biker group, and is not even the only Christian biking group in the area or across the country. “CMA is not all by itself,” Amos said. There is Bikers for Christ, for instance, and she said there are 28 groups nationwide, as well as various other local groups, proving that cycling and Christianity can be a match made in heaven — not so negative now, Herb Shreve.
To join, go to cmausa.org and find a nearby chapter. Many local chapters may also be found on Facebook and, as stated, there’s no fee to join.
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