Cruisin'
for Christ
Christian
Motorcycle group
uses biker brotherhood for evangelism
The
group is based in southern Indiana
with members from various towns
By
Konnie McCollum
Staff Writer
(December 2007) While delivering a sermon
at church one Sunday, Tom Anderson of Clarksville, Ind., told the congregation
that he and his wife, Pam, had bar hopped to five different bars the
previous day. He asked how many others had done the same; silence filled
the air as people sat shocked. Then he asked how many in the congregation
had prayed with 150 others the previous day. Again, not even a whisper
could be heard.
Anderson, 57, then explained why he was at those bars. He is a member
of the Christian Motorcycle Association, an international motorcycle
association whose mission is evangelistic outreach to primarily the
motorcycling community.
|
Photo
provided
Tom
and Pam Anderson joined the
Christian Motorcycle Association to
help minister to other motorcyclists.
|
My wife, Pam, was asked to pray for 150 bikers as
they began a trip, he said. How much better could a day
be than to be asked by 150 people to pray for them?
Anderson, who plans and leads the rides, joined the Christian Motorcycle
Association early last year. I started riding again, and this
ministry gave me a reason to ride.
He had been an avid rider when he was a teenager and during his college
years but had stopped for awhile. In the meantime, he had become a Christian
and thought the motorcycle organization would be a perfect way to combine
his hobby and his call to minister.
When he joined the organization, he was trained in how to effectively
minister to people and how to build relationships with people of all
walks of life. The Christian Motorcycle Association, which has helped
lead 7.2 million people to Christ since it began in 1975, recognized
that there is a brotherhood among bikers, regardless of socio-economic
status, race, or even criminal background. The bike is the bond
that transcends the relationship, said Anderson, a health care
industry professional. Although parts of the biker world can be
rough with hard people, we all have a common love because of the inherent
dangers of motorcycling.
Because of that common bond, Anderson and other Christian Motorcyclists
are welcome to attend rallies and ride with even the roughest part of
the motorcycle world, the bikers who call themselves the One Percenters.
These bikers are parts of the infamous biker gangs like the Outlaws,
Hells Angels, Bandidos, Pagans and the Ironhorsemen.
During the last Little Sturgis rally in Kentucky in which
20,000 bikers attended, Christian Motorcycle bikers worked alongside
the Hells Angels to control security. We got along just
great, and we had no problems.
He said many times the bad guys will simply come up and
ask for prayer or blessings for their bikes. Other times, relationships
take a long time, perhaps even several years, to develop and blossom.
|
Photo
provided
The
Andersons are willing to go to
witness at bars and other places where
they feel people need spiritual help.
|
When Anderson is riding, he likes to wear a denim jacket
that has Im ready to die, are you? embroidered on
it. He said it is a great conversation starter that bikers relate to
because their hobby can be deadly.
Pam Anderson, 57, is also a part of the Christian Motorcycle Association.
Tom recently bought her a 1100cc Honda Shadow, and she has been taking
riding courses at S&S Marine in Clarksville. I just got my
permit a few weeks ago, and Im nervous, but I want to do this,
she said.
Pam, a former nurse, recent went on a weekend road trip with friends
and had a chance to minister to motorcyclists who are part of the One
Percenters. It is a great feeling to be able to pray and help
people in need, she said.
J.C.s Bunch, the local chapter to which the couple belong, has
between 20-30 active members. It became stagnant for a time, according
to Tom, but has recently seen resurgence. The group has numerous rides
throughout the year. It meets on the fourth Sunday of every month at
1 p.m. for lunch at the Asian Buffet, located on Charlestown Road in
New Albany. After lunch, a meeting starts at 2 p.m.
For more information about the Christian
Motorcycle Association, visit www.cmausa.org.
For more information about the Clarksville chapter, contact President
Kevin Spencer (502) 609-5585 or Vice President Larry Squyres (812) 557-1484.
Back to December 2007
Articles.