SALVATION ON TWO WHEELS
Bikers spread the word of God
Rick West’s best conversations with God often take place inside his helmet as he cruises the open highway on his big beast of a motorcycle, a Honda VTX 1800.
That such intimate discussions arise in this manner isn’t too surprising — West and his wife, Sandy, are co-ordinators of the Alberta branch of Canada’s Christian Motorcyclists Association.
The association is not a motorcycle club — members are adamant about that. Instead, it is a form of evangelical Christian ministry comprising people who also have an affinity for motorcycles.
And the concept is spreading worldwide.
West, an electrician who lives in Beiseker and works for the City of Calgary, said the association is active in 37 countries, with more chapters being developed. Canada is home to about 440 members in 24 chapters.
The Calgary chapter is called the Chinook Riders, has about 30 members, and is one of five in the province, which West and his wife help organize and run smoothly.
“The CMA is not a motorcycle club but a ministry. Some of the outlaw groups, if you will, use the term MC (motorcycle club) on their colours. We are not that, which is why we chose to be an association — a group of people who have a passion for riding motorcycles and a love for God, and get to combine both,” West said.
Members don’t have to own or ride a motorcycle, they can be stayat-home enthusiasts who support the ministry.
West said there are two basic steps to become a CMA member — acknowledging Jesus Christ as your saviour and taking a DVD-based training course that stresses personal conduct and responsibility.
The association often volunteers at charity events, such as Ride For Sight fundraisers, and always staffs a booth at the Calgary and Edmonton bike shows. Members are keen to talk with people who show an interest in either the bikes or of accepting Christ into their lives.
“My motorcycle is a very effective tool in terms of drawing people. If we are at a gas station and someone comes up and says ‘Hi,’ that leads to a conversation that can sometimes lead to that person’s salvation.
“Often at events we will pass out business cards to people, because some days you meet someone and, though it might not be the right time, they do have a curiosity, and later — maybe even five, 10 or 15 years after that day — they still have that business card and they call and ask, ‘So what is so special about your Jesus?’” West said.
CMA began in 1975 when Herb Shreve, an Arkansas pastor, bought a motorcycle to be closer with his son. While attending bike rallies together, Shreve noticed there was no Christian outreach available. The organization he subsequently started now has about 125,000 members in the U.S.
The CMA started in Canada in 1992 and, in August, Beiseker will host the 25th anniversary celebrations for all members from Manitoba westward.
For West and his wife, who have been married almost 34 years and have two children and four grandchildren, the association and their acceptance of Christ into their hearts helped the couple overcome marriage difficulties many years ago.
“In our 12th year we came dangerously close to getting divorced. I was working too much and that created friction and stuff was just going wrong. We started going to church and we fixed the things that were wrong and got saved. In 2001, we bought our first bike and began riding together. Ever since, we’ve been strong,” he said.
These days, Sandy rides a Honda VTX 1300.
Though West attended church as a child, he never felt a personal relationship with God until battling through those difficult times. Today, things are very different, especially when he mounts his powerful Honda.
“Some of my best conversations with God happen inside my helmet while I am cruising down the highway,” he said.
Some of the outlaw groups, if you will, use the term MC (motorcycle club) on their colours. We are not that.