Bullets for the Battle

Biking for Jesus at Bikes, Blues and BBQ

Guest Blogger, R.A. Stites, Ventures staff

The Bikes, Blues and BBQ festival is one of the big events each fall in Fayetteville, Arkansas. In its sixth year, it is expected to bring an astonishing 300,000 people to the city to enjoy the motorcycle rally, great music, and savory food. In an interview on KFSM, TV Channel 5 news cast, Leo Palmer of the Sons of Soteria Motorcycle Ministry said, “There is a new statistic out that there are more Christian biker organizations than other biker organizations. They're springing up everywhere and giving positive impact in the world."

One such is CMA, the Christian Motorcyclists Association. With three booths to serve festival goers, CMA fulfills its mission to ministry in the name of the Son of God. I spent a few minutes talking to James Gore, a member of the local Lifeline Riders Chapter, at his booth on Dickson Street offering free water, coffee and the Gospel. One of the most interesting things he said was that members had to earn their “colors”, the insignia on the back of his jacket, through training in ministry.

The commitment and challenge represented by CMA’s requirements for wearing its colors has to be one of the appeals that attract people to biking. Another is freedom. From Channel 5’s interviews with participants, one of the chief attractions and benefits of a bike is the freedom of the road. Freedom is also one of the hallmarks of the Christian life. Jesus sets Believers free from sin. (John 8:34-36) That is a freedom that lasts long after the “hog’ is in the junk yard and the rider has passed from this life into the next. It is exciting to think that CMA and the other ministries at this year’s festival will be presenting the message of true freedom to these lovers of the open road this weekend.

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. …” Galatians 5:1