New Orleans’ Christian Motorcycle Association (CMA) Chaplain Billy Rivers will share his story with the Mahomet Church of the Nazarene congregation during Biker Sunday on May 18.
Mahomet Church of the Nazarene Pastors Lutz and Deb Braunig decided to acquaint their congregation with their love for the biking community through Biker Sunday twelve years ago.
“It’s been great to help people understand the biking community better because there was this stigma (about bikers),” Deb said. “(The congregation) has come to realize that (bikers) are just people who are out there everyday: insurance agents, investment brokers, doctors.That has really helped alleviate fears of bikers, too.”
Deb and Lutz became CMA members almost 20 years ago, but did not become involved with the organization until they developed a friendship with congregation members Cheryl and Dave Sproul, who were also members of CMA.
CMA provides evangelistic outreach primarily to the motorcycling community. Through the annual Run for the Son fundraiser, CMA supports the Jesus Film Project, Missionary Ventures and Open Doors. They also fund a local New Year’s youth retreat and pastor’s retreat each year.
While Biker Sunday is not an extension of CMA, the Braunigs believed the natural connection between the organization and their congregation fit within the church DNA of breaking down barriers between people.
“We want to be a safe place where people can come and be who they are,” Deb said. “Because most of the tie we are put into situation where we have to be who someone expects us to be.”
“On that Sunday, it’s not about who you think I need to be,” she continued. “One of the things about the biking community is it’s a place where we all are able to just be who we are. When we get together there’s this different kind of atmosphere because you do ‘let your hair down’ so to speak. There’s a level of acceptance and genuineness that maybe you don’t get at work.”
Biker Sunday is also an opportunity for the Mahomet Church of the Nazarene congregation to see how God has worked in the bikers’ lives.
Rivers, a former bike gang member and heroin addict, will share how his life was changed in prison through the love of strangers who wanted him to know the love of God. Once Rivers was released from prison, he attended a CMA meeting where he finally felt accepted through all his faults and triumphs.
“That’s what CMA is all about, leading bikers to Christ,” Lutz said.
While the Mahomet Biker Sunday is not as big as the blessings held in Decatur and Roxanna, the Mahomet Church of Nazarene expects to see between 70 and 80 bikers this Sunday. The Braunigs have blessed approximately 50 motorcycle riders in years past.
“You can find the most hardcore biker, but they want a blessing,” Lutz said.
Spending time with each biker has given the Braunigs an opportunity to form relationships with bikers they may not have weekly contact with. Lutz has felt the impact of praying for fellow servicemen while also hearing how a prayer made a lasting impact on a biker several years ago.
“That’s what Christianity is all about,” he said. “It’s a personal relationship.”
Bikers also receive a sticker to show they have been blessed and a wooden cross for their bike.
While the focus of Biker Sunday is to bring two groups together, the Braunigs are sensitive to the fact that not every biker rides the same kind of bike, and that not every person at Sundays service wants to ride on a motorcycle.
The day will begin with a group of bikers riding from Andre’s Harley Davidson in Champaign to the Mahomet Church of the Nazarene. Sunday service begins at 10:30 a.m. with a barbeque to follow. All Mahomet residents are invited to attend.
May is also Motorcycle Awareness month in Illinois.
