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Ride A Bike? Local Chapter of CMA Forming Soon

A local man is working to establish a local chapter of the Christian Motorcyclist Association, a group that loves to ride and spread the gospel at the same time.

Doug Chandler of Atmore is currently a member of the CMA’s Baldwin County chapter, but he’s organized a meeting for a potential Ecambia County chapter of CMA at 6:30 p.m. on October 23 in the white building behind the Atmore First Methodist Church on Horner Street in Atmore.

Chandler said he expects several bikers from the Walnut Hill and Century areas to be interested in the Escambia County (AL) group, which plans to eventually find a meeting place in Flomaton.

“I wanted to find a way to use my love for motorcycles and riding for the Lord. After looking at various organizations and after much prayer I decided to join the Christian Motorcyclists Association. I was excited about the various ministry opportunities available through the world wide reach of CMA,” Chandler said. “There are many great Christians in our area who also love motorcycles. Starting a local chapter will provide an opportunity to fellowship, develop friendships and work in the community while sharing the Lord with others. If anyone loves the Lord and motorcycles they will be blessed with the CMA.”

For more information about the local chapter of CMA that is forming, email BigDCMA@mchsi.com or call (251) 294-0386.

Back in March, NorthEscambia.com ran a feature article about the Pensacola Chapter of CMA. That article is reprinted below.

Yes Lord, We’ll Ride With You; Riding For The Son

Sometimes in life, the courage to walk up to someone you don’t know and say those first words can be tough. Finding the courage to walk up to the stereotypical tough man biker and just start talking about salvation…well, that can be even tougher.

But it is a courage that disabled Vietnam vet Michael Largay has obtained, and it is a courage that has become his passion.

“Excuse me sir, but do you know about Jesus,” he asked when he first walked up to this reporter in Century Saturday. “I wondered if I could tell you a little bit about Him.” He was unaware at the time the he was speaking to a reporter.

That’s what Michael does. Everywhere he goes, even if it is in the middle of a rough biker gang. He has turned his Honda Goldwing into a tool for reaching the lost and pointing them toward the Golden Gates of Heaven.

“We ride for the Lord,” he said of the group he participates with, the Christian Motorcycle Association (the CMA).

The Bible says in Luke14:23 “And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.” That’s the motto of the bikers that ride with the group. They hit the highways and let other bikers know about the Lord. Anytime, anywhere. Even if it is at the Florida Welcome Center on I-10 waiting for bikers on their way to the notoriously wild Daytona Bike Week.

“Just being on this bike opens doors,” Michael said of his Honda Goldwing, which was recently named the best in class at the Florida Goldwing Rally. “This is a missionary tool. Just being on this bike has a way of attracting other bikers to speak.”

“A lot of bikers are not the typical people that would go to a regular church on Sunday. They say ‘a church ain’t cool’, so they are not going to come to know the Lord that way. “But if you go up to them and say ‘hey, can I bless your bike’ that usually works. That opens the door. You can ask them before you start if there’s anything you can pray for in their lives.”

“Lord, bless this bike, and keep it and its rider safe on the highways,” he said his prayer usually beings. “Then you add ‘Lord, bless this man and his problems’. They come to realize that God is their God too, and He cares about them. And that they can come to know Him.”

“Bikers know when they see this patch that they can get anything they need, whether it be medical help, mechanical help, money or prayer,” he said pointing to his CMA patch that says “Riding for the Son”.

Another man walks over, admiring the Honda Goldwing.

“I wish I could get a bike like this,” he told Michael, “but my wife would never let me.”

“Do you know Jesus,” Michael asked the man.

“Yes sir, I do. We love Him, and we go to Ray’s Chapel,” the man said.

“Well, tell her that you could get a bike and do missionary work for the Lord. She might let you get one.”

Michael’s friend and fellow CMA member David Davis (pictured left) both sing in the choir at East Brent Baptist Church in Pensacola. Davis said he never misses the opportunity to witness, especially to children.

“I like meeting other people, especially children, and telling them about Jesus,” David said.

“Yeah, he will practically chase a child down to give them a Bible, Michael said.

Michael never missed an opportunity to tell others about Jesus either. He recently joined a Honda Goldwing group in Pensacola. “That’s open more channels for me to tell others about Jesus, because I got to lead prayer for the group.”

“If just one person, just one, can come to know the Lord because of what I do, I will be a happy man,” he said. “It is not about the number of people you lead to Jesus. It is about talking and talking to people until the Lord leads you to that one person that needs to be saved.”

“It’s all about Him. It’s all about Jesus.”

For more photos of Michael and his Honda Goldwing, click here.

Pictured top of page: Michael Largay (center) talks with a Barney Fife lookalike and Billy R. Ward of Bogia in Century on Saturday. NorthEscambia.com photos, click any photo on this page to enlarge.