Christian Motorcyclists Association

The Christian Motorcyclists Association (CMA) is an international Christian nonprofit ministry focused on evangelism within the motorcycling community. It was established in the United States in 1975 by Herb Shreve, an Arkansas pastor who became interested in motorcycles after purchasing one as a way to connect with his rebellious son. Shreve began attending motorcycle gatherings and using those encounters as opportunities for Christian outreach. He eventually left his church ministry to establish CMA as a dedicated organization serving motorcyclists. CMA presents itself as a ministry rather than a conventional motorcycle club. Its members are not primarily united by loyalty to a particular motorcycle manufacturer, riding style, or club identity. Instead, the organization emphasizes Christian witness, personal ministry, fellowship, and practical service. The distinction is central to CMA's positioning: motorcycles provide the social setting and shared interest, while evangelism and ministry constitute the organization's principal purpose. The organization's structure combines national leadership with state, area, and local activity. In the United States, members are connected to the national organization and may participate in local chapters. CMA's ministry team program is intended to equip members to act as ministers in their own communities, reducing the traditional separation between ordained clergy and lay participants. National oversight is provided by a board of directors working with regional evangelists, a lead evangelist, and a special projects evangelist. This leadership network supports local leaders and coordinates the organization's wider goals. CMA expanded substantially after its creation. The organization has reported more than 125,000 members and more than 1,200 chapters across all 50 U.S. states. Its international work developed through CMA International, with affiliated or related chapters in 31 foreign countries. South Africa became an early international center after René Changuion began CMA South Africa in 1980. The United Kingdom organization emerged in 1983 after members of the Christian Bikers Association, which had been established there in 1979, approached CMA organizations in the United States and South Africa. CMA's activities include participation in motorcycle rallies, outreach at riding events, local chapter ministry, evangelistic encounters, and support for Christian involvement in the motorcycling community. It also publishes Heartbeat, a monthly magazine associated with the organization. In the United Kingdom, CMA operates an outreach initiative known as Holy Joe's. The initiative provides facilities such as a café and helmet storage at motorcycle shows and events, with proceeds from those activities and from an annual motorcycle show donated to charitable causes, including Freewheelers EVS, an emergency medical motorcycle courier service. The organization operates within the evangelical Christian nonprofit sector and is associated with the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability and the Evangelical Press Association. Its identity combines religious outreach, motorcycle culture, member training, chapter-based community building, and charitable service. CMA is therefore better understood as a faith-based membership and ministry network than as a commercial motorcycle brand or motorcycle manufacturer.

The Christian Motorcyclists Association began in Arkansas in 1975 through the work of Herb Shreve, a pastor who had purchased a motorcycle to build a relationship with his rebellious son. Motorcycle ownership brought Shreve into contact with riding communities and rallies, where he saw an opportunity to communicate Christian beliefs to people who might not ordinarily engage with a church. He began conducting outreach at motorcycle events and ultimately resigned from his church position to create CMA as a ministry dedicated to evangelizing among motorcyclists. From its beginning, CMA developed a model different from that of a traditional motorcycle club. The organization does not define membership through a particular motorcycle brand, machine type, or riding style. Instead, it treats motorcycling as a shared social and cultural context for Christian fellowship and witness. This ministry orientation also shaped its internal organization. CMA members are encouraged to participate in a ministry team program designed to equip ordinary members for service and evangelism, rather than reserving ministry responsibilities exclusively for formally ordained clergy. The U.S. organization expanded through a chapter network and leadership structure extending from the national level to states, areas, and local communities. Its national administration is based in Hatfield, Arkansas. A board of directors works with a lead evangelist, regional evangelists, and a special projects evangelist to support the organization's ministry objectives and appoint or guide leaders at lower levels. Members belong to the national organization and may also participate independently in local chapters. CMA's growth in the United States was accompanied by international development. René Changuion established CMA South Africa in 1980, making South Africa the first country to join what became the CMA International Coalition and is now known as CMA International. In the United Kingdom, a CMA organization was formed in 1983 after members of the Christian Bikers Association, founded in Britain in 1979, made contact with CMA groups in the United States and South Africa. The international network later extended to chapters or organizations in 31 foreign countries. By the period described in reference material, CMA had grown to more than 125,000 members and more than 1,200 chapters throughout all 50 U.S. states. Its activities include evangelistic contact at motorcycle rallies and shows, local fellowship, member training, and practical service. The organization also publishes Heartbeat, a monthly magazine that supports communication and ministry identity. CMA's institutional affiliations include the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability and the Evangelical Press Association. The United Kingdom branch illustrates the organization's combination of outreach and practical service. Its Holy Joe's initiative operates a café and helmet park at motorcycle shows and events. Proceeds from these activities and from an annual Holy Joe's bike show are directed to charitable organizations, including Freewheelers EVS, which provides emergency medical motorcycle courier services. Through these activities, CMA's historical development has combined evangelism with community presence and charity, while retaining its central identity as a Christian ministry for motorcyclists rather than a commercial or manufacturer-based riding club.

• 1983

  United Kingdom organization formed

  [1]Christian Motorcyclists Associationen.wikipedia.org

  A British CMA organization was formed after members of the Christian Bikers Association connected with CMA groups in the United States and South Africa.

• 1980

  CMA South Africa established

  [1]Christian Motorcyclists Associationen.wikipedia.org

  René Changuion started CMA South Africa, which became the first country in the organization's international coalition.

• 1975

  Christian Motorcyclists Association established

  [1]Christian Motorcyclists Associationen.wikipedia.org

  Herb Shreve founded CMA in Arkansas after beginning Christian outreach among motorcycle riders and events.

• Expansion across the United States and internationally

  [1]Christian Motorcyclists Associationen.wikipedia.org

  CMA grew to more than 1,200 chapters in all 50 U.S. states and developed an international network spanning 31 foreign countries.

A Christian ministry for motorcyclists rather than a conventional motorcycle club, emphasizing evangelism, member-led ministry, fellowship, and service across local chapters and international affiliates.

• Member training and ministry

  Ministry team program

  CMA's ministry team program is designed to prepare members to carry out Christian ministry within motorcycle communities and local chapters. It reflects the organization's emphasis on empowering members as active ministers and evangelists, rather than limiting ministry work to professional clergy.

• Magazine

  Heartbeat

  Heartbeat is CMA's monthly magazine. It functions as a publication for organizational communication and Christian motorcycle ministry, helping connect members and reinforce the association's identity, activities, and outreach mission.

• Event outreach and charity initiative

  Holy Joe's

  Holy Joe's is a United Kingdom outreach arm associated with CMA. At motorcycle shows and events it provides a café and helmet park, creating a practical service point and a setting for interaction with riders. Proceeds are donated to charitable causes, including emergency medical motorcycle courier services.

1. 1Christian Motorcyclists Associationen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Christian Motorcyclists Association Internationalcmainternational.org