NOT YOUR TYPICAL OUTLAW GANG

They come decked out in their full leather riding gear with patches. Some have tattoos while others sport long beards. They may be viewed as aggressive or rough without even speaking. 

But this particular group of motorcyclists is anything but what some may dismiss as an outlaw gang. This is the chapter of the Christian Motorcyclists Association (CMA), a volunteer organization that has been active in the Owatonna area since the early 1990s.

“We are catering to a community that’s usually frowned upon,” said Brian Deml, who has been active with CMA since 2005. “Most people think we are scary, but we have an outpouring of love and support.”

CMA has about 300,000 members nationwide and has recently expanded internationally, according to Deml. The organization has a single fundraiser every year in May, “Run for Sun” across the country in which $5 million generated. The money is used for ministry opportunities and Bible projects.

Locally, every Thursday throughout the summer a core group of about 10 motorcyclists take their ministry on the road. They meet at Hy-Vee at 6:45 p.m. and pick destinations within 30 miles and cruise around. During the winter months, they meet every other week.

Members of CMA are involved locally with various car shows, Blessing of the Bikes in May and they have had a booth at all the Downtown Thursday events in Owatonna. “We want to be any place where we can have visibility,” Deml said.

During the non-denominational blessing event, riders gather together in a circle and have a special prayer for safe riding.

Deml was lured into CMA when he started to explore his faith and found an instant connection on ride nights. “You have to have the heart of ministry.”

Within a short time after joining, Deml was elected vice president of the group and soon became president for eight years. He then stepped back and later got reengaged as road captain.

Besides having a love for riding motorcycle, Deml focuses on sharing his Christian faith with the motorcycling community and supporting riders at events and rallies throughout the year.

Deml admits that CMA tends to cater to a different kind of crowd. “Biker is the core, but we’re not necessarily bikers,” he said. “We take anybody that has the heart of a biker. It’s our walk of faith, and it’s our ministry.”

CMA heavily emphasizes a ministry model built on “attraction” through service, rather than aggressive promotion or confrontational proselytizing.

“There are people that are in bad places and need a friend to talk to or a shoulder to cry on,” Deml said. “We believe it’s a God thing. God puts people in front of us that need us,” he added.

Deml said CMA members are careful about how they represent themselves in the community.  “We don’t push. We live by the model of attraction. We are not any one religion or one church. We do a lot of seed planting in ministry.”

But sometimes that can be easier said than done.

“We like to break through the hard shells of what society places on the hearts of people. We do it through fellowship and being goofy,” Deml says.

Rick Ehler of Owatonna is one of the charter members of OMA. Asked about his involvement, he sighed and said, “It’s kind of involved.” He went on to say, “I don’t like riding from bar to bar. We ride from Dairy Queen to Dairy Queen.”

Ehler has enjoying his experience with CMA for 26 years and pointed to a patch on his vest, “These are my church clothes.”

As the group attests to, not all bikers are bad. “They just dress that way,” Ehler said with a smile.

For Ehler, CMA provides a way of witness. “It’s a way to share your faith with others, and it’s an excuse to ride your motorcycle,” he said. He added it doesn’t matter what you do as members are all the same deal and have the same experiences.

Another member Eydie Hauer said she focuses on setting an example. “If people are kind with each other, it’s a better place,” she said.

Hauer said it’s important to note that CMA does not promote a single church. “It’s the unity of helping Christian trust and growing with each other,” she said, adding faith is a personal journey.

In addition to riding, CMA members also gather for Bible studies, typically every other Tuesday. “It’s spirit-driven with fellowship time,” Deml said, noting it's never the same Bible study.

Brandon Flores, who is a newer member, finds CMA to include people from all walks of life.

Added Deml, “It’s a melting pot. There is so much stress in people’s lives that you sometimes forget to have fun. This is fun and you get to meet a lot of cool people.”