Motorcycle Ministry Part 2: Leadership and the Look.

Blog #3

There are a lot of people who love to ride, but end up giving it up because they don’t have good, safe people to ride with. For most responsible adults drinking adult beverages and riding is not an option, but unfortunately many riders only want to bar hop, some never really putting a lot of miles on the bike.
Christian groups provide a great alternative for adults who want to continue to ride, but in a safe manner and in a way that does not conflict with their belief system and their values. We encourage a lot of riders to join their local Christian biker group. Or maybe even start their own biker group in affiliation with their church. Most churches are open to hosting a biker group as long as the group is not a burden to the church. Full Armor is not only not a funded group (we don’t ask for money from the church) but we give over 10% of all we receive in operational donations to the church. Honestly, depending upon what you want to do as a group, you may not need any money or income.

We also do service projects for the church. If it’s done right, a biker ministry can quickly overcome even the most skeptical senior pastor or church board member. Of course it all requires wise, experienced leadership and strong bylaws.

Group leadership and Bylaws.
As is the case in every group of people, leadership often determines whether a group lasts the test of time or does not. Many Christian biker groups have not lasted. The biker group leader doesn’t have to be the most knowledgeable about motorcycles and doesn’t have to own the best motorcycle. But he or she does have to be an experienced, servant leader who works hard to be grounded in faith. The leader needs to set the standard in lifestyle and in how they treat others.

The best group leaders put their people before themselves, do not micro manage, and listen to group member ideas. It takes a lot of self-awareness to be a good group leader, especially when one is leading volunteers. The best leaders need to be able to say, “That’s a great idea. How about you run with it and let me know how I can help.” Sounds easy, but it is not. Many leaders think they need to put their stamp or twist on everything or they are not doing their job. This stifles participation and it is participative leadership that I’m talking about.

If you’re in a leadership position and feel like you are the only person willing to do anything, nobody else will step up, or that you are the only person who is extremely busy, it’s probably time for a little self awareness. There is a reason others are backing away and it is probably a leadership reason.

I retired after a career in law enforcement. I served as a sergeant, lieutenant, deputy chief, and the last 15 years as a chief of police of a modern, very professional, suburban police department. Prior to my law enforcement career I served 12 years in the Army, most of it as a senior non-commissioned officer, departing as a sergeant first class. I attended more leadership classes than I can remember, but mostly learned by leadership trial-and-error. Nearly every good idea I ever heard came from someone in the rank and file. I developed the ability to listen to them and help them be successful with their idea and with their career.
People need to know they have a voice in the organization, especially if it is an all volunteer organization. Far too many people in leadership positions believe they have the exclusive on good ideas. Weak leaders need to act as though they are the smartest person in the room, the ultimate authority. Honestly, I don’t know that I have ever been the smartest person in the room, even when I was in charge.

Group leaders also need to be able to lovingly, but strictly enforce group bylaws. Christian biker groups need to be above reproach or they risk bringing ill repute upon their church.

I’ve come to believe that most group bylaws should require an election every two or three years for every leadership position. Some of the same people may always get re-elected, but that is just an indicator that they are doing a good job. The election is a reminder that they’re not the leader for life. Leaders should have the opportunity to bow out and up-and-coming leaders should have the opportunity to fill leadership positions. The last thing you want is the same old people doing the same old things year after year especially if you have a leader that insists that “we do things the way we have always done things”. That can become very stale and people will leave the group.

Our group bylaws do not require term limits or re-elections, but your’s may. Full Armor Bikers has been very fortunate in the leaders who started the group and run it still today. Every new organization is not so fortunate. My point is, its something that needs to be decided in the beginning when you are establishing bylaws, not later.

Published bylaws are critical. They need to be reviewed every year and kept current. The entire membership should probably have a say and even a vote on the bylaws.

And of course, group rides are critical. It’s all too easy to use the group for non-riding projects, a ready labor force for the church, but very soon people who signed up to ride will become dissatisfied with the leadership and mission of the group. There is a great ministry and strong Christian fellowship to be had in the group ride. Non-riding service projects should be the exception, not the rule. Remember the “Ride and Witness” rule.

All types are welcome (aka the biker look).
When Christian Biker groups came to be, my perception is that they were often organized by pastors who felt called to biker ministry and even called to prison ministry. Those called to biker ministry were willing to rub shoulders with “one-percenter” groups. That is the approximate 1% of bikers who belong to outlaw, even criminal groups; the Hells Angels for example. There are still plenty of those gangs in existence. The pastor bikers would actually enter into their domain at rallies or meets and present Jesus as a way to a better life, not unlike Jesus staying with and eating with tax collectors and sinners of all type. This is a very courageous ministry, grounded in faith and trust in Jesus Christ. There is no shortage of Christian bikers who give a testimony of being saved from the one-percenter life of drugs and criminal activity by someone sharing Jesus with them. I’ve met several of those guys. Some have become powerful preachers themselves and are now deeply grounded in faith.

And of course there are those pastors called to prison ministry. That is also a courageous calling, though in a more controlled environment. I also know some of those pastors who devoted their ministry to sharing Jesus with people in prison, who now are active in the biker ministry.
The reformed one percenters are often covered in tattoos from their days in that lifestyle. Similarly, the pastors called to prison ministry often got “tatted up” in order to establish relationship and credibility with the prisoners they worked with.
And there are those people of faith who spent years “caged” in corporate America, tied to a desk or cubicle, before they could bust out of that mold and grow the biker goatee and get tatted up. I don’t know if that is a form of rebellion, an alter ego, or just getting around to being who they always wanted to be, but you will find all of those people serving and participating in Christian Biker Ministry.

Full disclosure here. My time in biker ministry has been riding, serving, and praying with fellow law abiding Christians. I have never rubbed shoulders with one percenters and I have never participated in prison ministry. That is the case with most of us. Christian bikers are living proof that you can’t judge a book by its cover. I have no visible tattoos and no long, flowing biker goatee. I became comfortable in my own skin long before I joined the biker ministry.
When a biker is tatted up and has a long flowing biker beard it only means that is the look they want. No more, no less. Actually, that look could be indicative of a former life the Lord saved them from, but more often than not, that’s not the case. Again, you will see that in the Christian biker ministry.

Note: The sketches are courtesy of my wonderful wife, Phyllis, a professional sketch artist amongst many other things.

Please subscribe to my blog and check out my book, “Backroads, Buffoonery & Breakthroughs in Leadership,” at Amazon.com.

One last plug, I make part of my living speaking to groups, large and small, about leadership, emergency management, relationship violence, or long distance motorcycling. If your group is looking for a speaker give me a shout at [email protected]. Thanks.