The Christian Motorcyclists Association is in Springfield this weekend for its National Women’s Conference. KSMU’s Samantha Nichols tells us more about the organization.
With a stated vision of “changing the world, one heart at a time,” The Christian Motorcyclists Association (CMA) hopes to build relationships and provide a time for fellowship during the women’s conference. Springfield can expect around 300 members to attend.
The CMA is an interdenominational servant-minded motorcycle ministry. Missy Parmenter, CMA-USA National Events Coordinator, explains the connection between motorcycles and ministry.
“Herb Schreve was a pastor in Hatfield, Arkansas. And he had a teenage son that he needed to reconnect with,” said Parmenter.
Schreve decided to buy a couple of motorcycles so that he and his son could ride them together and rebuild their relationship. Their exposure to the motorcycle culture of the early 1970s prompted Schreve to develop a new kind of ministry.
“It was just not a good culture and he saw that there was a need to reach out to these people. As a pastor, as an evangelist, he saw that that need existed,” said Parmenter.
The CMA provides a number of national events and assists with other events around the country. The National Women’s Conference will provide women, many of them motorcyclists themselves, an opportunity to come together and share testimonies.
“Well, in addition to times of worship where there will be singing, sometimes they do some fun activities, a little bit of competition, win some door prizes, the fellowship at the table, there will be some opportunities for them to do some targeted working on something together, gives some more time to interact and get to know one another,” said Parmenter.
There will be separate activities for men including a trip to Bass Pro Shop.
Women ages 12 and older are eligible to register for the conference. Registration is open from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday at the Central Bible College Event Center and is followed by opening activities. The registration fee is $70 and covers a dinner on Saturday as well as the rest of the program.