Members of Chapter 309 of the Christian Motorcyclists Association had a spaghetti dinner fundraiser on Saturday evening for the various ministries of the international organization.
The event took place at the Chanute Nazarene Church.
The local CMA chapter has 17 members from Chanute, Iola, Uniontown, Fort Scott and Pleasanton, holds fundraisers throughout the year. Saturday’s event was for the CMA’s Run for the Son, which is an international evangelical effort that circles the globe.
On Saturday, May 3, motorcyclists from across the United States will participate in the 37th Run for the Son. Over 37 years, CMA, through Run for the Son, has raised over $105.9 million to fund biker evangelism in the United States and around the world.
Mike Bright, Run for the Son secretary for Chapter 309, and Steve Cunningham, chapter president, said the local chapter raised $10,000 last year through its fundraisers and they hope to do better in 2025. The money raised goes to various ministries associated with CMA and a portion of it stays locally for training chapter members on how to reach more biker communities.
The ministries and partnerships of the CMA bring Christ into various communities and countries and help start churches, including purchasing transportation for the pastors of these places of worship. This transportation can be motorcycles, bicycles, boats or a camel, they said.
Every new church that starts from this can have 180 new believers come to Christ within the first year, Cunningham said.
“Everything we take in is given back out,” Cunningham said of the CMA fundraisers.
Bright said CMA has chapters and members in 30 countries across the globe. He said there are two countries left in which CMA has not had some impact.
An organization affiliated with CMA, brings a message about Jesus into many countries and the message is offered in the native languages spoken in many of those countries.
“So if they can see this film and they can hear it in their native language, and they can hear the gospel message, that has impact,” Bright said.
Every time the film message about Jesus is shown, one person out of 10 who hears it gives his or her heart to Jesus, he said. Over the years, millions have come to Jesus because of the film.
The CMA is celebrating its 50th year this year. Other events are scheduled throughout the year, including Bikers, Blessings and BBQ on March 9 at 221 E. Main in. Chanute. CMA evangelist Steve Brackeen will speak. A bike blessing will also be offered, in addition to a barbecue lunch.
