The long, open highways around Cortez are home to thousands of leather-clad road warriors.
There are an estimated 9,000 registered motorcycles in the area, and to Steve Reed, president of the Christian Motorcyclists Association, that’s a huge opportunity for outreach.
Leather chaps and loud Harleys can bring to mind a culture associated with national rallies like Sturgis and motorcycle gangs like Hell’s Angels.
But many riders take time out for a bike blessing from the association at events across the country.
Locally this Saturday at the Durango Harley-Davidson bikers will gather to demo bikes and perhaps take time out for a prayer at the annual bike blessing if they choose.
“We don’t push anything on anybody,” Reed said.
The local chapter can be found at other local events including the big Four Corners Rally in Ignacio over Labor Day weekend handing out water, working on bikes and saying prayers to keep them on the road, said Marilynn Eastin, a longtime member and club secretary.
“Bikers in the whole U.S. recognize the CMA patch and recognize that CMA is there to help,” she said.
The patch that displays Bible, cross and prayerful hands adorns blessed bikes and CMA jackets.
The patches were proudly shown on May 3, when about a dozen bikers gathered in Cortez at a gas station on U.S. 491 to take part in the association’s only fundraiser, the Run for the Son.
Sandra Dinwiddie was headed out with her husband Terry and her dog Maggie in the sidecar. The couple started riding unofficially with the association two years ago and recently joined.
“I wanted to ride with Christians because that’s where my heart is,” she said.
Riders from Gunnison, Montrose, Grand Junction, Monticello, Dove Creek and Cortez gathered in Moab for the event.
Last year, the annual event raised $6 million nationally, and 40 percent of the funds went to mission projects in 90 countries. Since the project started the association has donated more than $10 million specifically to purchasing motorcycles and other forms of transportation for pastors who are planting churches in remote areas.
In addition to raising funds to support worldwide missionary work the club is working to extend its outreach locally by organizing events for the general biker community.
“It’s all about changing one heart at a time,” Reed said.
