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Bikers For Christ Motorcycle Ministry
Chapter Operation Guidelines
Introduction
Whether you are an original BFC member from
1990 or a brand new member who is finding him/herself
in the middle of something you’re unsure about,
welcome! Although there are multitudes of motorcycle
ministries out there, BFC is truly unique and special.
The foundations of BFC were very carefully laid down by
Pastor Fred Z to be Biblically based and to give
members the freedom to minister without all the man
made “hype” found in many ministries today.
While BFC is definitely growing and is now
facing some administrative challenges, we don’t want to
lose the Christian freedom which God has granted us to
minister with. With so many new members, chapter
elders, chaplains & pastors - it is important to reiterate
some of the fundamentals of BFC. I also want to offer
some guidelines for local chapter operation and growth.
Feel free to utilize this information as God leads you to
do so in your own chapter. May God bless you as you
live and ride for Him!
BFC Fundamentals
When operating a BFC chapter, always keep
our fundamentals rooted in everything you do. These
can be found in the charter, but more over are just good
common Christian sense. Chapters are not bound by
some kind of uniform code, procedure or dogma as to
how they should operate. However they are bound by
the “Spirit of God”, which is to start with each
participating individual having a servant’s heart for the
Lord and compassion towards those we minister to.
Basically BFC operates with the following stipulations:
- BFC is not a secular or Christian club - it is a
non-denominational Christian ministry. No
“M/C” designation may be worn with the BFC
patch.
- BFC never uses a color scheme or territorial top
rocker which could antagonize other M/C
members. We are here to preach the Gospel,
not to lay claim to “turf” and then try to defend
it.
- BFC does not have any titles such as
“president”, “vice-president”, “Sgt. at arms”,
etc... We are all equal members. The national
lead person is known as “administrator” and
each chapter is led by an “elder”. Positions to
help out in the group can be assigned, but
avoid any lofty titles which inflate egos.
- BFC headquarters and each individual chapter
always operate under the authority of a local
Christian church. We are accountable to a God
ordained body of believers.
- BFC members must be well grounded, Bible
believing Christians who understand that their
participation is as a minister of the Gospel -
not just as a participant or spectator.
- BFC never excludes anyone because of what
type of bike they ride - period. We are not a
“Harleys Only” or “Cruiser Only” club. What
would Jesus do?
- BFC does not have a “prospect” process.
When a person joins, they can buy their full
backpatch and have full group privileges
immediately. If God accepts them 100% - we
accept them 100%.
- BFC never judges or condemns it’s members
(Luke 6) unless we want to be judged or
condemned ourselves. We are commanded to
speak out against sin, but to love the sinner.
We never shoot our wounded. If a brother is
sinning, we do not threaten, demand or force
the member to turn in their colors. We can
and will ask folks to do what is right & pray
with/for them, but that is all. If the Holy Spirit
can’t keep someone in line, then neither can
we... We do however have the responsibility to
act according to Matthew 18 when responding
towards a brother or sister who is continuously
sinning and refuses to stop. In this case, the
chapter elder has the primary responsibility to
act with the member’s own church/pastor and
may excommunicate the member from BFC.
- BFC does not preach money - period.
Donations are always free will. No dues can
ever be charged from members. The topic of
finances may come up at business meetings,
but never to guests. Each chapter’s financial
statement (if they have one) must be always
open for examination.
- BFC has no bylaws. Each chapter is free to
operate autonomously or together as God
leads them. Chapters & headquarters may
establish procedures for conducting business
in an organized fashion, as long as these
procedures do not limit the work of the Holy
Spirit or conflict with the BFC charter.
- BFC never requires mandatory participation in
any event, meeting or run. Each individual
must be free to go where the Holy Spirit leads
them without fear of reprisal from an
organization.
- BFC never competes with any other club or
ministry. We support dual memberships and
encourage members to support other
worthwhile ministries by participating in their
events and offering to help out.
These are the 12 basic fundamental principles which
BFC operates under. For those of you who’ve
participated in other Christian motorcycle ministries,
hopefully you can see some of the differences.
Operating A Chapter
There is really no secret to operating a
chapter. There are no special skills or training needed
either. Some members have wondered if we have
training tapes or booklets as some other motorcycle
ministries do. The only training guide we have for
ministry is the Bible. God can and does provide you
with all of the resources you need to accomplish His
work.
“Lone Wolf”, One Member
If it’s just you, then you go out riding just like
you always do. Pray that God would bring prospects
your way and be prepared when He does. If you’re ever
feeling alone or discouraged, then don’t forsake the
fellowship available to you at your local church. Also it
can help to use the BFC directory and call another
nearby member. Pray together, visit with each other
and share both your victories and discouragements.
Growth occurs by visiting area churches, talking with
pastors & members and seeking out Christian bikers to
help you out.
Small Group, 2 - 7 members
If you’re in a small group, then you can be as
“loose” or “structured” as you want to be. Just
remember to always keep God first in everything you do
- He’ll take care of the rest. It’s easy at this stage to
just make plans on a day to day basis. A couple phone
calls and you’re good to go. Close personal friendships
develop in small groups and you can be very effective,
yet laid back at the same time. Rather than plan your
own events, it’s usually easier to participate in other
groups’ runs and events. Growth in your chapter can
happen by distributing the small amount of work you
have between the few of you.
Medium Group, 7 - 14 members
Medium sized groups may start to encounter
scheduling conflicts. Remember not to shoot down a
planned ride, just because a minority of your members
can’t make it. Keep it on the calendar and keep moving
forward. It’s a good idea to delegate responsibilities at
this stage, however avoid lofty titles and pride.
Remember; absolute power corrupts absolutely. You
can also start organizing regular annual chapter runs
with this size. These can be “fun” overnight campouts
or organized ministry rides to prisons, homeless spots
or working with other organizations.
Large Group, 14 or more members
If your group is fairly large, then don’t be afraid
to ask for help. Delegate your tasks to others in the
group making sure that no one is overwhelmed, that
they’re willing and that their spiritual gifts correspond to
the task they will be doing. With large groups you may
start to see squabbles or differences of opinion on minor
issues. Don’t be distracted by these snares. They’re
put there by Satan to derail effective ministries. Group
prayer, Bible study and edification will make sure that
little problems either stay little or get solved.
At this level, your group will be noticed in the
community. Communication and participation in the
community is important so people don’t get the wrong
ideas about BFC. Participation in swap meets, county
fairs or even parades can build bridges and open doors.
Finances also can be useful for a large group.
A bank account can be established through your
overseeing church to save money for ministry. A P.O.
Box should also be established for receiving mail from
the general public and conducting business. Do not let
financial considerations occupy much time, energy or
interfere with your primary focus - ministering to the
needs of others.
Conflicts With Outside Groups
These are almost non-existent, however
occasionally one may arise. It may be a territorial M/C,
a rogue member of an outlaw club, a local ministry that
sees your chapter as competition, law enforcement who
lumps us together with outlaw clubs or a difference of
opinion between your sponsoring church and BFC. As
with any conflict, prayer, patience, discernment and
wisdom are key in resolving these problems. Never go
one on one, always go with at least two - this is an
important Biblical principle so that no one may bear
false witness against you and destroy your testimony or
reputation. It also provides accountability on your part
so you don’t say something out of pride or anger which
could damage our ministry.
If your sponsoring church is reluctant or
unwilling to host a BFC chapter, then wipe the dust from
your feet and seek another one. Never hold malice
towards anyone, never slander or bash another ministry
and never act in retribution, “vengeance is mine says
the Lord.”
If you run into a problem you cannot solve at
the local level, do not hesitate to contact the national
administrator for advice. Local advice from a pastor or
the community is always preferable, but our channels
are usually open here.
Promotion & New Members
One of the biggest joys and biggest problems
ministries like this face is when we bring in new
members. It is of course a joy to have additional help,
increase effectiveness, increase fellowship & edification
and be a part of a growing ministry. However in our
experience, a lot of people’s motives for joining BFC are
not always in line with God’s will or our purpose and
vision.
Many people want to “belong”, to be a part of
something and to have friendship and fellowship.
There’s nothing wrong with this, however BFC as a
ministry was never meant to be a social club. A
prospective member may enjoy the attractive patch or
T-shirts, the fun rides we do, the loving atmosphere but
may not be willing to work for the Lord. Their lives may
also not be up to the standards set forth in 1 Timothy
3. As a chapter elder (if you are) it is important that you
look at each person who wants to participate carefully
and use Timothy’s letter as a guide. Do not just pass
out applications to anyone who wants one. You may
receive applications which will have to be rejected or
overly scrutinized. It’s far better to get to know the
person first, invite them on a couple rides, meet their
pastor, check out their personality. Are they
contentious, combative, argumentative or are they
pleasant, helpful, meek, humble and joyful in the Lord?
Is their plate already “full” with 3 or 4 other ministries?
Are they willing and able to put in time on the road and
be effective in this ministry or do they just want another
trophy on their vest while their scoot collects dust in the
garage? Also take time to meet their family. Is their
house in order or are they in the midst of divorce,
children problems, financial or legal struggles?
We do not want to be exclusive, but in my
experience, a lot of people take the mission of
evangelism and ministry far too lightly. If they are not
willing to use their gifts to help save people from hell,
then we probably cannot use them. A member should
also have their priorities straight in accordance with
Ephesians 5. God first, spouse & children next,
employer next and church/ministries next.
Forming & Planting Chapters
A “chapter” is basically a rider or riders bound
by a geographical area. That area could be a town,
city, county or even a whole state. You can name your
chapter whatever you want. Most just use the city
name (i.e.: Marysville Chapter or Tucson Chapter.)
Some use a county name (i.e.: Ventura County
Chapter.) Some use a regional name (i.e.: San Gabriel
Valley Chapter.) While others invent their own names
(i.e.: South Sierra Chapter.)
Use a name that will not conflict or be confused
with any other ministry or M/C name. This is extremely
important. Once you decide on a name, remember to
never incorporate it with the BFC logo or patch,
especially as a top rocker. You may have a small
patch with your area for the front of your vest (usually
left upper area), for example used in conjunction with
your name, but never on the back.
After a while you may find that it is difficult to
cover a wide area with a few people. When this
happens, you may either split your chapter into smaller
regions (i.e.: West L.A. and East L.A.) or you may
“plant” a new chapter in the surrounding regions.
Planting a chapter is pretty easy actually. As
always, start with prayer. Go for a ride to a surrounding
area where you see a need for a ministry of this type.
Find a Christian church in that area and visit it. Talk to
the pastor about BFC and leave a FAQ sheet for posting
or distribution to anyone in the church who may be a
biker, willing to serve. Do not leave blank applications!
If you are not met with a warm welcome or are rejected
by that church, then go to another. Any solid,
Biblically based church is a good candidate.
After making contact, just keep your efforts in
prayer and it will either happen or not. Don’t worry
about it as it’s in the Lord’s hands now... Just continue
ministering as always.
Promotional / Ministry Opportunities
As with most ministries, you will want to find
and maximize your opportunities to minister to others.
You can do this by first identifying which group of
people God is leading you to. Look at your own life,
experiences, tragedies, victories and areas of
expertise. Being a motorcycle ministry, it goes without
saying that bikers are our main focus. Frequenting the
local watering holes, bike shops, rallies and runs is
important. You have total freedom to use your gifts as
God leads you, but it’s just good common sense to use
tact and don’t be a pest. Walking into a biker bar
dressed as “super-christian”, and then shoving tracts at
people is probably not the best way to open doors.
More than likely you’ll get tossed out. Just treat others
as you would like to be treated. A lot of people will
gladly share their opinions about religion one on one,
but they won’t take kindly to having a Bible pointed at
them like a loaded gun. Be helpful, not a hindrance.
I’ve found most people will actually go out of their way to
ask me questions once they see the backpatch. Use
this as an opportunity to witness.
Also remember to minister to people’s physical
needs. Are they broken down on the road? Are they
hungry? Are they in jail or prison? Did their wife just
walk out on them? Are they unemployed? Do they
need a place to stay? Display the love of Christ by
ministering to those who need Him most.
Promoting BFC in your community is also a
good way to increase membership, build bridges with
the community, police and those who need your help.
One way is by placing a booth at fairs, swap meets or
rallies. This has proven successful with other chapters
and can be done for a small to modest investment. It
can be as simple as a folding table and chair or as
elaborate as an awning, counter, banner and lights.
You may distribute only literature (tracts, FAQ sheets,
etc...) or refreshments as well. It has been our
experience that refreshments (water, soda or coffee) is
best distributed on a donation basis only. That way you
are not seen as competition for food vendors.
Also it’s important to check with the sponsoring
organization for the event to make sure your booth is
financially do-able or allowed. Many rallies charge a
hefty fee for booth space (>$1000 per event.) Others
won’t allow distribution of materials which conflict with a
city charter (example: literature advocating an anti-gay
position.) Most motorcycle swap meets however won’t
have any problem with a booth and the spaces are
pretty cheap to rent.
Another promotional opportunity is to
participate as an entry in a local parade. It’s a good
way to gain positive community exposure and new
members. Last but not least, consider speaking at
various churches about the ministry or conducting a
brief interview for a local newspaper. In all these things,
stay humble, keep God first and be very careful about
any statements made to the general public.
Merchandise and Non-Profit Donations
BFC nationally is obligated to offer for sale back
patches and arm/vest patches. This is one of the few
ways we can offset the costs we have at the national
level for postage, phone calls, PO boxes, literature,
promotional and administrative supplies. Large
(2-Piece) backpatches are offered for sale for $75 for the
first one, and $41.50 (our cost) for additional ones for
the same person. Small arm patches are $15 for the
first one and $7.50 (our cost) for an additional one for
the same person.
I realize the backpatches are on the expensive
side and we are working hard to keep the price as low
as possible on these (which is why we make less
money on these). Given the quality, number of colors
and stitching involved compared with other
backpatches, I hope you agree that they are worth it...
Please be honest with us by not buying extra patches
for yourself at the lower price and then distributing them
to others in your chapter at the “bargain” prices. It may
be a bargain for the individual at the moment, but will
reduce the number of benefits and opportunities we can
present to you in the future.
We also are currently offering T-shirts & tank
tops in black or gray. They are $17 no matter how
many you buy. They are top quality, pre-shrunk Hanes
Beefy Tees with a full color print of our logo on the back
and a small contrasting logo on the left front chest.
While supplies last...
Another way you can donate to BFC is by
using LifeLine. They are a christian owned and
operated long distance provider. They offer a very
competitive long distance telephone rate and 10% of
your phone bill will be donated to BFC. Just contact us
for a form, fill it out and mail it in. Additional forms can
be provided upon request.
BFC tracts will be available soon. We will
provide one for free which you can make copies of, fold
and distribute. Also we are providing FAQ sheets
(Frequently Asked Questions) and application blanks for
free - so you may run off as many copies as you need.
Both of these should be double sided copies. If you are
currently using one of the older applications, please
destroy those as they have incorrect merchandise
information and pricing on them.
Remember that only members in good standing
may purchase or wear anything with a BFC logo on it.
Do not buy patches and T-shirts for gifts, kids or for
your friends to wear. We are considering designs for a
“supporter” shirt which can be distributed to the general
public which does not bear our logo.
If you wish to produce your own materials in your chapter,
please feel free. Some chapters have produced hats, ride pins, stickers,
literature, name patches, banners and other items which have been very
useful and fun. Just remember to reproduce the logo accurately and to
not distribute things which can be worn with the logo on it except to
members in good standing. Business cards are the responsibility of
each chapter if you need those... They are a very useful and a highly
recommended tool.
Famous Last Words
Thank you for your efforts, willing spirit and
servant’s heart in participating in BFC. Don’t be
discouraged, great things often start from small
beginnings. Christianity started from the teachings of
only one man who taught 12 others who in turn changed
an entire world. Take care and may God bless. Our
prayers are with you daily...
In His Love
Pastor Fred Z
BFC National Administrator
Donald Kirkendall
A Biker for Christ - Orlando, FL
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Info@bfcfl.org
