The club is part of the Christian Motorcycle Association (CMA), a nondenominational group of believers of all stages and walks of life who share the love of Jesus – mostly but not solely – with the motorcycling community.

“We go to biker events, participate in rides for a variety of causes and just love on the biker community,” said club president Paul Hardy.

The Minot chapter, Shekinah Riders #144, is one of eight in the state. Others are located at Williston, Dickinson, Jamestown, Bismarck, Fargo, Grand Forks and Devils Lake.

Hardy said the chapter has gone through many changes in the past 10 years as people have come and gone. Members have included those in the Air Force who have left for different assignments and those who moved into higher roles within CMA or took a pause to raise families.

Paul Hardy walks down a North Dakota street during one of CMA’s summer rides.

“Being in CMA does take some dedication and sacrifice,” Hardy said. “In a nutshell, you get out of it what you put in. Some folks simply want to be part of a group of motorcycle riding believers, while others want to be more involved in the biker community. There is a place for everyone.”

The group currently has about eight highly active members.

Conducting worship band performances is among their activities.

“We have this little band that started because of our love for music and Jesus. Being the worship leader in my home church, it seemed natural to continue it in the CMA,” Hardy said. “We don’t do typical Christian music. It’s got an ’80s rock grind to it.”

They’ve had people who happened to hear the band playing, stopped over to listen and ended up getting saved, he said.

“That, to me, is what makes it all worthwhile. That has happened more than a couple times,” Hardy said.

Hardy said he and his wife started the band with another couple, who later moved away. Initially, they performed for their own home churches, and it grew from there.

“We, mostly, do what we call a ‘Biker Service’ in rural communities, where we get the word out to our friends and family, and the church also advertises we are coming to town,” Hardy said.

Jonathan Starks, pastor of the church in Ryder, heard about the band and asked members to come to an outdoor service that the church had been holding during the COVID-19 pandemic. The drive-up services enabled people to stay in their vehicles and tune in through their radios.

“We couldn’t pass that up – outside and loud,” Hardy said. “Another favorite was Carpio. First time we had a service there, it was standing room only. There were more people in that Lutheran church than lived in town – over 200.”

Through the performances, the band raises money for three CMA ministries.

“Our goal is to raise money for the three ministries CMA donates to, but our hearts are for the people. We want to see more folk come to the Lord,” Hardy said. “Over the last two-three years, we are not going in and preaching the word but rather sharing our testimonies, our daily walk, the struggles, the victories, and encouraging people that they are not alone in their walk, and the battles are real. The other members that are not directly involved with the band are able to pray with people and answer questions that may arise.”

Hardy said he spent a rather lengthy part of his own life drinking and running from God.

“After I sobered up, through my faith in Jesus, He placed it in my heart to get back involved with motorcyclists,” said Hardy, who had sold his motorcycle years earlier.

Other activities of the Shekinah Riders include participating in events for children. For the past 14 years, the club has set up a Kid Zone during the Mid Summer Classic Car and Bike Show each June in Underwood, giving the youngsters a safe place to hang out, play games, enjoy bouncy houses and get glitter tattoos, free water and freeze pops, all at no charge.

“We’ve also been giving two bicycles away for the past four years,” Hardy said.

The club also offers glitter tattoos and bike inspections at the EMS Kids Strong events in Garrison and the National Night Out events in Minot, which display emergency medical service, police and military equipment.

Hardy said the mission of the CMA is not to preach. It encourages members to get plugged into their local churches to be fed the Word. However, members serve as a great support system for each other, he said.

“We are an outreach ministry. We go out, but we also need those covering us in prayer as we go,” he said. “There is room for everyone – ride or not. The heart is to serve the Lord Jesus Christ.”