Cycle Disciples is an independent Christian motorcycle club based in Kansas City, Missouri. We are not associated with any church, denomination, fellowship, association or club, but operate as a stand-alone organization.
Originally established as a chapter of the Fellowship of Cycle Disciples, we incorporated as a not for profit in the State of Missouri in October 2001. We filed for, and received tax exempt status with the Internal Revenue Service as a 501c3 organization in February 2003. And in 2005, we went totally independent by terminating our association with the Fellowship of Cycle Disciples (a.k.a., Cycle Disciples International).
When we started in 2000, the charter members committed to attain full recognition as a Christian motorcycle club in the Kansas City area. We successfully completed that process on July 1, 2003, and began flying colors in Kansas City on that day.
From our founding, Cycle Disciples have been active members of Kansas City’s biker community, particularly in cooperation with other Christian motorcycle organizations. We immediately began supporting “Bikers with a Mission” (BWAM), an annual run designed to raise money for the work of the City Union Mission in Kansas City. In 2003, Rev. Guy Girratono approached us about assuming responsibility for coordinating BWAM (for more information about Guy Girratono and “Bikers with a Mission”, see Sonny Barger’s book, Ridin’ High and Livin’ Free, published by William Morrow in 2002). Rev. Guy had been running the event for 14 years, but his health and other responsibilities were making it more difficult for him to continue. We began assuming responsibility for BWAM in 2004. Although Cycle Disciples coordinates the event, BWAM is actually pulled together by a committee representing many organizations including Freedom of Road Riders (F.O.R.R.) District 4 along with several F.O.R.R. locals. In addition to BWAM, we also supported the Heart of God Fellowship (Buckner, MO) annual biker Sundays from our beginning.
Another important event for Cycle Disciples is the annual National Gypsy Tour organized by the Jackpine Gypsy Motorcycle Club at Sturgis, SD. We provide road guard support for the event, and make available a biker New Testament to every rider. It’s an honor and privilege to participate in support of a ride that began with Pappy and Pearl Hoel in 1938 as part of the very first Sturgis Rally and Races.
In 2005, Cycle Disciples began the annual Kansas City Christian Biker Workshop in an effort to draw together various Christian motorcycle organizations in the greater Kansas City area and to share information about how to make our respective ministries better. To date, we’ve conducted two Christian Biker Workshops.
In 2006, we began the “Kickstand Award” designed to recognize an outstanding individual or organization who has significantly contributed to the Kansas City motorcycling community. The first Kickstand Award winner was Ralph Wayne Blackmore, founder of the Vintage Backyard Nationals motorcycle show conducted every year in, of all places, his backyard. The award was announced at the 2006 Christian Bikers Workshop on January 14, 2006.
Updated January 17, 2006 |
