CMA HeartBeat May 2025 | Page 13

50TH ANNIVERSARY

50TH ANNIVERSARY

If on-road riding is more your speed, West Virginia has countless routes to explore. There are roads for the novice rider and the most experienced, roads with just a few curves and mountains, and those packed with both.
One of our favorite routes falls right in the middle. It has curves and straights, mountains and valleys, and can be driven by riders of any skill level. It is called the Holly River Loop. It starts in the state ' s geographical center and follows WV 15E through Diana to WV 20N past Holly River State Park. From there, you follow the twists and turns of WV 20N to Rock Cave, turning left onto WV 4S. Take WV 4 through the quaint town of Ireland to Falls Mill, where there are some great scenic stops perfect for pictures. After Falls Mill, you will continue on WV 4S through Heaters and Flatwoods and back to Sutton, where you started. The last time we did this loop, we did it backward and stopped at both Falls Mill to see the waterfall and the Bull Town Museum, timing the ride to have lunch at Holly River State Park. If you plan to stop, make sure you bring your appetite! Lots of delicious food and homemade pies!
No matter what type of adventure you choose, we have something for you in West Virginia. Come and see for yourself why it is almost Heaven! CMA
Rick and Mary Burkey are the State Coordinator in West Virginia.
13

IN

August 1979, Johnny
Upton told me he had joined a motorcycle organization called the Christian Motorcyclists Association. He said I might like to join because I loved the Lord and liked riding.
I got an application and joined September 6, 1979; my number is 2088. I thought Carole and I had joined together but found out later that she was not a member, so Carole joined July 1, 1980, with the number 3479. At this time, we just saw an opportunity of riding with Christians. However, within a short time, we knew the
Lord had called us into a ministry.
In October 1979, we made our firstβ€œ Changing of the Colors Rally” in Hatfield, Arkansas, and were hooked. In these early years, CMA had nothing on the campground but a small trailer building. We sat on the ground and on chairs around a fire at the Colors Rally. In the secular rallies, there were no other biker ministries where Carole and I were going in Texas and Louisiana. We just continued to go, and the Lord would open the door for me to preach on Sunday morning with Carole singing. Chapters formed, and finally, other CMA members started
going to the rallies.
The Lord was gracious and allowed me in 1981 to hold the position of Area Rep. I was then asked to be a Lay Evangelist through 1988, reporting directly to Herb Shreve. In 1988, I was placed on staff as a National Evangelist and traveled throughout the USA preaching at secular motorcycle rallies.
In 1992, I became a Regional Evangelist and oversaw the South Central Region until 2006. At this time, I was asked to come to the National Support Center and became the Vice President Evangelistic Outreach, which I held until retiring in 2013.
There are many favorite memories in CMA, but the greatest is the day I was asked to be full-time on staff with CMA. I realized then that the Lord had fulfilled my prayer when I was saved. I told the Lord,β€œ take me and use me for Your glory and for Your honor.” CMA
www. cmausa. org