Bikers For Christ       

   Northern Arizona

                        Mohave Chapter

Charter

Bikers For Christ International Motorcycle Ministry Charter 

Purpose: In order to record for posperity and future reference, those things about the Bikers For Christ Motorcycle Ministry which make it unique & effective.  To maintain the spirit and intentions of the original ministry.  To serve as a written guide of where we started, how to remain rooted in which we are and to build goals for where we are going.  To always remain focused to and never forget that God is the reason for this ministry.

We Serve God:  BFC is a ministry that serves the God of the Holy Bible, the only God, the Creator of the Universe, the Savior and Redeemer of mankind.  We serve no other purpose, person, philosophy, thing, government or power.  Our dedication is solely directed to our Lord, Jesus Christ.

We Ride Motorcycles:  BFC is a ministry that uses motorcycles as a media to reach out to others.  Motorcycling is the integral part of our physical lives which brings us those we are called upon to minister to, and indeed is the thing that opens doors between our calling and the rest of the world.  We support motorcycling in it's many forms, the culture which has developed around it and the riders who are out on the road.

We Support Our Government:  While BFC is not politically oriented or affiliated, we do acknowledge our allegiance to our country.  We encourage participation in government and civic duty, prayer and support for our leaders.  BFC will not encourage any actions which are contrary to the laws of government, except where those laws are in direct opposition to the laws of God.

We Support Our Families:  BFC is a ministry which supports the God ordained structure which is the basic family unit.  We firmly acknowledge that the priority for our lives must first include our spouse and children and that they are our primary ministry.  BFC will not support any cause or movement which works to destroy the Biblically based family unit, that is marriage between a man & woman.  We also strongly support the principle that children need as much time with loving parents as possible in order to grow up as Godly citizens.  This statement in no way is to detract from the acknowledgment of those special gifted individuals who are able to remain single and serve God fully in this manner.

We Support The Church:  BFC supports the local, historic, Christian church.  We strongly encourage every member and those we minister to in church membership and continued participation.  Nationally, internationally  and at each chapter level, BFC will operate in such a way as to be accountable to a local church for our behavior and conduct.  In this way, BFC is not an independent organization or ministry. Internationally, BFC is a ministry of and is accountable to our Churches.

We Support Other Motorcycle Ministries:  BFC supports all other valid Christian motorcycle ministries and their efforts in bringing the lost into the kingdom.  BFC will not act in any way which obstructs, injures or damages the testimony or work of any other motorcycle ministry.  We are on the same side. This is not to say that we necessarily agree with every other ministry or support their activities.  These things must be tested by the Word of God.

We Are Not In Competition With Anyone:  BFC will not compete with any other motorcycle ministry, club, gang, church or organization for members, turf, territories, property, status or recognition.  BFC, our purpose, mission and materials have been carefully planned so as to not antagonize other groups. For this reason, no BFC member may display the initials “M/C” along with their back patch, nor wear a top rocker which would indicate a region or territory.     

We Are Not A Commercial Venture:  BFC is strictly non-profit and will not accept any paid sponsorship in exchange for advertising of any kind.  The purpose of BFC is not to sponsor products or services, endorse a particular business over another or provide a vehicle for commercial ads.  Free will donations towards the ministry are gladly accepted however BFC reserves the right to refuse donations from persons or organizations which do not agree with our principles.  Special exceptions can be made where a Christian donates his/her work towards this ministry For Free and deserves recognition or credit for their work (i.e.:  web page designer credits, newsletter graphics credits, etc...)  

We Are A Free Ministry:  In keeping with our Lord’s example, BFC will not charge any dues, fees or levies in order for a person to participate and become a member.  In addition, solicitation for any such funds is prohibited at both the national and chapter level.  However BFC does reserve the right to sell products and/or services in exchange for fair compensation which is to be used to further the ministry. BFC also reserves the right to charge reasonable fees for materials, reservations, fuel, insurance, etc. which are necessary for special events.  Membership will not be contingent on the ownership of any salable materials.

We Display “Colors”:  As is characteristic of this type of ministry, BFC produces and sells a back patch, arm patch and other materials with our logo on it to members in good standing.  No object, patch, shirt or other product bearing our logo can be sold or distributed to a non-member, other than items specifically designed as “support” items.  Members who are not in good standing (i.e.:  backsliding, fallen away, resigned, in violation of number four or the ministry requirements listed on the official BFC application) cannot purchase or display membership materials.

We Have No Prospect Process:  In BFC, we do not have a prospect stage for new members.  Applicants with a pastor’s signature are immediately accepted into the BFC and have full privileges.  A new member may wear their full, 2-piece backpatch.     

We Will Not Discriminate:  BFC accepts all people regardless of the following circumstances:  Race, Creed, Color, Sex, Political Affiliation, Christian Church Denomination**, Profession, Type or Brand of Motorcycle*, Dress Code or Hair Style.  BFC does however reserve the right to refuse membership based on:  Sexual Preference (homosexuality), Non-Christian Church Membership (i.e.:  JW, Mormon, Muslim, etc...), Sin as described in our application or other issues related to a person’s character, morals or ethics.

*Note:  For the purpose of definition - motor-scooters, mopeds, motorized bicycles and non-street legal dirt bikes do not qualify for BFC membership.

**Note:  Controversial, humanistic & non-historic denominations may not qualify.  This would include but not be limited to:  Legalistic churches, Church of Christ, United Pentecostal Church, excesses in the Word of Faith Movement, Some United Methodist Churches which support homosexuality, etc...    

We support each member's right to vote, as they feel led by God to do so:  

BFC is completely non-political in nature and does not endorse any political agenda, philosophy or candidate.  We affirm each members’ right to vote and participate individually in local, state or federal political processes, however BFC must remain completely neutral in this regards.  We believe that churches & ministries as groups should stay out of government and that by the same token, the government should stay out of issues concerning the Christian faith.  

We Support The Responsibility of Each Member For Their Own Actions:  BFC Chapel cannot and will not be held responsible or liable, either directly, indirectly or consequentially for the actions of individuals. Each individual is responsible for his/her own actions and the repercussions that result from those actions.  This particularly applies to members who backslide, break laws, take action which can bring liability or harm to BFC and it’s members or which are involved in accidents. Motorcycle riding is by it’s very nature more risky than other forms of transportation and each rider upon joining BFC must acknowledge that ultimately they alone are responsible for their own safety - not BFC, or any other BFC member.  BFC is committed to a safe motorcycling and ministry experience and every precaution will be taken to insure this.  However ultimately each individual must acknowledge their own limitations and responsibility in this endeavor.  

We Do Not Support By-Laws, Tri-Laws, or “Hype”:  BFC operates under the By-Laws of the churches which we are accountable to.  We therefore do not and will not have any By-Laws for overseeing this ministry.  In order for this ministry to be totally effective, each member must have the freedom to act quickly according to the call of the Holy Spirit as situations present themselves.  We trust the Holy Spirit to keep the membership in line and we do not wish to impede that work in any way by imposing By-Laws on our members.  BFC may institute Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) both at the national and local level in order to conduct routine business in a consistent and well-documented manner and to meet IRS and other legal requirements.

Chapter Autonomy:  Each BFC chapter is autonomous to operate in response to God’s calling as they see fit.  The only requirement is that each chapter conduct themselves according to the precepts put forth in this charter AND under the authority of the local church to which they are operated under.
 

Conclusion:  This charter is put into effect immediately on this day:  March 12, 2000.  It shall be maintained on file with the International Administrator and will be made available to anyone who wishes to see it.  BFC reserves the right to edit this document.   

Bikers for Christ Statement of Faith

Bikers for Christ Motorcycle Ministry has been formed as a fellowship of believers in the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Our supreme desire is to know Christ and be conformed to His image by the power of the Holy Spirit.

We believe the only true basis of Christian fellowship is Christ's Agape love, which is greater than any differences we possess and without which we have no right to claim ourselves Christians.

We believe worship of God should be spiritual. Therefore, we remain flexible and yielded to the leading of the Holy Spirit to direct our worship.

We believe worship of God should be inspirational. Therefore, we give great place to music in our worship.

We believe worship of God should be intelligent. Therefore, our services are designed with great emphasis upon the teaching of the Word of God that He might instruct us how He should be worshipped.

We believe worship of God should be fruitful. Therefore, we look for His love in our lives as the supreme manifestation that we have truly been worshipping Him.

We believe in all the basic doctrines of historic Christianity.

We believe in the inerrancy of Scripture, that the Bible, Old and New Testaments are the inspired, infallible Word of God.

We believe that God is eternally existent in three distinct persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

We believe that God is the personal, transcendent, and sovereign Creator of all things.

We believe that Jesus Christ is fully God and fully human, that He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, provided for the atonement of our sins by His substitutionary death on the cross, was bodily raised from the dead, ascended back to the right hand of the Father, and ever lives to make intercession for us.

We believe in the personal, visible, second coming of Jesus Christ to the earth. He will return with His saints and set up a kingdom of which there will be no end.

After Jesus ascended to Heaven, He poured out His Holy Spirit on the believers in Jerusalem, enabling them to fulfill His command to preach the Gospel to the entire world, an obligation shared by all believers today.

We believe that all people are, by nature, separated from God and responsible for their own sin, but that salvation, redemption, and forgiveness are freely offered to all by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. When a person repents of sin and accepts Jesus Christ as personal Savior and Lord, trusting Him to save, that person is immediately born again and sealed by the Holy Spirit, all his/her sins are forgiven, and that person becomes a child of God, destined to spend eternity with the Lord.

We believe in the gifts of the Holy Spirit mentioned in the Scriptures, and that they are valid for today if they are exercised within the scriptural guidelines. We as believers are to covet the best gifts, seeking to exercise them in love that the whole Body of Christ might be edified. We believe that love is more important than the most spectacular gifts, and without this love all exercise of spiritual gifts is worthless.

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