Bikers and motorcycle clubs sometimes bring a negative connotation to mind. But a relatively new local group spends its bike time “doing the Lord’s work.”

Established nearly two years ago, the Covington County Christian Motorcycle Club was organized for Christian riders who want to make a difference in the community.

“I wanted to attract Christian riders who wanted to do needy projects in the community,” founder Allan Cory said. “So many other clubs do things out of the state, but I wanted to keep things in the community.”

The organization, which is up to nearly 30 members, holds fundraisers several times a year to raise money for charity organizations.

“This year we’ve had a couple of fundraisers and raised a couple of thousand dollars for a few needy organizations,” he said.

Cory said the club was something he had envisioned for a long time, after he was in another small motorcycle club about 10 years ago and the group disorganized.

“I started this ministry in Oct. 2008,” he said. “We started with one person, myself, and at our first meeting we had 18 members sign up. It’s been outstanding. We’ve got a great group.”

The members of the organization meet on the first Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. at the Covington Electric Cooperative conference room.

On the third Saturday of each month, they hold a Bible study, go for a ride together and have fun and fellowship.

The group is in the process of forming a chapter with the Christian Motorcyclists Association.

“We will be Chapter No. 216 and our name is the Chrome Knights for Christ,” Cory said.

The purpose of local chapter is to provide the opportunity to fellowship; grow in the Lord and minister with likeminded Christians.

The organization has a vision of changing the world, one heart at a time.

The CMA’s Web site says the organization aims to accomplish this vision through evangelistic outreach primarily, but not exclusively, to the motorcycling community.

Through this ministry, the local organizations spread the CMA’s doctrine, in which they believe the Bible as the inspired and infallible Word of God; there is one God, who is eternally existent in three persons: the Father, Son and Holy Spirit; the virgin birth and deity of Christ, his explicit atoning death, bodily resurrection and ascension. They also believe that salvation is through Jesus Christ and that the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit enables a believer to live holy and in the second coming of Jesus Christ.

The local organization is active in the community and will participate in the second annual Benefit for Pediatric Brain Tumors Foundation at Jackson Honda today.

“We will have a booth at the Jackson Honda bike ride,” he said.

Registration for the event begins at 9 a.m. and the first bike will leave at 10 a.m. from Jackson Honda.

Anyone interested in joining the organization can contact president Gaylen Griggers at 222-4501.