Accident proves strength of motorcycle organization

Jesus and motorcycles might seem an unlikely pair. At the Christian Motorcyclists Association, however, they fit like a worn leather jacket.

Riding together helps to build friends and fellowship. But when Brent Jeffers decided to start a chapter of the CMA in Sidney, almost eight years ago, he didn't know what a source of support the organization would be for his family.

About six and a half years ago, when Brent's son Jon was on his way back to college in Chadron, Jon was involved in a terrible accident.

"He ran into the back of a farm tractor that had a bale fork that came through the windshield and caught our son in the head," Brent said.

Jon was flown to Rapid City, S.D. where doctors had to reconstruct the right side of his skull, which was crushed by the impact. They didn't expect him to live.

The Jeffers attribute Jon's survival to the experience the doctors in Rapid City had treating damage to the brain. South Dakota doesn't have a helmet law so doctors there deal with a large number of traumatic brain injuries. Although Jon did survive, now he is partially paralyzed in his left arm and leg.

"Jon is a miracle," Brent said.

Jon's skull was fractured in the accident, which left some room for swelling. If his skull hadn't been fractured, he probably would have died, Brent said.

Jon's mother, Patty spent 50 days with him in the intensive care unit in Rapid City, where he was in a coma for about a month. The doctors said he'd never be able to sit or walk or see out of his right eye. Now, he's able to do all those things.

During this time, the CMA rode forward to support the whole family.

"They did so much for me when I was in the hospital," Jon said.

A few members came at least once a week to visit with Jon and see how he was doing. The local Sidney chapter helped care for the Jeffers' house while they were away at the hospital. Some members worked together to build a ramp at the Jeffers' home so Jon could get in and out of the house.

After his time in Rapid City, Jon went to Craig Hospital in Denver, one of the leading centers in the country for traumatic brain injury. There, over the course of 60 days, he learned to walk and talk again.

"This is the process we went through to get our son back," Brent said.

He also received occupational therapy one he returned to Sidney. The town as a whole was very supportive of the family as well, Brent said.

"We live in a very special community," Brent elaborated. "We came here with idea that we'd stay for three years, and that was 23 years ago."

Brent and a friend started the local chapter of the CMA after attending one of the Sterling chapter's meetings. The Sidney chapter took its name from John 3:16. They call themselves the "Whosoevers."

The CMA is a worldwide organization that supports many different projects with its big yearly fundraiser, Run for the Son. The CMA contributes to the Jesus film project, which tells the story of Jesus through the book of Luke. It also donates to Open Doors, which is a program that smuggles in bibles to areas where the books are prohibited. Additionally, the group gives money to Missionary Ventures, which supplies transportation to preachers who run churches in remote parts of the world and have difficulty traveling to their missions. They supply boats, motorcycles and sometimes even camels to get the missionaries to their congregations.

Brent is the president of the 25 member Sidney chapter. It is the 1003rd chapter in the world and there are many more in the state of Nebraska.

"Our motto is, reaching the world, one heart at a time," Patty said.

The group is nondenominational, but have faith in the infallibility of the bible.

"We believe in the inerrancy of the word of God," Brent said. "We believe in the virgin birth. We believe in the death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ."

This belief system is the main tenant that members of the CMA must adhere to.

After Jon's accident, the Jeffers set out to find a sidecar for Jon so he could continue to participate in rides. Before the accident, he rode by himself. Now that is impossible.

They searched for quite a while, trying to find one that Jon could easily get in and out of, and that the family could afford. After a long hunt, they finally located a car with a hinged top that lifts up entirely, which makes it easier for Jon to step in and out.

Today, all three of them can travel together as proud members of the CMA.

Jon said the best part of being a member is "The joy we have for being able to share the Lord."

Jon now works part time at both Sam and Louie's and Luna's.

Brent tries make sure that the CMA is as active as possible in the Sidney community. They held a pastor's appreciation dinner this year, for local clergy.

"We wanted to say thank you for the job they do," Brent said.

The CMA had a pizza party and games and gave out rides in the side car for mentally challenged kids with the Office of Human Development. Last year they put on a birthday party for local foster kids, with birthday cake and presents. The group is planning a cookout for Memorial Health Center Extended Care, the local nursing home.

"Sharing Jesus with the world is very important to us," Patty said. "I just think this is a wonderful way to do it."

The CMA has Friday dinner rides, wherein members rides together to different area restaurants. The group holds meetings at 8 a.m. the last Saturday of every month at Grandma Jo's, and all are welcome to attend.

"You don't have to have a motorcycle to be part of the ministry," Brent said.

The Jeffers are thankful for their time riding together and want to share their belief in Jesus as a family.

"We have a love for the lord," Brent said. "We have a love for motorcycles. It's just a great combination of the two, to be able to get out and share Christ with others."