Church Message: Be Yourself

No Need To Conform For Cowboys, Punk Rockers And Bikers

(CBS) 
Austin Williams founded the Punk church three years ago. "I was already into this culture when I became a Christian and so I didn't stop liking punk rock just because I liked Jesus," he says.

Williams wears his religion on his sleeve — kind of. Showing his tattoos, he says, "Here on the wrists, we have the basic crucifixion wound tattoos."

He's covered with religious tattoos. "That's the way everything goes in our subculture," he says. "We get tattoos for things we believe in. And what I believe and what I want to celebrate is Jesus Christ."

Whether it's tattoos and piercing, or tattoos and bikes. Affinity churches all have basically the same message: be yourself.

Jason Lyle, the minister at the Biker church in Jonesboro, Ga., says after conducting a survey of his own flock, he found what made his parishioners comfortable, and made some changes.

And it worked. As he wells up in tears, a biker notes, "You take your rich man, your poor man, your beggar and thief. We're all here."

The number of affinity churches is growing, a reflection of the country's varied cultures and unique religious freedom. Proving there's a place for everyone from the burliest biker to the littlest cowboy.

"The horses bring people in," A 14-year-old cowboy sitting on a horse says, "and then we catch them. HE cleans them."