ASR Chapter – Page 3 – Azusa StreetRiders International

August 31, 2014

August 23, 2014: 8th Annual “Cruz’n For Christ”, Eminence, KY

The day started with our annual bike show. This year we changed things up and had the bike show first, right in the middle of town! We had a good response, but with the threat of storms all day it keep our offical regastration to 38 bikes, however 50 acually participated. Many people stopped in to see the motorcycles or make donations from 9:30 till around 1:00 pm. We estimate that between 175 and 200 people came through either to look or sign up for the bike show. Others just came to ride to Rabbit Hash, KY with us. Rabbit Hash is just a little over 70 miles from Eminence. It is a local biker hang out. All but two visitors had never attended before, so we were able to witness and tell many more about Jesus and the ASR.

The Lord was kind to us and kept the storms away ‘till all had returned home or to local hotels. We had an awesome ride to Rabit Hash through five counties and some hills, but most of the ride was along the Ohio River. Throughout the day, we had many opportunities to witness to people and had a new member sign up for ASR in the Northern KY Chapter. Thank you Jesus! All in all it was a sucsessfull day. We raised $570.00 dollars for the KY Wounded Warrior Project and so far we have raised $380.00 for ASR’s Motorcycles for Missionaries.We are trusting the Lord for the ability to raise the remanding $620.00 to achieve our $1,000.00 Chapter goal.

We would like to thank all who were able to join us this year and all that covered us in prayer! We love y’all and this wonderful ministry! All the members of the Northern Kentucky Chapter send their thanks for your support. May God Bless each and everyone of you for all that you do for His kingdom!

Rev. Anthony Storey, ASR Vice President

August 31, 2014

22-24 August 2014: 6th Annual Cruzin’ for Christ, Sussex, New Brunswick, Canada

Events for Cruzin’ for Christ were centered at Abundant Life United Pentecostal Church in Sussex, New Brunswick.

Our 2014 goal was to raise enough funds to purchase three more motorcycles for use in Ghana, West Africa (Bro. and Sis.Nick Sisco and Sis. Colleen Carter). Our “Cruzin’ for Christ” organizing committee is comprised mostly of members of the Atlantic Canada Chapter of Azusa StreetRiders. The committee meets regularly on an almost year-round basis.

FRIDAY AFTERNOON:
Biker Registration area is set up in the foyer of ALUPC. Appropriate signage is present and maps and directions are available for out-of-town bikers who have made reservations at one of the area’s motels or Bed & Breakfasts. Accommodation information is available on the “Cruzin’ for Christ” website. (www.cruzinforchrist.ca). As bikers register, the funds that they have gathered are recorded on their Ride Application /Pledge Sheet and Waivers are signed.

FRIDAY EVENING:
This year’s concert had a “House Band” plus nine different “performers” (if that’s the appropriate word to use in this context) in concert. We had a canteen and the first $200.00 of canteen profit is designated as a gift to the “MK” program of the UPCI. This money is used to purchase bicycles for “Missionary Kids” somewhere on the foreign field. For 2014, although a final audit has not occurred as of this date, we anticipate being able to send approx. $240.00 to the MK program. The free-will offering received during the concert totaled about $450.00. About 100 people were in attendance. Visitors get a first-hand view of old fashioned Pentecostal worship, prayer and praise! The result was one young man filled and another re-filled with the Holy Ghost and one was baptized in Jesus’ name! (Both young men were again in church for the Sunday Evening service and both were again at the alter and praising, praying and worshiping.) For the event, we raised enough to buy four motorcycles and two bicycles for MKs. To God be the Glory!

SATURDAY:
Registration for the bikers started at 7:45 am. Breakfast was at 8:30 am and “Kickstands Up” was at 9:30 am. It’s the policy of the “Cruzin’ for Christ” Ride to plan the Biker’s Route in such a way that the ride stops for a “Noon Meal” visit with a smaller congregation that would ordinarily not have a chance to host any events within the Atlantic District. This year we stopped at the Blackville United Pentecostal Church in the village of Blackville, New Brunswick. Bro. and Sis. John Beach have seen attendance double in the 24 months they have pastored there and they are now seeing about 70 saints per service. This is in an area that has been devastated by a lack of employment. They organized a “Biker BBQ” for this noon meal. We learned that the church made new contacts within their community and had new people in their Sunday Service as a result of the BBQ. We were able to supply Bro. Beach with the “Outreach” type tracts that are available for download from the Azusa StreetRiders website. He also used these for the bikers that stopped in to see why so many motorcycles were parked in the church yard!

The Bikers then made their way back to Sussex where we arrived in time for a 5:00 pm Roast Beef Dinner.

SUNDAY MORNING BIKER CHURCH SERVICE:
The service is advertised as a “Biker Service” on the church’s sign on the Main Street of the community. This year’s message was delivered by the Atlantic Canada Chapter’s President. Thanks to inspiration received during Bro Chavis’s messages at ASR’s National Rally in Maryville, TN, Bro. McLeod spoke on the theme of “Loud Pipes Save Lives.”

July 22, 2014

5th Annual Biker Sunday in memory of Michael Theodore Jr

The following report is from Michael Theodore Sr, who serves as the ASR District Coordinator for Ohio, seen at far left in the above photo.

“July 11-13, 2014 was the 5th Annual Biker Sunday in memory of Michael Theodore Jr. This year we made our event for outreach and we added a pig roast to Biker Sunday. Our count of ASR members present was just shy of 30. We had members ride into northeast Ohio for the event from as far away as Nebraska, Missouri, Tennessee, West Virginia, and from all over Ohio.

“We started off the weekend with a meet-and-greet on Friday evening. This is a great way for members to get to know everyone and just relax from their day’s ride.

“Saturday we had kickstands up at 10 AM. This was a day of riding up to Geneva-On-The-Lake, a biker town overlooking Lake Erie. Saturday was all about outreach. Once there we picked a spot to have Bro. Jim Curley (ASR National Chaplain) to give us a few words from the Lord, and then give us some great pointers on outreach. He then prayed over the 300+ dinner tickets that we were giving out to people to get them to come to our Biker Sunday/Pig Roast. We divided into teams of 2 to 4, and just took over the strip up there on the Lake in Geneva. It was totally amazing to see each ASR person working the street. To God be the glory. After spending a few hours in the hot sun passing out dinner tickets and witnessing to people, it was time to mount up and ride to someone else’s benefit dinner. That’s right, we all rode to a benefit dinner for a friend of ours who has a brain tumor. As we all pulled into that church parking lot, everyone started to take notice. They were all wondering what was going on. We stayed for the dinner, and wow, did ASR evermore make a huge impact on this family. They indicated they could not thank us enough. Now this is what ASR is all about. It’s not just about motorcycles or riding motorcycles. This is why I love my ASR family and this ministry. Saturday’s unity for outreach was just awesome.

“Sunday was Biker Sunday. Kickstands up at 8:30. Well, with our group it was closer to 9. LOL. I looked on my radar and saw that it was raining up by the church, which was a 35-mile ride. I told everyone to put their rain gear on. Sis. Curley said, “Have faith.” I smiled and said, “You don’t live up here. You’re going to get wet. Rain gear on.” We headed north to the church. The only water we got was that which was already on the road from the prior rain that went through. Yes, Sis. Curley, there is power in prayer. Sunday’s service was so anointed Pastor Doug Joseph (ASR District Coordinator for West Virginia) preached, giving us an amazing word from God. We had 3 people get water baptized in Jesus name, and one of them got filled with the Holy Ghost! Praise God. With all our hard work during outreach the prior day, we had 12 outreach dinner tickets come through the doors, of which two of those brought their entire family. So our count was about 20 that came as a result of God blessing our outreach effort. Praise God! After service was the pig roast and basket raffle. Delicious! The pork really hit the spot. As we were eating, one small cloud came through to dump some rain. However, once we all had eaten and the raffle was over, the sky got clear when it was time to ride. Sunday events are not over yet. Once we got back from our ride, everyone rested. Then we met up for dinner and some good ASR fellowship, one on one.

“I would like to thank all who made our weekend so wonderful. I love you guys and this ministry. From the Theodore family to yours, a big thank-you.”

March 27, 2014

Event: 2nd Annual Sword Run in Clarksburg – Great BBQ, Great Ride, Great Cause!

Start your riding season off with a great ride for a great cause!

2nd Annual Sword Run in Clarksburg, WV, on Saturday, May 10, 2014 at Norwood Park in Nutterfort, WV (also known as Clarksburg City Park) [ Google Map].

Starting at 10 am, enjoy mouth-watering slow-smoked barbecue, door prizes, raffles, and a chance to win a $500 grand prize!

NOTE: Hotel (Sutton Inn) is filling up fast. Book ASAP. Special rate is $78.57 including tax (upstairs rooms). Call or email either Pastor Doug Joseph or LaDonna Joseph to obtain one of the rooms we’re holding onto.

Proceeds go to “Motorcycles For Missionaries” and help to build a new church facility in the Clarksburg area.

Event brought to you by 102.3 WFBY-FM, WDTV Channel 5, and the local Clarksburg chapter of the Azusa Street Riders. Are you interested in helping to sponsor this event? Then download the Sword-Run-Sponsorship-Form and/or visit SwordRun.com.

This year’s event will be hosted at the big pavilion just to the right, at the main entrance to Norwood Park in Nutter Fort, WV. Screenshot below:

This year we'll be hosted at the big pavilion just to the right, at the entrance to Norwood Park in Nutter Fort, WV. Click here for a Google Map https://goo.gl/maps/gpEVh — Click here for a Google Map

January 31, 2014

Bind the Strong Man

Do you need a true miracle from God? ASR’s second annual “Bind the Strong Man” Prayer Gathering is when and where it can happen! Last year it was held in Myrtle Beach, SC, and at least one lifesaving miracle took place, along with some instant healings and other spiritually powerful occurrences. My oldest son, Patrick, was healed of brain cancer! Despite the doctors saying he’d only live 18 months if he did everything they told him to do (which he didn’t), he walked away from Bind the Strong Man saying “I’m healed!” Over the next four months, the cancer continued to grow and new places appeared in his brain MRIs. Yet Patrick continued to have faith, and he would tell the doctors that he “had cancer but God healed” him. They wanted to start radiation on one of the new spots one month, and the next visit, they wanted to do an immediate biopsy on another new spot. Those didn’t happen! Patrick’s refusal to succumb to their insistence on man’s treatments and his continued witnessing to everyone he saw about his “healing,” resulted in a “cancer-free” MRI—to the doctors’ amazement—in the fourth month after Bind the Strong Man. His last MRI was in January (a year after surgery) and the head of the neurological oncology department at the University of South Carolina said, “I want the faith that you have!” God is Good!

Bind the Strong Man is the brainchild of ASR Member, Bro. Mike Markham, Pastor of Turning Point Fellowship, 95 County Road 755, Marbury, AL 36051, where this year’s event is to take place. Bro. Markham is a gruff US Marine with a teddy bear’s heart for souls! He uses motorcycles to help build churches and God is moving through his efforts.

Bind the Strong Man is open to the public but is an ASR event. ASR members sacrifice their time and expenses to attend this event solely for prayer. Last year in Myrtle Beach, ASR members from about ten states attended from as far away as Forsyth, MO (the Cobbs) and one member even flew in (Sis. McGhghy) from OH. Unlike most ASR events, there will not be a ride as our focus is on prayer. We simply get together to have “focused” corporate prayer and then return to our homes. Prayers will be focused throughout the night and different facilitators will introduce us to the next corporate-prayer topic. We’ll pray for the local church, the city, the state, our nation and the state of mankind. We’ll pray for godly leadership of all officials. We’ll plead for a revelation of truth to the Christian community and for the opening of understanding of the necessity of baptism in Jesus name and the infilling of the Holy Ghost. Of course, we’ll pray for the outreach efforts of Azusa StreetRiders along with the efforts of the churches we attend and missionaries we support. Most of all, we’ll pray for God’s will to be done everywhere!

We’ll take short, non-conversational coffee and snack breaks as individually needed throughout the evening in order to keep our knees from cramping and our strength up. Bind the Strong Man will last from 8:00 PM on Friday, March 7 until Noon on Saturday, March 8. This should give most of us time to return home to our local churches. For those ASR members who are able to stay, there will be a time of fellowship!

Please make every effort to attend… blessings are in the sacrifice. Please also put attendance to this event into your prayers and fasting (Sis. McGhghy is organizing with our Chaplain, Bro. Curley) and let’s see where God takes us this year!

December 31, 2013

Motorcycles for Missionaries

Click here to access the “Motorcycles for Missionaries” map on the ASR site.

A quick summary: Uruguay has received three (3) motorcycles ~ Missionaries: Michael & Ivonne Walmer; Russia has received one (1) motorcycle ~ Missionaries: Robert & Sheri Moses; India has received two (2) motorcycles; Cambodia has received one (1) motorcycle; Taiwan has received two (2) motorcycles ~ Missionaries: Chris & Tiffany Bracken and Tom & Sandra Bracken; Japan has received one (1) motorcycle ~ Missionaries Ed & Naomi Hosmer.

How is your local ASR chapter doing on your fundraising toward this worthy cause? Do you have fundraising ideas or success stories? Log into the ASR Forum and let us know!

About Motorcycles for Missionaries

Being a motorcycle ministry, Azusa StreetRiders has a goal to help further the apostles’ doctrine by providing motorcycles, motor scooters or even bicycles to missionaries on foreign fields. In many countries, the best and sometimes only means of reaching certain people with the gospel of Jesus Christ is to ride a two-wheeled vehicle to remote locations or in heavily congested traffic areas where cars can only move at a snail’s pace. To us, the dedicated missionaries who use two-wheeled transportation are truly brothers in arms. To this end, Azusa StreetRiders has a goal to purchase as many motorcycles or motor scooters as possible each year and place them in the capable hands of foreign missionaries to use in their work. We’ve set up a special account and are funding it through local fundraising events. Your help is needed. There are lots of ways you may be able to help: by participating in fundraising events and riding with us, by sponsoring such events, by volunteering time to help, and/or by donating food or merchandise to help make events successful. Of course, anyone may also donate directly.