WinterFire Conference Update

First off all of us should take a moment and thank the Lord for Brother & Sister Mcleod, Brother & Sister Perry and all of the members of the New Haven, CT Chapter for a Job well done presenting the Azusa StreetRiders Ministry at the WinterFire conference. Job Well Done!
Bro Thompson, ASR National President

“THAT WORKED” by Brother David Mcleod


Bro Jeff Banores and Bro Dave McLeod
standing in front of our new
Azusa StreetRiders display booth
backdrop

We, as Azusa StreetRiders, were privileged to have an opportunity to explain our Motorcycles for Missions Ministry to numerous Oneness people during the 3rd week of February.

The venue was the major WinterFire Conference that occurs annually in the Hartford, CT area. It’s the premiere gathering of Apostolics for the Northeast Quadrant of North America.

It was also the first time to utilize our new ASR display backdrop.

Have a look at the attached photos. It’s 10 ft wide and 7ft high. The “face” of the unit is fabric and our favourite “Azusa Biker” is the visual centre point. The fabric is attached to the frame using Velcro. It takes about one minute to either set it up or take it down. Simply remove the display from its wheeled container and pull it apart. It unfolds and raises as it opens

People walking past us would literally stop and stare. It’s that effective!

This would give us an opening to say something like “Do you ride?” And the conversation was off and running.

I got to meet many of the New Haven, CT chapter members as we were on their home turf, so to speak. They’re to be commended for the ease with which they were able slide into biker related conversations. I’m convinced that these guys are on a 1st name basis with about half the population of New England! Hugs and “Biker Handshakes” were the order of the event.

Chapter President, Jeff Banores, has some really good plans to promote the ASR message in his area. President Jeff now has the contact information for five prospective members. We probably wouldn’t have found these folks had it not been for our WinterFire participation.

We’re looking forward to riding with any of the New Haven members who are planning to attend the National gathering this summer.

Please allow me to share some insights gathered in Hartford.

There are numerous District Conferences, Men’s Conferences, Youth Conferences, etc that fall under the umbrella of our various Oneness organizations. These events are where we will have an opportunity to meet prospective members and raise our profile.

The display is guaranteed to attract attention. We have the “common denominator” of our shared interest in all things “motorcycle.” In Hartford, we heard things like:

  • “My husband rides a motorcycle. He’s not as regular with his church attendance as he should be. I wish that he could meet you people.”
  • My sister-in-law lives in Texas? Do you know if you have anyone in Lubeck (sp) that could contact her? She sure loves her Harley.”
  • “We have two guys in our home church in New Jersey that belong to the CMA.”
  1. Our new “May I Pray for You” patch drew a lot of attention. People were asking us if we had any for sale. I was also asked if we had “bumper stickers” of the patch. – Good idea.
  2. The personal connection of the New Haven chapter members made a big difference at this conference. Chapter Presidents,,,, no one knows your area better than you……. Get out to your District events and see what will happen. We’re the largest “Oneness Apostolic Motorcycle Ministry” in the world. Let’s be scriptural. “Everyone Win One” would double our membership. It was an honour to represent our Ministry at this event. Both Brenda & I were ministered to by the anointed preaching The conference organizers did a great job on tis years ministers.

Dave McLeod / ASR Director for Canada & Atlantic Canada Chapter President

 

Azusa StreetRiders National Emergency Response Team

 

Azusa StreetRiders National Emergency Response Team Taking the care and compassion for lost souls to a different gear…
Have you ever felt the call to jump into action when a local or national emergency takes place?….. Have you felt you could do more?….. Well, so do we! We have decided to introduce the Azusa StreetRiders National Emergency Response Team. We are looking for Azusa StreetRider members who can go above and beyond, if and when, the need ever arises. We would assemble regional teams to be able to dispatch to emergency situations, whether it be a hurricane, landslide, fire or other catastrophic event. Each team would be responsible for, or not limited to, search and rescue, supplies distribution, first aid and general support. We are looking into co-ordinating with local and/or governmental agencies soon for proper training information and/or certification processes. We are praying about this and want this endeavor to be another avenue of reaching out to the community. We welcome anyone interested……..
For more info contact: Amber Holland (936) 465-8477 or at amberaah@yahoo.com

Women are Biking More Than Ever!

It’s a very different world out there then it was a couple of decades ago. Women have always ridden motorcycles, but is hasn’t been until recently that SO many women are deciding to sit on the front of the bike and steer their own course! Today, nearly one out of every ten motorcycle owners is a woman! This fact is changing the look and feel of motorcycle riding.

According to the Motorcycle Safety Foundation and the Motorcycle Industry Council, the median age of women who own motorcycles is 42. The majority of first time motorcycle buyers are between the ages of 35 and 50. Many speculate that this is because women of this age have finished raising their children and they are out to do something for themselves. In many cases, this is something they’ve wanted to do for a long time! Fully one-third of the people who take motorcycle safety courses now are women. Manufacturers such as Harley Davidson have begun to tailor their sales tactics toward women. Women are becoming more and more involved in motorcycle riding and this change is changing the look and feel of the sport. Many more women are feeling confident and secure enough to take up the sport and to be successful. Motorcycle riding is fun and it is for everyone!
Laureen Theodore
International Treasurer

Lydia Diaz Bio, Position nominated for: Treasurer

I started in 2008 working the ASR website and store. My husband and I became Roaming Ambassaders for ASR in 2010. We would go to many events as ASR representatives during the course of the year and helped with starting new works in the churches using motorcycle ministry as an outreach. In 2011 I was voted in as Treasurer for ASR and I am currently still in that position. I have over 30 years experience in bookkeeping and accounting and I used to serve on the school board as well as the SJ chapter board. Most importantly is that I have a desire to reach lost souls. I was called when I was in 3rd grade and have had a personal relationship with God while growing up. When I was 22 I was lead to a church that preached the truth and it has been 38 years since I was baptized in Jesus Name and received the gift of the Holy Ghost. We are more than just a board we are representatives of Jesus Christ.

ASR is the Army of Jesus Christ and the gifts of the spirit are our weapons. Prayer and fasting will allow us to use our weapons in spiritual warfare and we will be victorious.

Ephesians:

6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

6:19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,

6:20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Lydia
ASR International Treasurer

Roar to the Shore Sept 5 & 6 2014, Wildwood, NJ

roartotheshore2014

It was a great outreach in Wildwood, NJ! We had several states represented (OH, NJ, KY, NY & PA). We want to thank Bro Artie Brown for allowing us to use his home so that ASR members had a place to stay.

We prayed with people that came to the booth and passed out flyers for the biker blessing.  Bro and Sis Curley went down at night to where the Pagans had their meeting and spoke to several people about the Lord. During the day Bro Storey, Bro Curley and Bro Klages walked through the vendor booths where all the bikers were to talk to them. The rest of us manned the booth. Later that night they had a prayer meeting at Bro Arties house and Bro Norman Knight received the precious gift of the Holy Ghost.

After the event I received a phone call from a couple who had my business card and requested prayer for her husband. They also want to come to our Chapter meeting to find out more about our ministry! This ministry truly works as an awesome outreach for Jesus Christ!

We are excited about next year. We plan to have church service  with Bro Curley preaching on Sunday and a biker blessing at the booth. We will also be prepared to baptize anyone that is seeking salvation. Please put this event on your calendar for next year (the first weekend after Labor Day, Sept 4 & 5, 2015).

Lydia Diaz                                                                                                                                    ASR Treasurer

 

July 30 through August 2, 2014; 4th Annual ASR International Rally 2014, Maryville, TN

photo (3)Azusa StreetRiders from 12 US states and Canada converged on First Apostolic Church (Pastor Kenneth Carpenter) in Maryville, TN for our only true annual “fellowship” event…All other events worldwide focus on outreach for Christ. We had rides (Google “Tail of the Dragon”) and events scheduled for each day and had 42 bikes on one “Dragon” ride!

We were blessed to have Pastor Cortt & Sis. Amanda Chavis (Truth Chapel, Loganville, GA) as our featured speakers for our three open-to-public night services. Attendance estimates were around 300-400 for each night and we were ministered to! Thank you Bro. & Sis. Chavis! These messages will soon be available for viewing on our ASR website…Listen to them…You will be blessed!

At our Azusa StreetRiders International business meeting Saturday, Bro. Robert Thompson (Maryville, TN Chapter) was re-elected Secretary and Rev. Todd Storey (Northern KY Chapter) was elected Vice-President. Two international appointments were also made…Rev. Julie McGhghy (Cincinnati, OH Chapter) was installed as ASR Ladies Chaplain and Bro. Michael Theodore (Ashtabula, OH Chapter) was installed as ASR Road Captain. Sis. McGhghy is available to assist with any issues specific to women and can be contacted via the ASR website, while Bro. Theodore will be assisting each chapter with their rides. Both have considerable experience for their respective positions and should be contacted as needed.

For their efforts and help with Azusa StreetRiders, Bro. & Sis. Carpenter and Bro. & Sis. Chavis were inducted as “Honorary Members” of Azusa StreetRiders and were each presented with a vest with our ASR backpatch stating such.

This past year our Azusa StreetRiders US and Canadian efforts resulted in funding for the purchase of two motorcycles for Brother Naimy (ALJC missionary to the Philippines) and a gift of $1,000 to ALJC’s World Missions Department.

At the business meeting, it was stressed that the funding goal for each ASR chapter is $1,000 annually for “Motorcycles for Missionaries.” Additionally, to help promote our efforts for Christ, we asked each member of ASR that is active on social media to promote us. On Facebook, our official name is “Azusa Street-Riders” and on Twitter, we are “@Azusa StreetRide”…We were asked to please “Like”, “Share” and “Retweet” info about our upcoming events that are promoted there and ask other to also “like” and “follow” us.

It was announced that the next “Bind the Strongman” all-night prayer event will be held at United Pentecostal Church (Pastor Robert Eades and ASR Member) in Eminence, KY on March 6, 2015. Prayer will start at 9:00 PM. This is Azusa StreetRiders’ annual prayer event that does not involve biking…everybody (public welcome) comes together and prays through the night following World Network of Prayer’s guidelines. Focused prayer is led throughout the night and following the prayer, everyone simply returns home. We’ve had attendees from as many as nine states attend a past event…Needs are met and prayers are answered at these events. Please plan to attend!

Bind the Strong Man

02-event-bind-strong-manDo 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!