We’re NOT A Motorcycle Club, We’re A Ministry!

From Day One, Azusa StreetRiders’ main goal, its objective, its focus has been to reach the lost. Twenty years ago (October 1999) we held our first event — a Revival during Fall Bike Week in Myrtle Beach, SC (USA). With food as the attraction (our famous “Bike Week Bar-B-Que”), we set up a tent to allow our Pastor (Rev. Ben Cooke, First UPC Conway, SC) to preach to bikers who — for whatever reasons — did not attend churches (1 Corinthians 1:18).

Growth during the ensuing years has brought about many challenges, foremost of which has been to keep the focus. Nearly every opportunity Diane and I have had to address a group about ASR, we’ve made the statement, “We’re not a motorcycle club, we’re a ministry!”

During our formative years, we had to pound this thought into countless hearts, many of whom were pastors. Bikers were generally viewed as “rebellious” and we were not different in their eyes. A well-known organizational leader in one state publicly stated that we were nothing more than “Thugs for Jesus” and advised pastors in his district to not allow their church members/bikers to join ASR. The “Easy Rider” image of bikers was a strong barrier to overcome in Oneness Apostolic circles. Despite the fact that nearly 700 Trinitarian motorcycle ministries and clubs had been identified, we struggled to gain “acceptance” among those we looked to for spiritual and biblical guidance.

With God’s help, we’ve come a long way! Rev. Paul D. Mooney (Assistant UPCI General Superintendent for Eastern Zone) paved the way for us by not only preaching at our First Annual National Rally (2012), but he and Sis. Mooney stayed with us and participated in all of the events at “The Hub” in Marble Hills, AR, a motorcycle resort! After heading up ASR for its first 16 years, Diane and I stepped down in 2015 with our Azusa StreetRiders National Rally services being held in the church pastored by the ALJC General Superintendent (Rev. Kenneth Carpenter) featuring the ASR guest speaker, Dr. David Bernard (UPCI General Superintendent). Again, we’ve come a long way! Thank you Jesus!

Although not formally “endorsed” by either of these organizations, worldwide leaders from these and other Oneness Apostolic organizations have blessed us with messages at our Azusa StreetRiders’ National Rallies and our biker-ministry efforts have become well known. And this “unofficial” support is still evident today as mentioned in October’s RUMBLINGS Newsletter where Bro. Michael Theodore (ASR National Road Captain) reported that Rev. Bruce Howell (UPCI’s Director of Global Missions) brought several missionaries to the ASR booth at UPCI General Conference just to say, “Thank you for what you do!” To date, we’ve provided funding for about 65 motorcycles to missionaries on foreign fields (anywhere other than the US or Canada) who preach the Oneness Gospel Message.

As with organizations of any size, we’ve had individuals who’ve let their personal agendas try to overtake our original organizational focus, but God has protected us! Sure, we’ve had our ups-and-downs, but what ministry hasn’t? And we’ve certainly made mistakes that we wish we could undo! We’re a collection of imperfect servants who ultimately want the best for the Kingdom! Our tools are simple — bikes, backpatches and tracks — but our testimonies are our most powerful tool! (Revelation 12:11)

Looking back over the past five years without our full-time input into Azusa StreetRiders’ organizational and ministry efforts, Diane and I have watched in awe at God’s leading hand at work. ASR’s leadership is in constant prayer for His input and direction and we’re greatly encouraged — all is well! We believe ASR as an organization has turned the corner and has a renewed and stronger-than-ever focus on ministry and outreach with a desire to let God lead us where He may! Both individual and organizational ministries continue to develop and excitement-to-serve is evident.

We encourage every member of Azusa StreetRiders, whether you are part of a chapter or are a lone voice in the motorcycle-world-wilderness, to be humble and witness. Help your pastor build a bigger, stronger and community-influential church based on Truth where souls can be saved and nurtured. Witness to all that will listen. Use your personal influence wherever possible and most of all be bold for Christ remembering His words to the Disciples in Mark 16:15-18.

With all of this being said, Pastor Doug Joseph (ASR Clarksburg, WV) and I have agreed to revise “The Book of Salvation” to hopefully make it more impactful and helpful in our outreach efforts. In doing so, we plan to include personal testimonies of ASR members and how they came to the Lord. Each testimony will be limited to about 500 words and would include a photograph (preferably on a bike and “before” and “after” photos would be considered for publication). Anyone who is interested — and we encourage all to participate — please send your testimony to me at Fred.Beall@AzusaStreetRiders.com with the subject title “Testimony of ___________” (your name in the blank). We may take some literary license to help convey the testimony’s impact, but we’ll be careful not to discount or modify the power of your words. So, even if you don’t consider yourself a “writer,” please put your testimony on paper and we’ll go to work to help make the “Revised Book of Salvation” more helpful in your outreach, soul-winning efforts.

In His Service,
Fred Beall, Azusa StreetRiders

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!

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

photoEvents 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.”