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.”
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.