The Northwest Missouri chapter of ASR is expecting great things! We just patched our seventh member of our chapter greenhorn, Jacob Still. We are planning routes for next year’s rides for when ASR comes to Missouri for the national rally.. Our pastor, Joe Jones, has challenged us to be bold .We accept the challenge and in return challenge fellow ASR members to be bold in this motorcycle ministry as well
We enjoyed meeting the ASR members in Tennessee. You all have been a blessing to us. We are super excited for ya’ll to come to Cameron, Mo next year. God is great and greatly to be praised.
Jeremy Borchardt NWMO ASR Pres
Letters from our Chapter Presidents
Azusa StreetRiders Ashland KY Chapter had our first big event/outing this month. Every year, “Rally on the River” takes place in Ironton, OH and we participate. ASR members came in from Ashtabula (OH) Chapter to just help introduce ASR and reach out to the surrounding biker community. At first things were kind of slow; not many people and new form of outreach for us. The biker world is different than your everyday outreach. A lot involves respect and no one knew who we were. So we rekindled previous contacts with a Trinitarian based motorcycle club and set up a prayer one day that brought all the Christian groups together. After that things changed. Doors opened and we made great contacts with people in the clubs, Christian and secular. Needless to say, we were wondering how the 1% clubs saw us. As some of you know, it can sometimes be touchy with these guys due to patches. As the weekend progressed, we soon found out what we’d been wondering. While conversing with others, a biker from one of the clubs came up and introduced himself. He told us, “We are good,” somewhat of a relief to get that approval. Now we can “talk Jesus” with these guys. They now know we are and that we’re here to help.
The most important and glorious thing to happen involved a young couple we made contact with. The woman is in a Trinitarian ministry. They help operate a motorcycle shop that stays open 24 hours for the Rally. We made stops there going in and out of town every chance we got. We even had a couple of our members get their bikes worked on. They really clicked with the group and they had some questions about God. So every chance around them, we just loved them and talked. Yes it’s that simple! We just simply talked to them about where God brought us from. They told us Saturday night they wanted to come to church. This was great but what happened that Sunday was life-changing. The woman already had been baptized in Jesus’ name and filled with the Holy Ghost. The guy was curious so Sunday, in the middle of worshipping, he decided to get baptized and God filled him with the Holy Ghost! To God be the glory! It was all worth it and we can’t wait for our next outing.
We’d like to thank all ASR members that came and helped us in outreach and those that kept us in prayers! God bless everyone and ride safe.
Partakers – Part II
In the last video, Partakers – Part I, we looked at scripture to see what godly things we partake in. In this video, we will entertain the question, “Is it possible that we can partake in things that are not godly?”
Who Are The Azusa StreetRiders? Answer to an Email
A thought occurred to me this morning, July 22, 2015, that I thought I’d share this month…
Many people have heard the name “Azusa StreetRiders” and know that it’s a motorcycle ministry, some even know we’re an Apostolic motorcycle ministry. But who are the Azusa StreetRiders? Pastor, what do you know about us? Apostolic motorcycle rider, what do you know about us?
In response to an email received on July 22, 2015, I attempted to answer this underlying question received with the subject title “Just Want To Know.” I have modified the email below to only correct punctuation, spelling and grammar and to hide the identity of the individual who sent it. My response is nearly verbatim as to what I sent to him. As of this writing, I have not heard back.
Hopefully this email and its response will address some concerns others may have about “Who Are The Azusa StreetRiders?”
Sincerely,
Fred B. Beall, Azusa StreetRiders
The Oneness Apostolic Motorcycle Ministry of Jesus Christ
_______________________________________________________________________
Sent from my iPad. I would like to know if your colors are copyrighted?
You see I’m a believer. There’s only one God, one Faith and one Baptism. And I do believe in Acts 2:38. And I have been baptized received the Holy Ghost and I do speak in other tongues.
But our church is having some problems and my pastor, well, I should just say pray for him. I told him I would like to ride with your colors but never heard anything and that was two years ago.
The reason I ask about your colors is that our church started in Southern California in the early 1930s following the Azusa Street Revival. And, well you know the rest. God just moved in a mighty way and now we preach all over the world and God is moving in a mighty way.
We’re in End Times my Brother. Maybe I’ll just design my own patch and put “Apostolic Rider for Jesus” on it if you don’t let me patch over [join Azusa StreetRiders]. See, I go where you guys don’t go; to bars, to 1% parties, etc. I just hang out where I used to. Isn’t that what Jesus said? “Go and preach my word.”
See most of you that are saved, you got in your comfort zone and don’t have that drive anymore. You forgot where God brought some of you from. Sorry but that’s the way it is. If you boys need someone in California, fast, pray and leave it to God. He’s always been there. Regardless, I’m going to my Master.
David
_______________________________________________________________________
Hello Bro. David:
Greetings In Jesus’ Name! With interest, I read your message and inquiry above. Thank you for taking time to ask questions and share your thoughts.
Our colors are not copyrighted although several people have suggested that we do so. With the cost of design, set up, and embroidery, it is unlikely that someone would go to the trouble and expense of duplicating our backpatch. Should that happen, we would address it at that time and legal precedent is on our side to protect our colors. But seriously, this is of no concern.
From what you say, and assuming you are a faithful member of your church, you are definitely a candidate for membership in Azusa StreetRiders. All that would be required is the application completion and approval of your pastor. But, as you say, your pastor never responded to your inquiry about joining us. Please don’t be offended, but could it be, that you are not a “faithful” member of the church?
Over the years, we have had many, what I call, “rogue” Apostolic bikers try to join us. Some were successful, but most were not because of the insistence on a pastor’s approval to join ASR. By “rogue,” I’m simply referring to someone who has issues with authority and submission, both of which are solid Biblical principles. If someone cannot be faithful to a pastor and his church, can they truly be faithful to the kingdom of God?
As for your pastor, I do pray every day for pastors around the world who preach God’s saving Acts 2:38 message. Hopefully he is in “right standing” with the Lord! I believe that many believing Christians, even many Apostolic pastors, will be surprised on Judgment Day just as they were in Matthew 7:21-23. Not knowing him, we will pray for him and other pastors, that God would give them clear direction in these end times!
2 Corinthians 6:17 says, “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing ; and I will receive you.” This Scripture, along with many other supportive Scriptures, is the basis for our outreach efforts. Also, Romans 14:16, “Let not then your good be evil spoken of.” These scriptures should not, and do not for Azusa StreetRiders, negate Luke 14:23 where Jesus said, “And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.”
As believing and faithful Apostolics, we must wisely balance our efforts to reach the lost. We believe this is done with the approval of and under the watchful eye of our pastors. If we have truly submitted to him, he should know us well enough to know whether or not we are capable of stepping into the world to “bring them out” or if we would be drawn back into the world. Highways and hedges ministry, true outreach into the anti-Christian cultures of the world, is not for everyone! I would like to think that every member of Azusa StreetRiders is capable of doing so, but, realistically, I know this is not true.
Hanging out in the bars and at the 1%ers’ parties, to us, runs contrary to the two scriptures cited above. Saying that, we try very hard to interact with 1%ers and others who are lost at any opportunity made available to us. We are a ministry, not a club. We try to avoid the club mentality. Yet, we do things that would surprise many Apostolics. For example, in my hometown of Myrtle Beach, SC, we have cosponsored a couple of events with the Hells Angels. This opened the door for me to teach a Bible study to the local chapter president and for several years, we were able to take his two boys to our church for Sunday school. Although not in church, he is a good friend today.
My suggestion—again, it’s up to the individual’s pastor—is to attend every function sponsored by any of the bike clubs or ministries. In doing so, however, I also suggest that we do not “enter” the bars, but rather stand outside and witness! This is especially effective for us during poker runs.
By using this approach, I have been told by 1%ers on several occasions and have had other club members tell me that there is a different, higher level of respect given to Azusa StreetRiders because we are not perceived as a “sitting on the fence” ministry. Other ASR members have had similar statements made to them for approaching outreach in this manner.
Having said all of this, please do not take my statements as condemnation for what you are doing. For us, this approach has proven not only to be successful, but to be acceptable to our Apostolic non-biking brethren…our “good” is not mistaken for “evil.”
The term “comfort zone” to you seems to mean “going places where church-going Christians do not typically go.” Food for thought… Could it be that your “comfort zone” is in the bars and with the 1%ers and hanging out at church is OUTSIDE of your “comfort zone?” Don’t be misled into thinking that you can only reach those you are trying to reach by being just like them! Read Romans 12:2.
Hopefully this email will give you clarity as to the Azusa StreetRiders approach to outreach. Remember, the last part of Luke 14:23 says, “…and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.” Jesus didn’t say “compel them to sit on barstools and have church.” Our goal is to “fill his house.”
If after reading this you have more questions about Azusa StreetRiders, please let me know and I will try to respond or have a conversation with you at any available time. If you desire to join us based on our outreach model cited above, I suggest you fast and pray about it and if God directs you, download our application, fill it out completely, take it to your pastor and have a serious conversation with him about your walk with God, have him sign it, and mail it to us. We will welcome you with open arms and put you to work with Azusa StreetRiders for His Kingdom!
May God bless you, my friend! We are all on the same team. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
In His Service,
Fred Beall
Sent from my iPhone
2015 Azusa StreetRiders National Rally
To All Azusa StreetRiders and Friends of Azusa StreetRiders:
Greetings in the Name of Jesus!
We’re about a month away from our 5th Annual Azusa StreetRiders International Rally to be held this year in Maryville, Tennessee at First Apostolic Church (Pastor Kenneth Carpenter, ALJC General Superintendent). You will not want to miss it!
Each day will be filled will beautiful rides through the mountains of Tennessee and awesome times of fellowship. Then, to top off the day, we’ll have a great time in the Lord with preaching from Bro. David K. Bernard, the General Superintendent of the UPCI.
We have something new and exciting starting this year at our annual business meeting; a time of recognition for our members. Achievement awards will be presented and I will be explaining how your chapter could earn the very first Azusa StreetRiders’ CHAPTER OF THE YEAR AWARD to be presented at the 2016 International Rally! This award will be presented annually and will be based on a simple point system that will be fair to all chapters, large or small. All the details will be presented at our business meeting on August 1, 2015. Please plan to be there or at least have a representative from your chapter present if you can’t make it.
Don’t miss the awesome time of renewal at the Rally! Each year we are greatly blessed by this event. You can be sure that the Lord will be there with us, so if you can only make one trip this year, this is it! Remember, in addition to our Rally, the area is great for a family vacation…Pigeon Forge, TN (Dollywood) is only about an hour away and Gatlinburg, TN is not much further.
God Bless you all for your hard word. We appreciate each all your efforts!
Hope to see you in Tennessee!!!
Rev. Anthony Storey
ASR National Vice President
RIDE FOR THE RANCH 2015
Greetings to you fellow Azusa Streetriders, family members and friends!
“Ride for the Ranch” turned out to be a great benefit ride for the Lighthouse Ranch for Boys in Loranger, Louisiana. In addition to the 70± mile road trip in the country, we had wonderful fellowship and plenty of jambalaya—thanks to Branden Naquin and fellow ASR member Tim Snyder. Pastor Randy Hennigan from the Kenner, Louisiana provided anointed music and a motorcycle “beauty” contest was held and judged by the boys at the Ranch. We also were blessed with a motorcycle skills demonstration by Toby Phillips and his wife from Georgia along with ASR member Steve Amason. Toby and his wife traveled approximately 500 miles to donate their time for this benefit! Thank you Toby and Christy for the great sacrifice and distance you drove to instruct us on motorcycle skills and safety.
Bro. Danny Smith, the director of Lighthouse Ranch for Boys, was able to share the history, present day needs and his burden for the Ranch. Many thanks to Bro. Smith, his staff and the Boys who reside at the Ranch for allowing us to make this event possible. Many bikers attended the Ride for the Ranch fundraiser including the CMA members from Baton Rouge, LA and Slidell, LA. Thank you Southeastern ASR chapter, out of state ASR members and friends for all of your efforts to make this a success! ASR members from Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi and Alabama rode in to support this great event, including Bro. Todd Story, ASR National Vice President, and Bro. Robert Thompson, ASR National Secretary.
Again, I extend my gratitude to you all, but most importantly thanks to our Lord Jesus Christ for a safe and prosperous event! Looking forward to next year!
Rev Ed Sears
Azusa Streetriders
Louisiana District Coordinator
Slaying the Dragon mountain riding 101
Lines through a corner
Compared to roads in a flat country, roads in mountain areas have far more corners, and those corners are often really tight.
Start in the outside
Very important in the mountains is the line you ride through a corner. Always start at the outside: in a corner to the left you start at the right side, and in a corner to the right you start left.
If the road is narrow, you can even use the part of the road for oncoming traffic. The advantage is that you will see oncoming traffic earlier than when you stay inside the corner.
Look through the corner
Hold on to the outside line for a long time. There will be a moment when you can look through the rest of the corner in one straight line. That’s the point where you turn in for the second time, and then ride along that straight line. That will be the only time that you touch the inside line through the corner.
Try not to reach the lane for oncoming traffic, in a left turn. In that case there will be space if you need more space, and at the same time you train yourself riding tight corners.
And in a blind corner, you should not only expect cars or trucks, but also all types of animals one would expect in the mountains.
On really narrow roads with hairpins, don’t begin on the lane for oncoming traffic: in that case, there might be not enough time to get back to the right side of the road when a local arrives from the other side.
Try to keep your head inside your own lane as well, in corners to the left or to the right.
Looking ahead
Looking ahead
Before entering a hairpin or switchback, always look up or down, so you know in advance what you will encounter during the turn.
Often, you can see through more than one corner (even when the corner before you itself is blind). The more you try to see what is in front of you on the road, the more you know about the oncoming traffic, and where you can expect them.
Throttle
On the throttle
Always try to keep the throttle open (a bit) during a corner. The corner will certainly be easier that way.
When going up, keep the speed above the minimum that is needed not to stall, because you don’t want to stall in the middle of a hairpin, and squeezing the clutch while going up won’t help either.
If you descend, keeping the throttle open often is difficult, but do try, as it will make life easier.
Stalling
When your motorcycle is going to stall mid-turn, let it stall. *Don’t* pull the clutch: the motorcycle will go backward, down, and you would be pulled along.
To brake
Upward: rear brake
When you ride upwards, you can use the rear brake during turns: that will stabilize the bike, and it allows you to keep the throttle open during the turn.
Downward: front brake
But downward, the rear brake is of no use: the rear wheel almost carries no weight, which means it will stop turning very easily when you apply the rear brake.
If you ride steep downward and you have to brake, use the front brake.
Why no rear brake downward?
If you ride downward, almost all the weight of the bike is on the front wheel. Therefore, it is very easy to lock the rear wheel when you use the rear brake.
In that case, the rear wheel will try to get past the front wheel, which will take you and the bike down.
Try to use the compression of the engine to brake, and when you need more brakes, use the front.
Do not brake while in the turn
If you must brake do your braking before the corner not going into it this will stand your bike upright into the wrong direction you need to be going.
Downward
Preferably with the throttle open!
Riding up is not a problem, most of the time; it is riding downward that is the most difficult.
Try to use the engine brake: shift downward until you have the right speed without the throttle, or with a bit of throttle.
In a turn, open the throttle a bit.
When it is so steep that your speed is too high, even in the first gear, you will have to use the brake as well (the front, that is).
Fear of heights
Look in front of you
Do you have fear of heights, and do you get dizzy when looking down? Then don’t!
Concentrate on the road ahead, and look forward: far, far forward
Stopping and getting away
Upward
If you have to come to a standstill while riding upward, you can keep your foot on the rear brake. Just keep the bike in the first gear, and it’s easy to ride away again.
When the surface of the road is a bit loose, let the clutch go slowly to ride away, You can drag both your feet on the ground for added safety. Once you feel comfortable at that moment, you can open up the throttle a bit, and you let go of the rear brake.
Downward
Downward, you come to a standstill with the front brake. Pulling away is even possible without the engine. Hold your clutch in some while releasing your brake as you are now starting to roll.
Parking
Mind the other traffic
Remember, when you park to enjoy the views, or to take a picture, that you park your motorcycle in a spot where it can be easily seen from both sides.
Sometimes you think to see a spot that is perfectly fit to park, and it happens to be a spot to let cars pass each other on narrow roads. Those spots are there for passing, so don’t use them!
Sloping surface
While parking, you will notice the results of the three dimensions in the mountains: where you would otherwise feel the surface with your foot, there may be nothing… the surface is sometimes further away than you are used to. So look where you stop, and check which foot to use to carry your weight.
Foot on the back brake
If you stop while riding upwards, you should make sure that your right foot can stay on the peg, because you need the back brake in that situation.
Try to park you bike with its front pointing upwards: otherwise, it might ride off the side stand. Also: keep it in first gear.
The side stand
If you have to park with the front of the bike pointing downwards, the bike could fall, even when parked in gear,
because sometimes gravity pulls harder.
And always try to check the situation with respect to riding away again. In principle, it is no big deal when you first have to let the bike go a bit downward, but if you would have to turn it at the same time, getting away could become a bit of a problem.
The weather
Change of weather
You may experience huge changes of temperature when riding upwards or downwards in the mountains. So always carry something warm, and especially something which keeps out the rain as in rain gear.
What is also likely to happen, is that you ride in very bright sun light, and suddenly, after a corner, you enter a thick fog. or dark shadows of the tress.
The weather high in the mountains can change very suddenly, from summer to winter, from thunderstorm to clear skies, from snow to fog to bright clear sun.
So carry a riding jacket and rain gear sunglasses.
Slippery
Above 2000 ft means a chance of slippery roads, or even black ice. When it is raining up on the mountains.
Being polite
Allowing people to pass
When you are experiencing your first mountain ride, your speed will probably be much lower than the speed of people who are used to riding the mountains. Especially people living there will know each corner, and are able to ride certain passes blindfolded.
Don’t be tempted to try to keep in front of them. Try to maintain your own comfort speed, and let people who are faster than you in corners, pass. Move to the right to let them pass you.
So don’t open up the throttle after each corner to make up for a slow corner: on the contrary, use straight stretches to slow down, so people can easily get past you. Ride your own ride.
When you are getting used to mountain riding, and your own speed gets higher, you will notice that some people will let you pass in the same way, and you will be grateful.
So, check your mirrors often!
Oncoming traffic
The same politeness also applies to oncoming traffic. So just try to determine for whom it is most easy to stop (which will often be you, the motorcycle rider).
When you see a Truck, don’t enter a hairpin with the idea that the truck will have to wait because you have as much right on that hairpin as the truck, but find a place to pull aside far right as you can get instead. Because that truck will now take up your lane also on the curves.
Most people who ride and drive in the mountains are very courteous, as you will notice, and it is a pleasant feeling to be one of them.
Badly running engine
Less oxygen
If your motorcycle doesn’t have injection, you may experience a badly running engine at heights. The air becomes thinner, and your bike will receive less oxygen, while the amount of fuel stays the same: so the mix will become too rich.
Some motorcycles will protest. The fuel consumption rises (with a well running engine, fuel consumption will decrease in the mountains), and the engine seems to want to give up.
Air filter
In such a case, don’t fumble with the needles, but, as a temporary measurement, take off the air filter. The amount of air in the mixture will increase, which will compensate a bit for the decreased percentage of oxygen.
Distances
Less miles in a day
When planning your trip, keep in mind that you will cover much smaller distances in the mountains, especially when you go up and down through hairpins. A distance of 50 miles doesn’t mean that you will be there in half an hour!
It applies even more for the distance on the map: on the road, you will cover vertical miles as well.
Also be aware of the fact that gas stations on top of mountain passes are rare. Always make sure you start off your ride with a full take and to top off any chance you get.
Michael Theodore
National Road Captain
Partakers – Part 1
We are partakers of many things in our lives. Let’s look at scriptural examples to determine what things we are called to partake of.
Stayin’ Safe Overcoming the fear of Tar Snakes
Stayin’ Safe
Overcoming the fear of Tar Snakes
Who knew the incidence of ophidiophobia would be so high among motorcyclist? Yet nearly every rider I have known through all my years of riding has expressed a distinct and sometimes paralyzing fear of snakes. Especially black snakes; aka Tar snakes. These species are commonly found stretched across the pavement. Of course almost always on a nice twisty road as you approach the corner or exit it. They are on the back roads and also the supper slab highways. But are these tar snakes in fact a serious threat to riders? The straight answer to that question is….it depends. For the most part, tar snakes on the road is relatively harmless, especially those that are thin,and few in numbers and surrounded by traction-rich pavement. Although you the rider may feel momentary uneasiness as the bike’s tires squirm slightly on the tar strip surface,traction and a more direct feel will quickly return once rubber finds clean pavement. This unfamiliar movement of the motorcycle is generally more disconcerting to you the rider then it is dangerous, provided you remain calm, Granted, tar snakes can become threats in certain conditions. If you see more black tar than tarmac, there will certainly be way less traction avalible. When tar is cold and damp such as in the early morning in spring and fall, it can become hard and slick. In a rain storm it can be very slick. In the hot summer sun can make tar snakes squishy, although they still provide moderate traction. In each of these scenarios, I will say that it is best to stay loose, keep a light touch on the handlebars and look up the road to where you want to go (looking ahead adds a sense of stability). Make subtle steering and throttle inputs, avoid extreme lean angles and just glide though the tar snake. With a little caution and smoothness you can avoid being bitten…and maybe even become an expert snake handler
Michael Theodore
Azusa StreetRiders National Road Captain
Disappointing God
Do you often feel like you have disappointed God? Let’s look into His Word to see if that is possible.