CMA HeartBeat April 2024 | Page 20

By STEPHANIE Carter

20⎪APRIL 2024⎪www . cmausa . org

March , and April of last year , our chapter , Greenville Gospel Riders out of Greenville , South Carolina , had the privilege of setting up our CMA tent / booth at two GNCC Races and two Mideast Hare Scrambles that occurred in our area . During these events , we could go out on the starting line at the beginning of each race and pray with the riders . We also provided water , coffee , and hot chocolate at our booth for the racers , their families , and spectators .

In one event , a young boy , around ten , came up to our booth and asked for prayers for his cousin . His cousin was diagnosed with leukemia in 2022 and wasn ’ t doing well . He also stated that he was racing in one of the afternoon races . One of our members smiled and said , “ Yes , we will be happy to pray for your cousin . We will also pray for God ’ s protection over you during your upcoming race .” The boy smiled back and said , “ Thank you , but I ’ m more concerned about my cousin .” A few of our members gathered around the young boy and his father , and we prayed for this young girl who was battling leukemia . Of course , we prayed for his safety while he prepared for his race . After the prayer , I found myself staring at this boy in awe . He was not worried about himself

at all . His concern was his cousin . “ Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit , but in humility count others more significant than yourselves . Let each of you look not only to his own interests , but also to the interests of others ” Philippians 2:3-4 , ESV ).

Each event had its memorable moments , whether it was a conversation we had with an individual , the people we met , severe storms , being covered in mud , or sleeping in a tent during high winds . The moment that personally meant the most to me was during the last Mideast Hare Scramble . The Hare Scramble was held in Fountain Inn , South Carolina . The place was a muddy mess due to heavy rain the previous day . It called for more rain that evening , and only one race was left for the day . The race was the adult side-by-side group , with only about seven entries . I volunteered to go to the starting line and pray with the racers while the guys stayed back and started packing our ministry items before the rain began .

I filled my pockets with bike blessing stickers and headed to the starting line . I had amazing conversations with each of the racers and their families / friends who were there with them . I prayed for their safety and the personal prayer requests they had . I made my way

over to the last side-by-side . The gentleman racing this machine was sitting in the driver ’ s seat and was surrounded by his family . I began conversing with him and asked if I could pray over him for his safety . I also asked if there was anything else I could pray for . I was not prepared for what happened next . He smiled at me and said , “ I am losing my fight with prostate cancer . My body quit responding to the chemo , and the cancer has spread . Surgery to remove the cancer is not an option . I would love for you to pray for my family . Pray that God comforts them during my final days and continues to for the days and years after I ’ m gone . Pray that He gives them peace because I am at peace .”

As tears were running down my face , I prayed for him and his family . After praying , I said , “ You mentioned you were at peace . Do you have a relationship with Jesus ?” The gentleman replied with , “ YES !” He said while at a race earlier in the year , a CMA member at the event walked him through the plan of salvation soon after getting the news from his doctor . It was that day that he accepted Jesus into his heart . He stated that afterward , he felt peace , and his attitude towards dying changed . We wrapped up our conversation as the race was set to begin .