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April HeartBeat

By HOLLY Ogden

October , we have the amazing blessing of hosting our CMA International family on Iron Mountain at the Leadership Conference and at the Changing of the Colors Rally . Many of them will be staying in tents on Iron Mountain and will have the opportunity to experience firsthand the love and encouragement of our CMA USA members . As we make our plans , if your chapter or state would like to host a nation to camp with you this October , let us know ! If you are coming in an RV and have an extra bunk or two , let us know ! If you have a home relatively close to Iron Mountain and would like to open your doors , let us know ! For many of these members , it will be their first time in the USA , and for others , it will be their first time being introduced to the big family of CMA . We are anticipating around 300 international guests and cannot wait for the opportunity to worship together as one big family . Email us at cmai @ cmausa . org with your information if you are interested in helping .

As we look to our CMA International family for updates on CMA in their nations , we are starting with CMA Germany , which was birthed in 2002 . When I asked Hans-Jürgen Neuschäfer , the President of CMA Germany since 2012 , how he became involved in CMA , he shared a testimony that speaks volumes to why we do what we do . Here is what he had to say :

“ When I came to CMA in 2005 , it was a situation that had not been

planned beforehand . For about 10 years , I had already planned and carried out various motorcycle services for my congregation , but as is usually the case in congregational circles , the visitors were mostly guests from the congregation or extended circle of friends . But since we also had a Harley rally about 45 km away every year , which was large by our standards , with over 30,000 visitors , I felt the need to use the invitation flyers to invite people to our service .

I remember it like it was yesterday . I set off in the morning with my Honda and a tank bag full of flyers to hand out at the entrance to this Harley meeting . There was a huge rush of visitors when I finally found a parking space for my bike and set off with my flyers . I looked for a good spot where all visitors had to pass and stood with my back against a wooden wall . I can still see myself standing there today , holding the stack of flyers in my hand with tears running from my eyes .

I saw many , many people . I saw their lost hearts . I felt their hopelessness and longing for a weekend full of fun . I felt my inability to even speak to them . This situation and my powerlessness to say or do anything simply robbed me of my ability to act .

I stood there full of tears ; on the one hand , I was embarrassed , but I just started praying very quietly to myself ; I don ’ t remember the exact wording , but I needed a way , a means , a solution to get in touch with these people . I couldn ’ t go back like that ; it just wasn ’ t possible .

I have no idea how long I had stood there and how many people had to pass me , but my eyes fell on two bikers who were wearing jackets with crosses on them . I hadn ’ t paid any attention to the text at first . I just ran up to them and simply said , “ I need you .” That weekend , I found out what CMA means and that CMA did exist in Germany , but that it had been decided that the event on that weekend would be the last one and that CMA would then end for Germany . That couldn ’ t be true ! I had now found access to the people that God had put on my heart , and now it was all over again ?

This experience was so formative for me that there was no question about how I should deal with it . It was so clear what God wanted from me . I was able to become a member of CMA that same summer and then set up a chapter in the following years . For me , it has been a clear calling ever since .”

There is no doubt that God caused the CMA members of Germany to cross paths with Hans- Jürgen that summer of 2005 . We are thankful that CMA Germany did not give in to discouragement and close at that rally . God had birthed CMA in Germany on purpose and for a purpose . Sometimes , it is easy to get caught up in our circumstances and the struggles we face , deciding that it is time to give up and find an easier path . But we are called to live according to heavenly principles , and not our own earthly wisdom . In Romans 12:2 ( NLT ), Paul states , “ Don ’ t copy the behavior and