CMA HeartBeat August 2020 | Page 23

Testimonies By DAVID Mancuso LIFE IS NOT A BEACH 1978 I loved riding my Suzuki IN 125, especially near the Newport Beach, California area. Two years later I was born again by faith in the finished work and blood of Jesus Christ. It would be almost another 40 years before I would own another motorcycle. I relocated to Utah and was praying for a new opportunity to serve the community and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I hadn’t considered riding a motorcycle in L.A. because traffic is so congested, and I didn’t have the guts for constant lane splitting. In Utah, there are many riders all summer long enjoying the canyons and loop rides in the valley. I started researching motorcycle clubs and the Lord led me to the CMA website. I started the process of vetting the CMA ministry for credibility and its reputation for service to the community. I was at the Harley Davidson (HD) dealership signing up for the riding academy; I wanted to take a riding class and see if riding a motorcycle at age 57 was something that I still had the aptitude for. While I was at the dealership, I used that opportunity to see if I could get a reaction or any intel on CMA. Their reaction was exactly what I needed for confirmation that I was on the right track. When I mentioned CMA as a potential club, the sales rep said, “Those guys are awesome and a big help at motorcycle events,” which is all I needed to hear from an objective person. I went home and found the nearest CMA chapter, so I could attend a meeting and complete the vetting process before making a commitment. The meeting was wonderful, and the Provo chapter was warm, friendly, focused on sharing the Gospel, and serving the community. I loved it that the members were sharing the Gospel with the waitress and other people tending to our needs at the restaurant where our meeting was being held. You can tell a lot about people in how they treat others that are performing service for them; the person that treats the waitress well normally will treat most people with respect. I went home that night and started the membership process, which was educational and increased my self-awareness concerning the ministry and responsibilities for being a Christian in CMA. Riding my motorcycle is awesome, and I enjoy practicing and perfecting my riding skills, but serving the community and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the ministry of CMA is an amazing opportunity for making an investment for eternity. I love the excitement and appreciation from the precious souls I have the privilege of serving through the CMA ministry; the people that I pray with receive a witness-angel or a warm hug. They are infected with the love of Jesus forever. These opportunities for service are the gateway for the Gospel to be shared and the transformation of a hell bound sinner into a blood bought saint. These opportunities for service, whether it be serving lunch at a retirement home, volunteering at a food bank, or storing gear at a motorcycle event are all gateways for the love of Jesus Christ to reach souls. The process of conversion often begins with His love. These are opportunities for service that need to be treasured as eternal transactions that will result in eternal gratitude from the beneficiaries of His grace and mercy. If I can be a conduit for His love, which results in salvation, my life will count for something greater than myself, and reap eternal rewards from my blessed Savior. Riding my bike at the beach as a teenager was very cool, but serving my savior in CMA is a culmination of divine guidance, an opportunity to fulfil the Great Commission, and invest my time, talents, and resources for an eternal purpose. CMA David Mancuso is a member of King’s Crusaders #509, Provo, Utah. 23⎪AUGUST 2020⎪www.cmausa.org