TESTIMONIES
TESTIMONIES
10βͺDECEMBER 2023βͺshop . cmausa . org
By MICHAEL McClain & CARL Ford
48TH ANNUAL ABATE NATIONAL
MOTORCYCLE RALLY I prepared for this year β s
AS ABATE Rally meeting , I was much more relaxed , and my soul was at ease knowing that God had it under control . However , satan kept placing challenges in front of me , and I must admit , I didn β t always respond well . I finally realized that God was preparing me for the challenges to come at the rally .
This year was different from other years . We had more personal contact and interactions with folks who hadn β t cared for our CMA presence in previous years . Before the rally kicked off , I was given the contact numbers of state ABATE Officers ; I truly believe God softened their hearts and showed them that CMA was there to love and help them . The vendor coordinator gave me her personal testimony and life story of how God was why she was alive and living a much healthier lifestyle . I know that all of the CMA folks from past years paved the way for us at this rally , which is why we have developed such a good relationship with them .
We knew from an ABATE planning meeting that they would be moving our CMA hospitality tent to a new location . We couldn β t foresee how God was working behind the scenes , using this move to give us more visibility to more people , which meant more souls would be touched . Our new spot placed us right up in front of the midway strip and across from their main stage entrance .
We had several opportunities to minister to folks and provide them with a tract / Bible . We started serving coffee and water on Thursday at 5 a . m . and poured our last cup at 9:30 a . m . on Monday . We estimate that we served 1,000 cups of coffee , 20 gallons of lemonade , 10 gallons of tea , and countless gallons of ice water . Our hospitality tent is manned 24 hours a day throughout that time . It provides a place where people can chat and get a cup of coffee , ask for prayers for physical and spiritual needs , or receive a safe place to shelter when they feel threatened . There were several opportunities for bike blessings and personal prayers , and the team handling the hospitality tent took good care of all that came to it .
It takes many hands to run the hospitality tent and keep it stocked . People behind the scenes roll rag tracts , keep supplies stocked , and feed the willing workers . This year , we distributed 550 rag tracts , 200 coin tracts , 72 kickstand coasters , 1 case of God β s Promises , and 1 case of Hope for the Highway Bibles . I know we might never see the fruits of our labor , but it is a blessing to serve and feel welcomed by so many . Every year , we have opportunities to witness to people at the ABATE rally , and through some of those brief encounters , we get the chance to
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