TOM Palazzolo
THERE have been many jokes about leaving 2020 behind and a certain optimism that 2021 has to be better . As I write this several months in advance of publication , the future is unknown . We may or may not be able to get together by the time you read this .
We held our chapters together through 2020 when so many of our events were canceled . However , no matter how the world changes around us , the ministry God has called us to never changes . People still need the Lord and God has called us to go into the highways and byways to share the Good News .
No matter what is going on in the world , the four elements of a healthy chapter remain the same : Prayer , Fellowship , Evangelism , and Discipleship .
Prayer is the foundation . Whether we ’ re able to gather or not , we can be praying for our chapters , our members , and the future of our chapters . We can be praying for these divine appointments God still wants us to meet , and we can be praying for opportunities in unexpected places . We always need to be praying for our nation and for those who have lost so much in this pandemic .
Fellowship might just mean making phone calls to check on folks . Make some phone calls and talk about rides and events you hope to make this year . Talk about previous rides and what you can do to improve your chapter this year .
Evangelism : I know we love to go on group rides and attend rallies , but the truth is , the disciples went out alone or in pairs . You don ’ t need a whole chapter ride to be a light in the darkness . Grab a buddy and go for a ride anyway and look for those opportunities to share your faith .
Discipleship is another thing you can do even if we aren ’ t free to
meet together in big groups . It only takes two to form a bond of mentorship . Proverbs 27:17 ( NLT ) tells us “ As iron sharpens iron , so a friend sharpens a friend .”
It is my sincere hope that we are coming out of this challenging season , and my prayer has been that you will remain strong through these challenges . Our calling has not changed , just how we fulfill it .
CMA 06⎪January 2021⎪shop . cmausa . org