CHAPTER HEALTH |
By DOUG South |
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WHO HAS GOD CALLED ME TO SERVE WITH
I reflect on my life in CMA
AS and all the places and events God has called me to go to or to serve at, all the rides, rallies, camps, prayers, fellowships, basically now even my job as the National Evangelist for the West Region, one thing is true, without the members or chapters, none of it would be as fun, rewarding, or complete. Most of my favorite memories in CMA were with chapter members, specifically the chapters I was closely a part of, the chapters I belonged to, and the chapters I lived life with. This really hit home this Run for the Son Saturday. Terri and I were home for RFS this particular year, and we decided to spend it with our closest chapter, the Heaven Bound Riders, in Eugene, Oregon. They are only about 65 miles from us. This chapter is close to us in many ways; in fact, it consists of members I have known for decades, as well as multiple members of my old chapter, the Mid Coast Soldiers. We rode with them for their RFS ride this year, had great fellowship at a restaurant for lunch, and even stopped at our house for a fellowship ice cream time. We talked about old times and what was coming up in the future for events, etc., and what I realized as I thought about the day ' s events was that I missed the close fellowship of a group of people serving and ministering together. I missed really living life together, meetings, riding, helping others, praying for
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one another, waiting on the Lord for direction, going to secular rallies and camping, laughing, and loving each other and those we were serving. Now, don ' t get me wrong, as a National Evangelist, I have even more people to care about and to care about me, but I don ' t get the closeness of daily life with the small chapter of people God had put me in during that time.
Where am I going with this? We can become complacent in our relationships with those in our chapters. We can forget just how good it is to have such a tight group of Christians with the same servant-hearted attitude towards the world. We can miss just how much of a blessing it is to be part of a chapter. As I spent that day with the chapter, all the stories and memories came flooding back. I remember how much we all had done together, all the people we had served together, and all the care we had for one another. There are so many memories of fun and adventure, joy and sorrow, and people who came and left. We need to cherish our brothers and sisters in our chapters.
We need not take for granted the love and friendships we have. Sure, they are diverse, and may I say, sometimes a strange group of people God puts together for His purposes. But I really believe that God has a purpose for some of our differences or the quirkiness of some. Maybe we are put together to grow, grow in grace, love, and appreciation, and learn how not to divide, but to come together in
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unity.
Luke 11:17b( NLT) states,“ Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A family splintered by feuding will fall apart.”
We need to put away legalism, watch our tendency to judge and learn to appreciate the hearts and talents of each person we have the privilege of doing life with. When you no longer have this, you realize it was way more of a blessing than you thought at the time.
Terri and I are so thankful for what God has orchestrated in the ministry of CMA. We are grateful He has allowed us the honor of serving alongside one of the greatest evangelistic and servant-oriented groups of all time. Keep loving, serving, and reaching the world with the Good News as fast as you can. Jesus is coming soon. We love you!
“ Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you”( 2 Corinthians 13:11, NLT). CMA
Doug and Terri South oversee the West Region as National Evangelist.
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cmausa. org
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