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20
May HeartBeat
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By HOLLY Ogden
MY journey with CMA began in 1999. There was a motorcycle show in the local mall, and having purchased my first motorcycle, my dad convinced me to display my bike in the show. After we placed my motorcycle, he took me to the CMA booth and said,“ You need to meet these guys. I’ ve come across them on my trips in the past, and they are good guys.” We approached their table, and I was happy that my dad was with me because it was intimidating to talk with strangers at that time in my life. My dad initiated the conversation and let them know about my new motorcycle. They invited me to their Seasons of Refreshing event that would take place in a few weeks and gave me some material about CMA. Little did I know that by accepting that one invitation, my life would radically detour from the plans I had made for myself. In Jeremiah 29:11( NLT), God says,“‘ For I know
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the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord.‘ They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’” Why did I join CMA? Because someone invited me, then they invested in me and loved me. It was that love that opened the door for me to know the true love of God and to have the opportunity to surrender myself to Him. Those CMA members didn’ t look at me and say I was too young, too inexperienced, and not spiritual enough. They saw me as someone God loved and extended that love to me, making a place for me. They embodied the invitation of:“ Come ride with us.”
This same invitation has been changing the lives of men and women around the world for the last 50 years. This is part of the DNA of CMA. We are an organization that invites people to join us on our journey, to experience the family and love of God through local connections, and to take up
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the mantle of the Great Commission. We were never meant to walk alone. Throughout the New Testament, we are reminded of how we are connected to the body, how our actions affect other parts, and how we bring glory to God as we learn how to work together in our service. Ephesians 4:16( NLT) states it this way,“ He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.” I am thankful for the vision and mission of CMA, which provides a place to grow spiritually, to learn how to minister, and apply the lessons as we go out to the mission field God has placed before us.
In querying our CMA International leaders on why they joined CMA, here are a few of the responses I received:
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