Mike's Travels

Our chairman travles around quite abit, representing the CMA, visiting our branches, etc. What has he been up to lately?

Mike’s Travels 21st January 2012

Following our last Exec meeting Sandy and I attended the wedding of Dan and Tess from the North Cheshire Branch, it was a wonderful day and good to be involved in the lives of the younger adults of CMA. Sid and John Finan are rather good dancers; there maybe a workshop at the next National rally who knows?

Due to the Christmas celebrations my visits are few and far between in December and early January so I spent a great deal of time in my office working through issues, emails and plans for 2012. I fought valiantly against man flu for a couple of days in December and sadly had to cancel a preaching engagement at a Carol Service.

In January I attended the Teesside Christian Charities Forum organised by Albert Dicken at his church in Stockton on Tees, this has become very successful drawing in over 60 charities to share resources, ideas for fund raising and to encourage each other. Where possible I shall attend in the future.

I made a prison visit in Bedfordshire in mid January

I met with the Bedford Branch now headed up by Graham Penfold at Bedford’s Salvation Army Church and gave evangelism training. It was very well received with a good turn out.

I am booked to attend the European CMA Leaders Conference in Germany between the 9-12th March I have been asked to speak on the subject of 'Taking personal responsibility for the Great Commission'.

I have confirmed bookings to see the following branches in early February:
SW London
Thames Valley
Gloucester

I am booked to visit the Northern Ireland Branch 17th-20th February to hold a Regional meeting and preach Sunday morning and evening to support their work.

I am booked to attend the BMF Show in May to assist in the outreach and preach at the Sunday morning service

I gave a presentation of the ministry of CMA at St Marys Church, Scarborough in conjunction with the East Yorkshire Twig, a great event and many good contacts were made. I last preached there 13 years ago.

I continue to work on the National Rally plans with Phil Parker, I have completed the development and printing of 500 rally booking forms which will be posted out shortly.

December 2011

Following our last Exec meeting Sandy and I visited the Towcester Branch, we were very grateful for the hospitality of Malcolm and Fiona. The branch meets at Jacks Hill Café on the A5 near Towcester, the same venue used by the local MAG group. They have made excellent in roads to the local bike community please pray for them as they share the Love of God.

I spoke at a Men’s Dinner meeting at Carlisle Christian Fellowship, the evening went VERY well, thirty men attended many with issues they are struggling to deal with but it was obvious that God was moving amongst us. One leader told me “You will never know the relevance of what you have shared here tonight.” Praise God.

Sandy and I travelled to the Rhondda Valley to visit the South Wales Branch. We had a good meeting and I had the opportunity to present a challenge for their future development, the meeting ended with a time of prayer. We stayed with Debbie who made us very welcome……. What a breakfast!

In November I organised another coach trip to the NEC International Motorcycle Show, it involved 44 not yet Christian Bikers and considering many have biker bibles I was thrilled that nine people asked for them this year. During the show I had the chance to meet various people particularly Sam Manicom the round the world rider that asked me to review his book a year ago. Good to catch up with him.

Sandy and I visited the Devon and Cornwall Branch I gave evangelism training on the Saturday together with a challenging look at the past successes. The response was very positive we all ended the day with a meal in a local pub. Sunday morning we took part in a church service at St Austell where I shared a presentation of CMA and my testimony. We had a wonderful time staying with Tony and Jill.