Issue link: https://cp.revolio.com/i/1463439
Chaplain's Corner Tom & Dee Sanchez BSHDFC National Chaplains Hello and welcome to the first edition of our new feature -The Chaplain's Corner. It is our desire to include a short article each month to help encourage and guide our chapter chaplains and members. This issue will be about the responsibilities of the chapter chaplains. According to our bylaws, the local chaplain responsibilities are as follows: ¿ Gives prayer its proper place in chapter activities ¿ Oversees spiritual care and instruction for the chapter ¿ Contacts or visits the sick and the wounded ¿ Utilizes the spiritual gifts and talents of others ¿ Maintains contact with the national chaplain We will dive further into most of these in the coming months. For now, we want to discuss the first one – "giving prayer its proper place." Prayer is one of the most important spiritual disciplines in the life of a believer. According to BibleHub.com, the word "pray" is found 270 times in the New Testament in various forms. Jesus prayed or taught on prayer often. "He is shown to pray: alone (Mt 14:23)(Mk 1:35)(Lk 9:18)(Lk 22:39-41), in public (Jn 11:41-42)(Jn 12:27- 30), before meals (Mt 26:26)(Mk 8:6)(Lk 24:30)(Jn 6:11), before important decisions (Lk 6:12-13), before healing (Mk 7:34-35), after healing (Lk 5:16), to do the Father's will (Mt 26:36-44), among other things. He also taught on the importance of prayer (Mt 21:22)(Mk 11:24-26)(Mt 7:7-11)(Lk 11:9-13)(Jn 14:13-14)(Jn 15:7,16)(Jn 16:23-24)(Mt 5:44)(Lk 6:27-28)(Mt 6:5-15: including the Lord's Prayer)(Lk 11:2-4)(Mt 18:19-20). " If prayer was this important to Jesus, shouldn't it be important to us as well? As Christians, we are used to praying before meals, praying in the morning, and before going to bed. We pray when we're hurting or when others bring concerns to us. But do we "pray constantly" as Paul instructs us in 1 Thess. 5:17-18? Do we actually pray when someone tells us of a loved one who's hurting or ill? When we say we're going to pray for someone, do we follow through? I want to encourage you to make it a habit to pray, especially when you tell someone you will pray for them. Use your best judgement and let the Holy Spirit be your guide. It may not be the right time or place in the middle of a dealership to stop and pray for someone who just told you their wife was diagnosed with cancer. But, then again, maybe it is. The important thing is to be in a spirit of prayer so that you come to the Father whenever a need presents itself. As Christian bikers, we say to "Pray up before you mount up!" Don't hesitate to pray. Whether it's before a ride or stopping to eat, or whenever the situation dictates. Even if you're the only Black Sheep there, pray. Are there other Christians in attendance? Grab them and say a quick prayer before the ride. Check with whoever's leading the ride. Is there time or a desire to pray over the group before leaving? Again, let God be your guide. Lastly, I'd like to encourage you to gather as Black Sheep and pray. Pray for the ministry. Pray for the National Board, Regional Directors, local leadership, and area contacts. Pray for those that you know are sick or hurting. Pray for the salvation of those you ride with. Pray for favor within HOG chapters and Dealerships. Pray for wisdom. Pray for forgiveness. Pray. Several gather together at the home office to pray on Tuesday mornings. Others gather for a Zoom Prayer meeting every Thursday evening at 5PM Pacific and 8PM Eastern. If these times work for you, join us! We send out the Zoom link info every week. If these times don't work for you, find a time that does and others that will join you, and pray. And let us know. You can reach out to the National Chaplains through our email, Blacksheephdfc.Chaplain@gmail.com or through the home office. Let us know that you're praying and when. This brings us to another of the local chaplain responsibilities: Maintain contact with the National Chaplains. We want to connect with you! If you are serving as a local chaplain, an area contact, or just want to be on our prayer distribution list, please send us an email with your name, chapter or area, email, and phone number. Then, we can add you to our list as we hope to provide encouragement weekly through the prayer lists. b