To the Stonegator Blog, where you will find ride information as well as general communication between fellow riders.

If you were not able to make it to the “Open Forum” meeting here is an over-view.
The back room of Michaels was packed. I’m estimating about 40 people.
After a little fellowship and eating Bob Bowling opened the meeting stating that we are going to have these open forum meetings quarterly. Then he gave a short history of the Stonegators. Then proceeded in explaining the vision he and the rest of us have for the club, for the near and distant future. And that vision is that while the ‘gators will always be a fun riding club, we need to also be a group that carries the gospel of Christ to other bikers. With the Stonegate Bikers Club being the largest Adult ministry in our church, with 189 members, we have the opportunity and recourses to reach people in the name of Jesus.

After explaining this Bob opened it up to anyone that had any ideas. And these were the following.

1. Bob Bowling–The Stonegators are now on a schedule to help serve and clean up at the Breaking Bread Kitchen. Our day to serve is the Fourth Thursday of every month.

2. Russell Lloyd–Use Affordable Leather location, cook and serve breakfast burritos to ALL bikers. Not to preach to bikers, but to serve and just get to know, and them to know us. With saturated promotion the possibility of having 200-300 bikers show up is likely.

3. Leon Reed–Have another Biker Maintenance Day. Leon explained that a anonymous donor has donated an air lift. So now we have 2 air lifts, and 2 manual jacks. And let me interject that all the Biker Days in the past have been a “huge” success. Work on your bike. Then a Cookout. But the fellowship during those times is awesome, because your not riding. You actually can have a conversation. The last Biker Day resulted in (can’t remember exactly) around 50 people participating.

4. D.J. Holster–Had the idea of having a seperate contact list for volunteers, that can be called on, to help another gator in anyway. Break downs, witnessing to others, etc…Basically just a call list that you can volunteer to be on, that if needed you can be contacted. Not only email addresses but Phone numbers.

5. Russell Lloyd–Also had the idea of every once in a while offering a time where we can be trained in “how to” or the “best way” to witness to a biker type of thing. There will probably be a time in which you have the opportunity to lead someone to Christ. Are you comfortable enough with your self with what to say?

6. Phil Schlect–Had the idea of setting up cones in the church parking lot during Biker Days so you can practice your riding/driving skills. All of us need that. LOL.

7. Mark Lloyd–Expressed his idea of in the future becoming more involved in the “secular” Biker Rallies. To carry the light into the darkness type of thing.

8. Bob Bowling–Ride idea to Sturgis. Planning and information will be forth coming.

After this Thomas Bruce, Terry Phillips, Leon Reed, and others expressed appreciation to our church, the coaches, this ministry, and ministries that are being born out of this one.

We want to thank everyone who attended to make this meeting such a good experience.

If were or were not at the meeting and thought about something that you would like us to consider, the just let us know.

Until next time,
Godspeed,

The Stonegator Coaches
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Bike Show and Rally, Ride, then EAT, Saturday the 20th.

Please join us for a great day of fellowship and riding. Of course if you can’t do all 3, then join us for the one/ones you can.

Here’s the Itinerary for
Saturday 02/20/10

1. Motorcycle Show
Meetup: at Stonegate Parking Lot at 11:00AM
Wheels rolling: at 11:15AM
Arrive at Horseshoe Arena ( Motorcycle Show ) at 11:30AM’ish

2. Saturday Afternoon Ride (from the Horseshoe Arena).
Meeetup: Horseshoe Parking Lot at 2:00PM
Depart: 2:05PM
Destination: All back roads to Midkiff > St. Lawrence > Garden City > back to Midland. (As time permits)
Arrive Back in Midland 5:00-5:15PM.

3. Dinner At Gerardo’s Casita Restaurant
Meet at Gerardo’s at 5:15PM
Dine 5:30PM
We will have a room all to ourselves.

Please feel free to bring a visitor/visitors/family/etc.

A few of you have wondered through emails or talk, What do we have planned as far as rides. So I thought I would email everybody. Even though we are still in the cold months of winter, there is a few things to inform you about.

2. February 20 — Midessa Motorcycle’s “Bad Boyz Motorcycle Show” at the horseshoe arena also. And kind of the same plan. Meetup, show, ride, eat.
Note: If you have a bike that you would like to enter (Tommy and DJ ), you can log on to the Midessa Motorcycle website and get further instructions. (if weather permits).

3. And every weekend (as weather permits) there will be a Saturday or Sunday Afternoon Ride (S.A.R.T.)…As always these are very relaxed in planning and participation.

4. If you have any ideas or know of an event, please, please let me know.

5. Reminder that Evan is doing a great job with the website and blog. I humbly ask that we remember to use this tool.

And finally, I thought I would pass along a letter sent to me from Terry Phillips.

“Deep in his heart, every man wants to be a part of a team that does something great. Just look at the movies men adore. A team comes together to save the world, steal the money, or win the championship. The Lord of the Rings, X-Men, The Matrix, Saving Private Ryan, Oceans Eleven, Remember the Titans… feature a band of brothers who attempt the dangerous, the outrageous, and the impossible. Each member of the team has a specialty and makes a vital contribution. A band of brothers – though he may not realize it, every man longs to be a part of one” (Why Men Hate Church, D. Murrow).
Men’s groups are not about having a club or a guild (people with common interests or goals); it’s about integrating men into church. It’s about camaraderie, affirmation, personal development and spiritual growth.

A significant number of churchgoing men attend out of habit, unaffected by what they hear.
Quite a few men go to church simply to keep their wives/mothers/girlfriends happy.
The majority of men who attend church do nothing during the week to grow their faith.
Relatively few churches are able to establish or maintain a vibrant men’s ministry.
Men are different. The common perception is men are self-reliant, don’t feel, don’t touch, don’t need fellowship, are too macho and are very competitive. Men see life as a puzzle. Stonegators should be and could be the way we integrate men in and outside the church community!

Thanks,
Seeya soon