One JTC group revs up faith and teams up for answered prayers
By Toni Miles
A non-denominational church service was held on Sunday, May 31, the final day of Jeepin’ the Coast this year in Long Beach. (Photo credit: Toni Miles)
Tens of thousands rolled into the Friendly City for this year’s Jeepin’ the Coast (JTC) in late May. Among them were members from three different states who were on a mission at JTC.
“We are a ministry of service, a ministry of presence in thirty-nine different states, four different countries,” said Ken Stead, National President of the Christian Jeep Association (CJA).
Ken and his wife Nanette travelled from South Alabama to man the Christian Jeep Association booth at JTC’s Vendor Village this year, on hand to offer encouragement, fellowship, prayer and, of course, the gospel at this year’s event in Long Beach. The Steads were joined by fellow CJA members who travelled from Georgia and Florida to connect with Jeepers and attendees at this year’s Jeepin’ the Coast.
CJA got on board with Jeepin’ the Coast four years ago.
“We actually started having an interest to set up here, to be part of the Jeep community, and now we actually host the Jeep church service at the Town Green,” said Stead, who, along with his wife, are also members of the Jeepin’ community.
While the church service was held on the final day of JTC, the Steads and fellow CJA members were on hand during all five days of this year’s event to provide support, encouragement, the gospel and hope.
Ken Stead (left), serves as the National President of the Christian Jeep Association. (Photo credit: Toni MIles)
“We offer prayer,” Stead said. “They can write down their prayer requests, and our team gathers, and we pray over these requests each night. Some people pray right here at the tent.”
Stead says a steady stream of people visited the CJA booth at Vendor Village, adding that many people wear smiles, but carry secret burdens or struggles.
“I think the greatest thing that we’ve seen is that we bring hope. When people come in – there’s a lot of people that come down here – some are at their wit’s end and are struggling,” Stead says.
“We pray for people who have just gotten a cancer diagnosis. We pray for people who have just lost loved ones. You never know what people who come to these events are going through, so, when they come in, they see this bright green tent that we have. They come in and they know this is a place where they can go where someone will pray for them and listen. They don’t get that very much in the world today. Here, somebody’s going to listen to what I’m going through and help me get the answer – and that is through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
Members of the Christian Jeep Association were on hand again this year to offer up prayers for Jeepers and for a safe Jeepin’ season. (Photo credit: Toni Miles)
And Stead says they’ve seen results and journeys at JTC that have come around full circle.
“We talked to a couple a while ago – we prayed for them last year over something that was going on in their life, and they said that God miraculously intervened in that situation – answered prayer – so they came back and shared that answered prayer with us,” Stead said.
The CJA prayers weren’t limited to their booth. For the fourth year in a row, members of the CJA hosted a church and worship service on Sunday, May 31, the final day of this year’s Jeepin’ the Coast event in Long Beach, an ongoing effort to strengthen the bonds of the Jeepin’ community through prayer and faith, and ,of course, for a safe Jeepin’ season and travels for those heading back home after the event.
For more information about CJA, visit www.ChristianJeepAssociation.org/contact.
