Praying through T.A.C.O.S.

At a recent men’s breakfast at church, our guest speaker—a Fellowship of Christian Athletes chaplain and university team mentor—briefly mentioned a concept of prayer called T.A.C.O.S. I had never heard of it before. So, being me, I quickly snapped a picture of the slide and tucked it into a reminder on my phone for future reference. He continued to share about ministering to collegiate athletes and mentoring them through the dark halls of secular campus life, emphasizing how a consistent, structured prayer life—like T.A.C.O.S.—can anchor both mentor and mentee alike.

Growing up, my prayers came from a book. Don’t get me wrong—I talked to God all the time. I prayed several times a day. It was cathartic, a lifeline when I didn’t know what else to do. But I wasn’t about to make it up on the fly—certainly not in public, not with a mic in front of the congregation! If it wasn’t memorized or read from the Book of Common Prayer, it felt like I wasn’t “doing it right.” As far as I was concerned, that was the priest’s job—they went to school for that. Later, when we joined a Baptist church, I asked an associate pastor how to pray. He said, “It’s easy. Start with ‘Dear God,’ and end with ‘In Jesus’ name, Amen.’ Everything else goes in the middle.” Thinking it couldn’t possibly be that simple, I started listening to others, and sure enough: “Dear God, thank you for this day… help us… bless us… in Jesus’ name, Amen.” It felt a little haphazard—until I read Romans 8:26–27: “…we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us… And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”

So what does a taco have to do with prayer—or praying in public? Surprisingly, quite a bit. T.A.C.O.S. is a simple, memorable acronym that brings structure and biblical guidance to our prayer lives. It stands for Thanksgiving, Adoration, Confession, Others, and Self. Whether you’re praying alone in the garage, riding with brothers in the faith, standing with a stranger at a gas station, or on a prayer walk at a rally, T.A.C.O.S. gives you a framework to confidently speak to God.

T is for Thanksgiving—thanking God for what He has done. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 reminds us, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Whether it’s for safe travels, divine appointments on the road, or a conversation at the tent that leads to someone meeting Jesus, gratitude sets the tone for prayer. Even the trials we face—the flat tire, the rainstorm, the tough conversations—can lead to spiritual growth.

A is for Adoration—praising God for who He is. Not just what He’s done, but His very nature: holy, faithful, powerful, and full of mercy. Psalm 34:3 says, “Proclaim the LORD’s greatness with me; let us exalt His name together.” And Psalm 145:3 (MSG) reminds us, “God is magnificent; He can never be praised enough. There are no boundaries to His greatness.” When we lift up our praise, we reset our perspective—He’s not just our Father, He’s the King of Kings.

C stands for Confession. This is where we own up. We acknowledge where we’ve fallen short—our pride, our anger, our selfishness. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Confession isn’t about shame—it’s about freedom. As James 5:16 teaches, “Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed.” This is especially important in ministry—whether you’re witnessing at Daytona or Sturgis, the most powerful testimonies come from honest, forgiven hearts.

O is for Others. We intercede for the needs of family, friends, strangers, and those we serve in ministry. Philippians 2:4 urges us to “look not only to our own interests, but also to the interests of others.” When we set up a prayer station at a bike rally, or offer to pray with a grieving rider, we embody Christ’s compassion. Philippians 4:6 reminds us: “Do not worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”And don’t forget 3 John 1:2, which says, “I pray that you may prosper in every way and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.”

S is for Self. Yes—it’s okay to pray for yourself. Jesus did. In John 17:5, He said, “Now, Father, glorify Me in Your presence with that glory I had with You before the world existed.” If Jesus prayed for Himself, we certainly can too. Whether we need boldness to share the gospel, strength to keep going on the road, or wisdom to lead our family and ministry well, God invites us to bring our needs to Him. Hebrews 4:16 reminds us, “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

So the next time you’re asked to pray in public—or you feel led to pray on the road, at a gas station, under the tent at a rally —think T.A.C.O.S. It’s not just a quirky acronym; it’s a powerful tool to help you pray with focus, sincerity, and boldness. Whether you’re in a church or on a roadside with bugs in your teeth and a FAITH Rider patch on your back, T.A.C.O.S. keeps your heart aligned with the road and our Lord Jesus.

*All Bible quotes are from the CSB version unless otherwise referenced.

Welcome Fellowship Baptist Church

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We welcome Fellowship Baptist Church of Sikeston, Missouri. Commissioned: May 4, 2025. Please keep this chapter in your prayers as they embark on this journey with us.

F.A.I.T.H. RIDERS FEATURED IN OCTOBER

Hello Faith Rider Family.

National Director Phillip Cook and the Board of Directors would like to share some exciting news regarding the ministry and what God is doing through recent events.

Faith Riders was featured in the A Guide for Personal Devotional Open Windows Winter 2023-24 Volume 88-Number 2 edition published by Lifeway www.lifeway.com.

Following the devotional, Women’s Missionary Union (WMU) reached out to Michele Newsome with the idea of developing a children’s curriculum for the month of October 2024 featuring Faith Riders Motorcycle Ministry. Four interactive lessons will be taught each Sunday through the month of October. See the attached curriculum:

Missions Journey for Kids Leader Kit 1

Missions Journey for Kids Leader Kit 2

The devotional and curriculum are getting into the hands of many pastors, children ministry leaders, and churches. As a result, we are getting many requests for Faith Riders to engage the church and kid’s ministries to speak about what God is doing in and through Faith Riders. Phillip Cook and/or Michele Newsome may be reaching out to you should there be a request from interested churches in your area.

This is an exciting time as God continues to do great things through HIS servants. What a blessing it is to be a part of what He is doing.

Thank you in advance for being faithful and available as we serve our risen Savior together to advance His Kingdom.

If you should have any questions regarding this email, please contact Michele Newsome at michele.newsome278@gmail.com.

Michele M. Newsome MA

F.A.I.T.H. Riders Motorcycle Ministry

Co-Founder. Chapter Director. Chaplain

Lakes Church

Lakeland, FL 33801

Pastors Letter - July 5, 2024

July 5, 2024

Dear Senior Pastor,

In the sweet name of Jesus, greetings from the F.A.I.T.H. Riders Board of Directors! There is nothing more fulfilling than serving the King of kings and Lord of lords, every day of our lives. In 2002 when our Lord led Buddy and Michele Newsome to start F.A.I.T.H. Riders they never dreamed God would impact so many people in and through this motorcycle ministry! You are supporting a ministry that is reaching a dark part of our world that few consider. May we say...THANK YOU!

On January 1, 2024, a new era began for this ministry. With the sudden and tragic death of our National Director, Mike Stewart, we unanimously selected Phillip Cook of Enon Baptist Church in Montevallo, Alabama as our new National Director. The Board of Directors and Phillip now seek to posture the ministry for continued success. This letter is part of this effort. We are reaching out to all our host church pastors seeking to confirm their commitment to, and support of, the F.A.I.T.H. Riders ministry.

Over the past 22 years we've seen God bless our efforts to share the gospel by expanding our presence and strengthening our influence. He's empowered us to:

• intentionally share the gospel with over 110 thousand people at multiple rally locations--over 14 thousand people made professions of faith!

• partner with the Southern Baptist Convention staff in supporting annual convention logistics and increasing ministry awareness among pastors.

• lock arms with several Baptist State Evangelism offices and local associations promoting the spread of the gospel and garnering support for ministry events.

• catalyze evangelism and discipleship fervor in 100s of host church congregations!

• train an army of gospel-sharing. disciple-making witnesses eager to help introduce people to Jesus--we had 240 volunteers at Daytona Bike Week 2024!

• commission our 404th chapter and set our sights on establishing chapters in all 50 states and strategically expanding our presence at other rallies throughout the US!

F.A.I.T.H. Riders leaders are preparing this ministry to continue to grow God's kingdom, but we need your help! We recognize that many chapters are already doing incredible ministry and are involved in their state and national F.A.I.T.H. Riders events. To host churches supporting these chapters we say God bless you and thank you! Other host churches and chapters have encountered challenges that have limited their ability to engage the lost. One thing we all have in common - we can do better! Our theme this year is, "One More in '24!" This translates to one more soul saved, one more evangelistic event executed, one more prayer offered, one more 3-minute testimony shared, etc. We hope your church supports your chapter as it accepts this

challenge!We also ask that you renew your commitment to host, pray for, spiritually develop, and fiscally and physically support your F.A.I.T.H. Riders Chapter and its efforts to fulfill the Great Commission. Please review the Host Church Commitment Statement enclosed, consider the commitments we are asking you to make, and then date and sign the document signifying your commitment decision. (We've sent a Director Commitment Statement to your Chapter Director for their consideration and signature as well.) Please mail your commitment statement within 14 days of receipt to:

F.A.I.T.H. Riders Host Church Commitment

Memphis Baptist Church

4595 Eddins Road

Dothan, AL 36301

**If you prefer, you can send a copy of your Host Church Commitment Statement via

email to: wabraham8807@gmail.com. Please include "Pastor Commitment Response" in your email's subject line. Should you need clarification or have questions, please contact:

Phillip Cook

National Director

F.A.I.T.H. Riders Motorcycle Ministry, Inc.

director@faithriders.com

205-369-3770

Thank you again for your support of the F.A.I.T.H. Riders ministry. We believe God will

continue to bless us as we strive to share the gospel. We hope you understand how vital your church and your chapter are to introducing the lost to Jesus! We look forward to receiving your commitment statement and ask you to challenge your chapter to reach "One more in '24" and beyond!

Respectfully,

Board of Directors

F.A.I.T.H. Riders Motorcycle Ministry, Inc.

Enclosure F.A.I.T.H. Riders Host Church Commitment