I guess I will start like most others that have shared their mission moment with us.
When Stephen brought up this whole feed more sheep thing, I had to stop and think how do I feed sheep? How have I fed sheep in the past, how do I feed them now, and how will I feed them in the future?
First of all, around our house it seems we feed a lot more than just sheep: there are the 3 cats, 2 dogs in the house then there’s the stray cats my wife feeds, the neighbor’s horse and goats and even the occasional fox eating the stray cat food on the front porch.
The past: The past was full of trying to raise kids, showing them right from wrong, how to share with others and how to love. There was also helping family and friends with their houses (it seems everyone was redoing their house at the same time). I would try and help with things that were happening in the community also, and then there was the church; there is always something that needs to be done at the church.
The now: Well, there’s still always something that needs to be fixed at the church!
We have our son Ryan’s girlfriend Jennifer (and her dog Charley) living with us while she finishes up with college, something that I must have picked up from my parents. You see when I was growing up it wasn’t enough to have mom & pop, my grandmother (granny) and 5 boys in a 3-bedroom house. No, we always had somebody else that was in need of a place to stay, from my brother Kevin’s fiancé to my aunt May. That’s why, when Jen needed a place to stay, it just seemed to be the thing to do. I feel working on the church and trying to keep the doors open (literally) allows the sheep to come and be fed. In my job as a road foreman I think of it in much the same way. Clearing the roads of snow or fallen trees allows other people to travel safely to feed the sheep that they are feeding. As for the potholes, life is full of potholes so get over it. But maybe I can fill a few of them also to pave the way for the sheep to go and find the food they need.
The Future: there is still something that needs to be fixed at the church.
In the future I hope I can continue to do what I am doing plus try and be better at public speaking so I can share with others how blessed I have been to have a wife and family that loves me, friends that care about me, but most of all I have the love of Jesus in my life.
October 2, 2026
