Friday, March 7
Internet Photo
We arrived at Worship Center near Leola for the evening’s activities about 5:00 p.m.
Our group included: our son Jeff, his sons Jordan and Nate and daughter Diana, and friends Justin and Tyler who had arrived a few minutes before Cerwin and me.
I look forward to their delicious roast meats. This year there was pork, ribs, and chicken – as well as baked beans, potato salad, coleslaw, sodas, and cake.
Internet Photo
After supper, I went into the large auditorium (almost 1,500 seats) and reserved eight seats toward the center front.
My first vendor visit was Whitetail Trophy Hunt, Osage Beach, Missouri, where Cerwin went hunting in November – and I went along just for the experience.
Kevin (right) is the one who “recruited” Cerwin at this event last year. The other man behind the table is the owner of one of the farms where the men hunt.
It was fun seeing them again.
I am in awe of skilled artists. These Metzler decoys are beautiful.
After admiring them, I asked if she was the one who painted them. She smiled and said, “Yes.”
The rest of the photos are from my seat in the auditorium.
The stage is always decorated as a field or forest.
The live auction began shortly after 6:35 p.m. These men were explaining a hunt that was up for auction.
All monies raised through the auction are given to Centershot Ministries.
Centershot Ministries is an interdenominational outreach ministry that uses the life-skill of archery as a tool that assists the local church to reach its’ community with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Centershot teaches students the life-skill of archery while sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ at the same time.
“MAKE CHRIST THE TARGET OF YOUR LIFE!”
Auctioneer Tim Keller does a great job of getting bids.
A custom-built bean bag (or corn hole) game.
Love this moose!
No, I did not bid on it.
While we were distracted by a song from The Coal Town Rounders…
…a “real live hunter” removed this dummy hunter from the tree stand on the other side of the stage. When the song was over he began shouting at the auction coordinators to hurry up, that he was only hired for three hours and was tired from holding a full draw for so long. 🙂
~~~
After the auction, more than $10,000.00 worth of door prizes were given away: Gift cards, archery equipment, tree stands, guns, clothing, field cameras, books, and many other hunting items. I didn’t think about taking pictures. I guess I was too occupied in keeping a check on my ticket number. Diana won a beanie hat and a $25.00 gift certificate and Jordan got a book and gift cards.
Guest Speaker was Randy McPherson of Matthews, Inc.
Matthew McPherson (designer of Matthews bows) is Randy’s brother and is not comfortable doing the promotional work and speaking engagements, so when that became necessary, Matt recruited his brother Randy for the job.
Located in Sparta, Wisconsin, Mathews, Inc. currently employs a staff of over 300 people and operates three local facilities to a diverse line of archery equipment, bow components and accessories for authorized retailers all over the world.
After telling us some amusing and interesting hunting stories, he challenged us with thoughts on what God has taught him when he is in the outdoors:
1. Slow down.
2. Quiet time. It is amazing what you see and hear when you are quiet in the outdoors.
3. Relationships. In relationships it is important to listen. You learn to listen when you are in the outdoors.
4. Personal Spiritual Experience.
For since the creation of the world his invisible attributes—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, because they are understood through what has been made. So people are without excuse. Romans 1:20 (New English Translation)
Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! Psalm 46:10 (New King James Version)
As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God. Psalm 42:1 (New King James Version)
~~~
He closed by reading “The Salvation Poem” his brother Matthew wrote: