Mt Zion Baptist Church, Denver, PA, held their 21st Annual Sportsman’s Dinner at Ephrata Business Center on Saturday Evening, February 28
They usually set up for about 500 people. It appeared that most seats were full.
After finding our seats, I enjoyed visiting a few vendors. This one was manned by our friend Kevin van Buskirk.
Appetizers were available by 4:30 pm: bologna and cheese chunks, Biltong (air-dried cured meat), and chips. Dinner was served at 5:00 pm. It included venison meatloaf, baked potato, green beans, roll and butter. Everything was delicious.
There were lots of great door prizes, like hunting supplies, items for preserving meat, guns, archery equipment, and gift certificates. Prizes also included these handmade wooden creatures (above). The grand prize ticket, a Cabela’s 36″ Propane Griddle, was pulled from a container of tickets of those who had pre-registered.
The big buck contest. Each one held up their deer rack from last year’s season. The audience clapped for the one they thought should win.
The winner received a gift certificate.
Kevin van Buskirk (left) presented an award from Pennsylvania Game Commission to this young man who had his first successful hunt during last season. The other man was the MC for the evening.
The speaker for the evening was Mike Tison from Chase Eight whose mission is to dwell in the open spaces of creation, using the outdoors to guide men in their pursuit of Christ, inspiring bold faith and a life on mission.
Mike is a great storyteller – especially about what God has taught him during a variety of his hunts. Of course, with the name Mike Tison, he has acquired a few jokes and experiences that have happened to him because of boxer Mike Tyson.
In one elk hunt with his dad, after arriving at a chosen location, they heard an elk bugle. His dad bugled back and Mike moved toward the sound of the elk bugle – after many bugles, he came upon another hunter who was teasing them. Neither he nor his dad were happy about being tricked, but it gave him a useful lesson for speaking on the subject he used for the evening. What Are You Chasing?
In another hunt he made a wrong turn and soon realized that he was lost.
He was alone because his dad and brother were out together. He stayed behind because he was sick. During the day he began to feel better, so thought he would go on a short hunt. After shooting an elk (archery) he headed back to the camper to wait for his dad and brother. That is when he chose a wrong trail. His mistake on the trail led into him being lost into the night and during most of the next day. The story was full of drama. I kept thinking, “Well he must have survived because he is here speaking to us.”
He closed by asking, “What Are You Chasing?” His final challenge: Don’t be deceived.
Set your sights on things above.