As The Ultimate Hunt tract states, I left the corporate world in 1979 to become a full-time outdoor communicator. For over twenty years, God has given me what some people call a "dream job." This description is very appropriate, because I can't think of anything else I'd rather do. I've been able to hunt and photograph in some of the most beautiful places on earth, and the experiences I've had have been nothing short of incredible. It has been quite a journey, but as exciting as my hunting and photographic expeditions have been, another side of my career has brought even more satisfaction. In addition to outdoor writing and nature photography, I spend a significant amount of time conducting nature-related presentations across America. I do approximately seventy speaking engagements each year, and roughly two-thirds of these appearances are sponsored by churches or other religious organizations. It is by design that such a high percentage of my engagements are held in Christian venues. The editor of a secular magazine once commented to me, "There are no atheist hunters in the deer woods." My thought after hearing this was, "That's very true, but even if hunters believe in God, do they really know Him?" Most outdoorsmen acknowledge the existence of a Creator, but sadly, the vast majority of hunters and fishermen have no idea who God is. This is starting to change, though, thanks to the sportsmen's banquets that many of America's evangelical churches and Christian organizations sponsor. These events often attract 1,000 people or more, and they have allowed me to share experiences from my career as a hunter and photographer with more than half a million people across America. The most rewarding part of these presentations is the opportunity to share Jesus Christ with sportsmen who might never hear the gospel otherwise. Explaining how a hunter can harvest a world-class whitetail buck is always fun, but communicating God's love is far more important. Chuck Swindoll once said, "The greatest things in life are not things. The greatest things in life are experiences and relationships." No truer words were ever spoken. The older I get the more I realize that the greatest relationship a person can have is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. And knowing that eternity in heaven follows life here on earth is the greatest experience a person can have. Because of this, my passion is to use my speaking engagements to introduce as many people as possible to God's love and saving grace. |
