Dad and Mom traveled the desolate Highway 9/24 from our farm near Gaylord, Kansas and Highway 36 through western Kansas and eastern Colorado in-route at the Four States Irrigation Council in Denver. The Council scheduled their meetings to correlate with the occurrence of the 1977 Denver Livestock Show, now the National Western Stock Show. The mid-January temperatures and potential of snow and ice kept any driver alert along this route.
Dad first attended either this year or the previous year, serving as president of Kirwin Irrigation District. They elected him to the Board of Directors, which led to him serving as president of 4-States Irrigation Council in 1981. He received the Council's 1982 Head Gate Award. My sister and I went with them in 1978, enabling me to attend a few meetings with Dad. The Dallas Cowboys defeated the Denver Broncos in the Super Bowl while we drove home Sunday afternoon. I recall that the level of enthusiasm among the speakers covered the full spectrum. I do not recall hearing my dad speak at this meeting, other than perhaps asking question. He possessed a somewhat quiet demeanor, yet very intense when necessary.
This gentle intensity originated from his love of God (Father, Son—the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit), and people. During the 1977 meeting, he and a gentleman from Wheatland, Wyoming struck-up a conversation. LaGrand asked my dad if he had any pheasants on our Kansas farm. Dad acknowledged the bountiful population, then invited this man whom he just met to our farm for opening day in November.
Naturally, LaGrand and his three travel companions slept in the beds of my sister and me. They also ate Mom's home cooked meals and hunted our land, along with the land of Dad's cousin, Loren. Loren and his sons, Ron and Greg, hunted with us. After extending the invitation, Dad then let Mom know of the guests coming next fall. My sister and I considered sleeping downstairs on the floor a treat, probably because of Mom and Dad's enthusiasm.
Simultaneously, perhaps a year later, Dad invited world-renowned Kansas State University
Plant Pathologists to hunt and stay with us, both for dove season and pheasant season. In addition to regular meals and desserts, Mom baked doughnuts, doughnut holes, maple sticks, and other fresh delicacies.
My parents loved people! We prayed before every meal regardless of who sat at the table—as did all friends and relatives in the area. A few of the hunters were agnostic, and were uncomfortable with the prayers. Our book shelf in the dining room contained numerous well-worn Bibles, along with gospel records in the stereo cabinet. Dad also invited traveling salesmen in for dinner if they happened to stop near noon, even though he usually purchased nothing. I considered this normal.
Dad and Mom sent Christmas cards to each hunter and their family each Christmas, most sent us one. One or two delayed with a "holiday" card in mid-January, yet the relationship remained strong.
Dad and Mom, Kansas farmers, proclaimed the gospel through actions of daily life, prayer, music and the Word. God used irrigation meetings and corn diseases to spread His word.
While reflecting on this tonight, I realized that my parents and many of our generous, gracious friends and relatives in north central Kansas and south central Nebraska served as Evangelists!
- How am I incorporating Evangelism into my daily life?
- How are you incorporating Evangelism into your daily life?
See Christ, Believe Christ, Achieve with Christ through daily Evangelism!
Rick E. Meyer
See, Believe, Achieve Inc.
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