Ten Fun Facts! Happy 10th Anniversary!!!!!!

It’s time to Celebrate!  Legacy Shepherding Ministries, Inc. turns 10 years old!

Happy 10 Year Anniversary!!!!!!  Wow!

Ten years ago, on June 1^st, I began working full-time in ministry.  The day before, I’d fearfully and tearfully left my CPA job behind, along with the financial security that came with it, to launch full-time into what I strongly sensed God calling me into.  I was uncertain how it would work out or if I could survive financially.

Ten years later, Legacy Shepherding Ministries, Inc. continues to develop and empower next generation leaders!

What an incredible experience it has been!  What amazing fruit God has grown through it!  And through you!

With 10 being the celebratory number, here are…

Ten Fun Facts about Legacy Shepherding Ministries, Inc. (and possibly a review of some past posts you might want to revisit):

1. Legacy Shepherding Ministries has spiritually mentored a NFL player, a college baseball player (who was going to be drafted until he got injured), a former Mr. EIU (Eastern Illinois University) (body builder), two former male models, and occasionally met with a former WWE Professional Wrestler!  And that’s just an interesting sampling of the uniquely gifted people God has led to this ministry.  He opened doors I never would have imagined!
2. One female alum, who is a pastor at a church near London, is currently engaged to marry an English Lord.  She didn’t know he was a Lord when they began dating.  I think her official title will be: Lady Elizabeth Gardiner of Loch Borralan.  I simply like to call her Lady Lizzie!  Hopefully someday I’ll be able to go to England and visit Lady Lizzie in her castle (apartment) and we’ll have tea and crumpets (whatever those are)!
3. Uma from India became a published author!  She wrote a memoir about losing her mother, titled “Losing Amma”.  I’m even mentioned in it.  That’s right, I’m in a published book!  I’m like the new “Richard from Texas” in Eat, Pray, Love!
4. Todd ran a 56 mile ultra-marathon in Africa, raising money for World Vision. Say what?  I’m winded just walking from the couch to the refrigerator and back!  He currently serves as the regional campus pastor at Willow Creek – Huntley.
5. Justin spent a year riding his bicycle from Oklahoma (where he lived) to the southern tip of Chile (approximately 12,000 miles).  Then somehow he ended up at my doorstep.  He now lives in a Muslim country where he imparts the love of Jesus!  I hope to visit him one day.
6. Blake, whose father was in and out of jail and whose mother left him with an aunt and moved away when he was six (he didn’t see or hear from her again until he was eighteen) started an organization called Battle Tested.  He plans to step out full-time next year, helping young men build character and become better men.  That’s a huge step of faith!  Another Fun Fact:  Blake was once the winner of the Men’s Health magazine 2005 Diet Abs Contest!  He won a car!  How did I end up mentoring so many athletic guys?
7. When Louis was 19, he was sentenced to life plus 100 years in prison.  It looked like he was never going to get out.  Through God’s divine intervention, he was paroled after 15 ½ years.  He now works for an organization that distributes and grades Bible correspondence courses for people in prison.  By another act of God, Louis has been allowed back into some prisons to speak and help prisoners grow in their faith and character.  Later this year, I’m going with Louis, and two other men mentored through Legacy Shepherding Ministries, to visit a prison in Missouri where Louis served time.  Pray for us!  I’m sure it will be the topic of a future Update.
8. Kevin had a heart for a rundown apartment complex in his neighborhood that was labeled a red zone by police.  Christians from the church where he was a pastor moved into the apartment complex and began loving the community.  Seven years later, the police officially declared it a green zone.  Last October, Kevin planted a new church in his area!  I look forward to seeing what they do next.  Let’s all join them and turn our whole country into a green zone, neighborhood by neighborhood!
9. In August, two Legacy Shepherding alums are getting married…to each other! The first Legacy Shepherding Ministries marriage!  They call themselves Kyllison (a mash-up of Kyle and Allison).  They currently both lead small groups, investing in high-school students.
10. When I was thinking up a name for Legacy Shepherding Ministries, Inc., I didn’t realize that perhaps the ending of the name should have read “International” rather than “Inc.”.  Through the years, God has led people from 6 other countries to my doorstep, from places like Australia, England, Germany, India, Mexico, and Russia.  Plus numerous 1^st generation U.S. born individuals whose parents came from Africa, Germany, Jordan, Korea, Peru, and Puerto Rico.  I love the diversity!

Ten More Things To Celebrate:
Stop the presses!  I’ve decided to cut this letter into two parts.  Next month I’ll share 10 Celebratory Number Facts about the past 10 years.  We’ll keep the celebration going.  You won’t want to miss it.

Thank You:
Thanks so much for making all of this life-change possible, over the past 10 years, through your prayers and financial support.  I hope the Lord blesses you richly in this life and in the next for your faithfulness.

I hope you’ll join me or continue with me for the next ten years.  I’m sure some amazing things are about to happen.  Buckle up!  Here we go!

In His Love,
Randy