Mailbox
Message Subject: a widow's reflections
It's been three years since Ron went home to his beloved Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, God's only son.
It's been longer than that of course since we went camping or to visit our families together. It's been a long time since we kissed like lovers, or went looking at Christmas lights. It's been three years since I held tight to his hand and told him I loved him, and that his family loved him and most of all that God loved him. And then I watched in awe as he quietly slid int eternal life without a whimper or a moan. God made his dreams come true when our friends from out West were able to come and hold a celebration of life with us and our families and friends here in Ohio.
Thanksgiving was strange this year as it was just my daughter and me. She had to work so I fixed a duck and we relaxed and enjoyed each other's company alone for a change. Our busy lives and blended families are usually too hectic for quiet reflection. But this Thanksgiving day was tranquil and serene. I spoke to family and friends long distance while roasting that duck. And I remembered other holidays when Ron was here with us.
He would get up really early and put the turkey in for me and then make coffee and wake me up; and the crazy, wonderful family holiday would start. Soon grandkids would be underfoot chasing the dog and adult children would be chatting with siblings long apart.
Both kinds of Thanksgivings are truly wonderful. I wonder what the next one will bring. I know I am going to be "Grandma" again, and I hope to begin a life-long dream when I move to Oklahoma. I'll take my memories with me. In that new place I'll trust my Lord to lead me in His will. And I know that Ron will be watching because he loves me still. And even though he isn't with me in body like we planned, I know he stands beside me and I know he holds my hand.
Thank you again PBR Outreach and Riding High Ministries for your willingness to help in time of trouble and the heart of love you extend to others as part of your ministries.
Message Subject: Thanks!
Thank you for your ministry. Your message last Sunday was just what we needed to hear. Thank you to the bull riders who follow Jesus unashamed giving Him the glory. Your witness, humility and integrity has had a life-changing influence in our lives. Your ministry has been refreshing (Philemon 4-7) Press on (Phil 3:12-14 Gal 6:9). Praying for you with thanksgiving! TD
Message Subject: Reno service
Thank you Todd for the message preached, for not candy coating the Gospel, and to Travis Briscoe for your wonderful prayer. We have been praying for an answer to one of our battles, and God used you in our lives , and gave us the answer we needed, not an easy answer, however the Word never said Christianity was easy, and in obedience we will do as He wants us to. Thank you for having such a heart for Christ, for being honest and sincere .We look forward to attending the services, each time we attend , any city anywhere. I also take extra , pamphlets.....and place them in my salon, and they have made an impact on many lives. This year one of the man that manned your booth gave me extra DVD's , and I am excited to hand them out. We live in a rural, farming/ranching community, and many are amazed at the faith of the cowboys. In Christ Jesus, Beverly and Clarence
Message Subject: Lee and you
I am not a bullrider, but my wife and i love the sport very much. I have never sent a letter to anybody. But i want to tell you how much your site has touched me. All i wanted to do was to find out something about lee. I had gone to alot of sites trying to find out any thing about him, but i never found alot about how he is doing. But when i found your site i felt so good, you dont know great you made me feel. I mean everything that you talk about just hit me hard. I wish that you were out here in mountain home. I hope that some day i can go to show and meet you and worship with you. Right now i dont have a church that i attend. I will keep on checking up on this site. thank you.
Message Subject: Inspiration
I have been a member of Team PBR for a few years now and I was lucky enough to go to Nampa and see it in person this year. I am always inspired by the faith in the Good Lord that these cowboys have. I just happened to find your website and read the devotionals. I accepted Jesus into my heart quite a few years ago and I live for him everyday. I have added this website to my favorites and I continue to pray for Lee Akin and his family and also for the safety of all the other riders. God Bless
American Profile article
Your Message: Todd, I thoroughly enjoyed reading the article on you and your ministry in the recent American Profile. It is evident that the Lord has shown you favor with the work you are doing in rodeo circles to draw people into a relationship with Him. I feel sure that this article influenced people all across our nation.
I have marked your website in my favorites and will check it out from time to time to learn more about your ministry. As a pastor myself, I know that we cannot be covered in prayer too much as we seek to connect people to Christ in the areas where God has planted us. Count on my prayers for you, your family, and your ministry.
Keep shining bright for Christ!
Mike Hickman
Senior Pastor
First Baptist Church
Awesome Ministry
Just read about your ministry and the great work that our Lord allows you to do for Him and His glory. What a wonderful way to keep those cowboys centered on the ultimate prize. May the Lord continue to bless this ministry and all those involved and may you continue to be open to the Holy Spirit and His calling.
Ephesians 5:10-13
Amy
Lee Akin
Todd,
I'm not sure if you'll remember me but, I once was the PBR contact for Enterprise Rent-A-Car. Lee and I became friends during that time and our friendship continues.
I have been so very distraught about my friend Lee's condition. We have all prayed, but, as a close friend I have wanted to do something more. I know that my friend Lee is in God's capable hands, but, as a man, as we so often do, I just want to fix it! However, I keep reminding myself that this is not a job for my screw driver or duct tape. So I stay on bended knee, knowing that God is in control.
Today I attempted to check up on my friend and I found some comfort. Today, I found this site and was reminded of you!
I thank you for your prayer and vigilance. I thank you for allowing me to relax. I thank God that Lee, Mary and Jada Marie have a friend and servant in you.
As you pray and keep us all updated, just remember that I am ready and willing to do anything that I can for our friend.
God bless you and your ministry.
Pete
Lee Akin
Dear Riding High,
I appreciate so much the updates on the condition of Lee Akin and Todd for staying there with him at this time. To all of you who support the ministry in any way, may God bless your efforts abundantly. I havent written since my husband Ron expired in 2004; but I had to tell you now that I see nothing has changed. You all still go above and beyond what many other ministries would do for their local flock; let alone a congregation that is so widespread in denomination and in geographic locations. We in this house love the Outreach and the Riding High and all who labor in them for Christ.
Kay Behm
Barberton, Ohio
A Prayer for Lee
If you got a moment Lord, I need to bend your ear
There’s something I need to ask ya and I’m hoping that you hear
There’s a mighty fine young cowboy, that’s doin rather poor
There’s a lot of people praying for him, but he might need a little more
I reckon you know who I mean, folks just call him Lee
He’s got him a wife named Mary and a daughter named Jada Marie
Now Lee, he rides buck’n bulls, it’s a path you led him to
He never does forget it, he always speaks of you
Last week he rode a rank one, that hurt him pretty bad
And now a lot of folks are worried and feel’n mighty sad
So Lord I’m reach’n out to you, I’m down here on my knees
Help this fine young cowboy, heal him won’t you please
Right now he needs some extra help, the kind that comes from you
I know how much you love him and I know he loves you too
So Lord if you can hear me, help him find his way
Back to his wife and daughter and to a happy life, I pray
There ain’t no one to blame Lord, that’s the way of rodeo
It’s the way we make a liv’n, it’s the path we choose to go
And for all those cowboys young and old, who’ve come and gone like me
Let’s bow our heads, count our blessings and say a prayer for Lee.
P.W. Conway
Lee
My prayer circle,the Praying Hands of Acadiana has been lifting Lee up in prayer since the accident. My daughter's prayer circle in Austin, TX is also praying for him. He is a fine young man who kindly sheltered my family during tornado weather while we were visiting our son in Oklahoma. We are praying for his family too.
God bless you all,
Eric Mouton's mom & dad
Hello
I just wanted to say that I love watching bull riding and appreciate that you have accepted His call to work in this environment. I pray His blessings on you, your family and your ministry.
Agape'
Bob
Thank You
Thank you for your updates on Lee Akin. I am praying as I know many are for him and his family as well as you and your family. I so appreciate your updated information as it is hard to get info from the regular sports media.
I am praying that God will bless me with money so I can bless you with it.
What you are doing is so important. You are being there when we the "regular guy" the "PBR fan" can't be. I am grateful that prayer reaches across miles, that there is no distance where Christ is concerned.
I pray God strengthen you mightily and meets you and your family's every need as well as those you minister to. I thank our God for you and your ministry. I desire to be part of it but I don't know how, so I pray as God leads.
I hope someday to be able to attend you pre PBR ministry. In Christ, Eva
Cowboy Church
I stumbled across your website and have been reading it since Lee's accident. Thank you for the updates, the encouragement, and the news of your ministry. We have a small rodeo association that was just formed in the last months. We have cowboy church before our rodeo's. I hope that you keep us in your prayers - that our family will do the work God wants us to do. Cowboys are great people to be around, many need to know the Father, we hope our association will be able to provide them a place to ride and a personal relationship with Jesus.
Anna
Great Service
Todd, Barb and I had a great time with you and the rest. GREAT service on Sun, the Lord gave me something to work on. Talked to Brooks about it a little. Will have to call you and talk about it, see what you think. Enjoyed spending time with your Mom and Dusty, very nice time. Keep up the work. Gary and Barb
PBR Finals
Hello...
I attended the Outreach Worship Service on Sunday, Nov. 5th at Mandalay Bay. The service absolutely brought me to tears. I thought I was coming to Vegas to watch some bull riding, and I came home with so much more! It seemed that your sermon was directed at me, like God was talking through you, to me. The service changed my life, renewed my Faith, and inspired me to strengthen my relationship with God. Simply stated, THANK YOU, for providing such a beautiful service and such a wonderful outreach program for the men of the PBR and for people like myself!!
Beth Bakkal
Gloucester, VA
I took your message to heart.
Good evening Todd,
This mornings message encouraging the men to humble themselves penetrated my heart. Today was the second time I have heard you teach from the word and both times the words that were spoken through you were inspiring. After hearing the message this morning I made the decision I was not going home the same man. What is the heart of the Father? This will be the topic for my personnal studies.
I pray that the Lord will continue to provide you and your ministry team the strength opportunity to share the word.
Blessings to you and your family,
Bruce G
Canal+ & PBR events
Dear Todd,
It was a pleasure speaking with you today and I appreciate your insight and help.
As I mentioned, the French Television Network Canal + will be broadcasting the PBR Finals and Championships on Television in France in December, to an audience of 12 million viewers.
We are sending journalist Didier Allouche and cameraman Thierry Vivier to Las Vegas to cover and produce stories related to the events. We will greatly appreciate the opportunity to interview you (and perhaps your wife) to talk about different issues regarding the riders, the sport and the support group you have created. We would also like to film the Sunday service. In addition, we will also interview riders, contractors, the barrelman, the audience and fans... the general atmosphere. You may have some ideas or suggestions which would be welcome.
I did have a question. Do you know if any of the riders or fans participating in the Vegas events will be getting married at that
time? Afterall, Las Vegas is known for its spontaneous weddings!
I will have Didier call you on Friday to meet with you. His cell number is (xxx) xxx-xxxx. If you know of any riders who would be free to meet with him by Thursday afternoon/evening, that would be great. You mentioned that a profile on Lee Akin would be interesting. Should we contact him in advance?
Here are the riders we hope to interview: JW Hart, Justin McBride, Rony Mendes, Greg Potter. We would also like to meet Flint Rasmussen and Dr. Tandy Freeman.
Thank you for your assistance.
Best regards,
Sandrine Cassidy Schmitt
La Jolla Productions/Canal+
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Note from Bob Carr
Hi Todd,
I hope this finds you well and that the tour is doing well for you and the others. Among other things, I am a columnist for Catholic Online.
I imagine you remember what I have told you about my concerns of the description of toughness given to inner city youth, especially by people like 50 Cent. It just so happens, when others were watching the Superbowl, I was watching Total Bull on OLN and the PBR from Guthrie OK. I switched back and forth between the Superbowl and OLN.
My latest column is the product of my impressions of the half time show in light of my experiences ministering in the inner city and the fact I spent most of my time watching the PBR. Further, in the background, it just so happened that the night before the Superbowl there were two shootings, one three blocks from here (Holy Cross Cathedral in Boston where I live) and one about a mile from here. Again, that is background and is not mentioned in the column.
By the way, if you read the column. You will notice that I mention anonymously the words of a bull rider. That is Wiley Peterson.
I should warn you that the column is quite strong. So you may or may not like it. (I am sure CBS and MTV will not be happy.) Obviously, it is written to a Catholic Audience, but I am sure no one in the PBR who is Christian, but not Catholic would disagree with the message.
You can find it here.
Please give my best to the bull riders and bull fighters. I hope Wiley is recovering well, and that J.W. Hart gets back on his feet soon as well as Tony Mendes. Most Especially please give my best to Adriano.
Know that you and your ministry and that of the others in the PBR remain in my prayers,
In Christ,
Fr. Bob Carr
Have you read Catholicism Anew? You can find it at http://www.catholicismanew.org
Letter from Kellie
To the folks at PBRO,
About four years ago my husband and I started watching the PBR on TV. It usually came on late, after the girls had gone to bed, so watching the PBR became "our time". Now my husband is quite the romantic (lucky me!) and for our 21st anniversary he took me to Tampa, Florida to see the PBR live. Now it was January, and we live in Nebraska, so going to Florida was great, but going to the PBR really changed us. Why? Because we had never been to a professional sporting event that started with prayer. We were touched. Then we noticed these tough looking, tough talking bull riders dropping to their knees in prayer, right there in the ring. Didn't matter if they made it eight seconds or not, they kneeled and bowed their head and gave the glory to God.
Sunday morning as we left the hotel, I stopped in the lobby at the Starbucks to get coffee. In line was one of the bull riders, and I told him I really enjoyed the event. He was so polite, smiled and said thank you. After I paid for my coffee, I turned around to notice this cowboy sitting alone with his donut and coffee, praying. I took the coffee to the car and shared what I had seen with my husband. He said "go back and get his autograph so we can find out who he is". So I did. By the time I got back he was in the lobby. He very graciously signed his name on the previous night's event sheet, "praise Jesus, Wiley".
We were so impressed by this young man's faithfulness, we decided to take the whole family to another PBR event in Little Rock. But we also took them to the Saturday worship service. My family experienced a powerful time of authentic heart felt worship. Todd Pierce spoke with an authentic and gentle loving spirit that we have not heard from a pulpit in a long time. Our kids wanted to go to every PBR event, not for the bull riding, but to be able to go to the PBRO worship service!
As parents of three girls, we get concerned about what our culture is telling them about what a man really is. My husband and I agreed that a man who is brave enough to ride bulls and kneel in prayer in front of the world (live and on tv) is the kind of man we want for our girls. Now I'm not saying we want them to marry bull riders. But we do want them to find happiness with a man who is comfortable with being masculine, able to take risk, sees failure as a learning opportunity, and most of all, is unashamed of his faith.
My husband is psychologist and I have been in maternal - child health for 22 years. We know that the majority of young men in our culture are not being mentored by men with these positive qualities. Young women are being groomed to believe that they should want the pretty boys who swear like sailors, drive sporty cars, wear fancy clothes, and think that its ok to treat women rudely and rough.
Now it has also come to our hearts to help mentor to youth, across the country, the qualities of Christian men and women in the cowboy culture, a culture where faithfulness, manners, honesty, and authenticity are the norm. This is what the youth of America need. Together, with our eyes on Jesus, the PBRO is making a difference!
Mollie at PBR Nashville
Until Nashville, Mollie had never been to a PBR event. In fact, she had only been recently introduced to the sport. However, she was hooked on the sport in the few months since watching her first event. With a stroke of luck, Mollie was able to purchase some excellent seats for Bullnanza Nashville. She was so excited to be getting to see an event live. Plus, she was also hoping to be able to meet some of her heroes at the Cowboy Church program she read about on the internet.
Walking into the arena Mollie scanned the seats for any sign of the cowboys she was hoping to see. Now granted, she did attend church regularly at home. But this was going to be a time to see the cowboys outside of a competition.
She had no idea just how that one church service was going to forever change her life.
"I was very impressed with the turnout, " she said. "Especially when I talked to some fans who travel to several of the events and make sure to make arrangements to attend all of the cowboy church services they can make."
Before the church service began, there were five or six cowboys practicing pulling their ropes and working with a bull in the chutes. As time drew near for the competition to start, they lead the bull back to the pen and walked over the chutes, across the arena and up to "church".
"Church in an arena?", Mollie questioned. She had never attended a service outside of her family church and she wasn't sure how God was going to speak to anyone in the arena.
But if it's good enough for the cowboys, it was going to work for her. At the start of the service Mollie didn't pay that much attention to the opening speaker. She was busy scanning the crowd for bull riders. She wanted to be able to tell her friends all about attending church with Wiley Peterson, Brian Herman and some of her other bull riding heroes.
It didn't take long into the service for Mollie's mindset to completely change. "For me, it was the most remarkable service that I've ever attended, " she said. "This was the first time that I've ever went to worship where it wasn't about seeing your friends, or spending time with family, or performing a solo with the choir," Mollie explained. "It was solely about God's love and dedication to us. Nothing more, nothing less. I truly felt the hand of the Lord on me throughout the service. It was the most amazing service I've ever been apart of."
At the end of the service Mollie realized just how the cowboys helped bring her back to God's grace and love. "I truly accomplished my goal with the service. I went into it looking to spend time with my cowboy heroes. In the end, I realized that the only hero in my life is my Lord Jesus Christ and I am thankful that he lead me to this arena so I could re-establish my faith and love for Him."
Doug's Vision
Todd, I don't know if I told you but in about 1995 I woke up and couldn't sleep. (unusual for me) and I felt like praying. I asked God what life was about and If I was doing what he wanted me to do. I asked if there was more and told Him I was available and wanted to be in His will.
I got up and read my Bible and felt the Lord gave me a vision that night for the future. I think I told you of this however I want to put it in writing now. I felt I would some day be involved with you and a NFL player named Rueben Mays. We would be preaching and reaching many for Christ. It would be a team of ministers from sports and professional places telling of salvation. The concept I got at the time dealt with youth. I think my vision was short of the real picture which should have included all ages. I was running the gang unit at the time and kids were on my mind. specifically how to keep them from getting in trouble when they seemed to be so self destructive and oblivious to the consequences of their behavior.
I don't feel this vision was self motivated and hopefully I told you of it before now so you feel confident in moving forward with where you are led. I think of the story of Gideon about to go into battle after God said get rid of most of the army you have. His numbers dwindled to a handfull of men. Then God told him to go down and listen to the men in the enemy camp. God knew Gideon needed a confidence builder. God prevailed through Gideon. Gideon could have changed his mind and let someone else lead later. Gideon stepped to the plate and fulfilled the task at hand.
I have no doubt about your calling. I'm proud to be associated with you. May God lead and help those join the ranks He calls.
Love
Doug
PS: I'm serious about riding wild horses! Use the past success and not current events.
