Keep it between the ditches and hammer down were the only instructions given me on December 17, 2002. Several members of the Ministry team were headed to Englehard N.C. for a deer, bear and duck hunt. It was an exciting time, we were set up to stand hunt black bears and deer on the 18,000 acres of Kilkinny Farms. It was quite probable that a duck hunt was also in the works.
Wonderful weather was in store for the whole week. We should be able to film 3 shows as well as have an absolutely great time sharing Christ with a host of other outdoorsmen. The trip was going to consist of 4 full days of awesome adventures.
It wasn’t long after we arrived, we found that God had different plans for us on this trip. Plans that we weren’t to sure about. Personal agendas started getting in the way, and fleshly attitudes began to seep out.
Our well laid plans weren’t nearly as well laid out as we had first thought. Nothing was coming together as it should have. Smiles turned to frowns, excitement turned to distain. Satan was having a really good time with us!
With the local laws allowing shining of spotlights until 11 pm we did enjoy riding around after supper looking at all the wildlife that we didn’t have permission to hunt. One of the fields that we saw the majority of the deer in belonged to the local hardware store owner. Our good friend Don Collins knew him and asked if we could hunt his property in the evenings in hopes of salvaging a deer hunting show. Mr. Gibbs graciously agreed and had one of his employees to unlock gates for us, show us the stand sites, and gave us a general overview of the entire property.
This man’s name was Aubrey. Over the next 2 days we managed to produce a show while harvesting a spike and a doe. Each time we hunted Aubrey was right there, willing to do anything he could to assist us.
Brent, Kevin, Bucky, and myself all spoke with Aubrey at different times about different things. He was a really neat guy who started to open up a little more each time we talked with him.
The last evening we didn’t hunt, but we did however need to take down our camera stand so we called Aubrey once again. This time, Kevin was left alone with Aubrey back at the truck while Brent went to get his stand off the tree it had been left on.
He told Kevin about his life, and how he knew God had been convicting him. He wanted to give his life to Jesus, so he did, right there in the mud, beside a big irrigation canal Aubrey became a child of the King.
God used us to hunt for Aubrey, then once we found him, Christ did the rest. It’s totally awesome to reflect back on how all our plans had to be broken in order for us to ever meet Aubrey. Our personal agendas shattered so that His will might be done.
It was very clear that in order for God to be glorified we had to be willing to accept changes even though they didn’t seem to fit so well into our well laid plans. We were nothing short of miserable until we allowed God pointed a few things out to us
.
I personally had not looked at this trip as being anything more than a hunting trip. One I was excited about and couldn’t wait to get started. What I learned was, hunting is not the focus, it is an added bonus. My focus needs to be on serving the Lord in whatever capacity I’m able to do so.
When the Lord changes our plans for us we should be shouting instead of pouting. For God to use anyone for His glory, in my opinion is an ultimate privilege.
Rick Fuller
4 Outdoorsman Ministries
Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Hunting For Aubrey
