Men at Work Project

Men at Work Project #14

3/17/2021

“And all the trees of the field will clap their hands” (Isaiah 55:12). A tree makes the most noise when it falls to the ground but unlike the old saying, Jeff is always there to hear it. Jeff and his brother Jacob run a logging business that is filled with danger and camaraderie. If you don’t understand the danger, just watch them running away from the falling tree. If you don’t understand the camaraderie, you have not seen them in action together.

This type of logging is not the harmful clear cutting of days gone by nor is it part of an enormous lumber industry. For these brothers, logging is a bit like mining for gold. The greatest financial reward comes when you find the “golden” trees that have the highest market value. They have learned from experience how to find and fell the more valuable trees while making sure they are not crushed in the process. They also do a service for the landowners who have registered their land in the managed forest program with the DNR (see Men at Work Project #3). The owner gets the largest “cut” of the trees’ value and their land is better stewarded as a result. Devastating forest fires usually come from poor forest management which does not allow for responsible logging and thinning of forests. Jeff’s expertise is dragging ten thousand pounds of trees at a time up steep hills to be trucked away for sale.

When Jeff is not logging with his brother, he is sharing in the work of the family sawmill. He also puts his twelve years of Tae Kwon Do competition to use as a teacher in Boscobel two nights per week. As a black belt, he is a fierce competitor. I would always want him on my side in a back alley brawl. But as a teacher, he is gentle as he guides his young students. His ultimate goal is not to teach them how to defend themselves or compete as he has done. He wants his students to develop strong character and to encounter his Savior, Jesus Christ.

I first met Jeff when he started dating his now wife, Vanessa. Vanessa and her family have been part of our church since she was waist high to me. Vanessa helps Jeff teach the Tae Kwon Do classes and also runs a very busy summer camp and after school program for kids at the same martial arts academy. The parents don’t merely drop off their kids for programs and lessons. They truly want their children to come under the positive and caring influence of Jeff and Vanessa. They have formed a wonderful ministry team as they are involved in their community and in our church in worship, youth mentoring and Bible studies. I was excited to get a taste for Jeff’s logging business and I am always blessed while watching Jeff and Vanessa serve the Lord together.

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Men at Work Project #13

3/17/2021

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I can still picture Doug’s family sitting in the chairs in our rented worship space in our local elementary school. Our church plant was less than a year old and Doug’s family with his wife and five kids filled up a row. In those days, one family like Doug’s meant a ten percent increase in worship attendance. But I wasn’t thinking about worship attendance that day. I was just happy to meet a new family and to imagine that our three kids might become homeschool buddies with the neatly dressed children sitting in this row. And friends they did become. From ages four and up, our families did practically everything together in the church and homeschool worlds. We saw a lot of the Aloisi family and we were blessed because of it.

If this is not in Doug’s job description, it should be—"have dominion over the fish of the sea” (Genesis 1:28). The Biblical word dominion means stewardship and Doug takes this responsibility very seriously. Doug is in his twentieth year as director of the National Fish Hatchery in Genoa, WI sitting on the shores of the mighty Mississippi River. Like many in his field, one of Doug’s passions is fishing. This passion helped pave the road to his 37 year career in publicly funded fish management. During the busiest time of the season, you will find Doug on one of the boats moving nets of fish from ponds to river and he loves every minute of it. But as director, Doug’s responsibilities are focused more on managing his competent staff more than handling the fish.

The Genoa Hatchery is recognized nationally for their groundbreaking work with native mussel species. They raise and release 30,000 lake sturgeon every year. They also provide millions of eggs, fry and fingerlings of many different species to state fishery stations, federal hatcheries and National Wildlife Refuges to support ongoing fish management and restoration programs. Needless to say, Doug has his hands full.

I have been on site for many of their Kid’s Fishing Days in the summer and winter where hundreds of kids cast their lures into the ponds of hungry rainbow trout. My own kids loved the experience and I loved to eat the trout they brought home. But one special experience was being part of the $12 million Great River Road Interpretive Center sponsored by the hatchery. Doug explained that “the building tells many different stories of the Region and its natural surroundings, but also includes the unique history and story of conservation of the Upper Mississippi Region. We can tell them about the area as well as our conservation efforts. [The history of the Sauk people, who lived along the river] are important pieces to our heritage, so we’re happy to tell those stories as well.” Doug asked me to say the prayer for both the groundbreaking and dedication ceremonies. U.S. Congressman Ron Kind was on hand for the dedication. Because of the notoriety of the hatchery, Doug has been quoted in the newspaper and stood in front of the news camera on many occasions.

Almost since that first day I met his family, Doug has served our church through his music and worship talents, leading worship teams and playing the guitar and flute. His wife Debbie has been the church’s Administrative Assistant for several years. Our young children have all grown and are leaving the nest but my appreciation for Doug and his family have remained the same.

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Men at Work Project #12

8/9/2017

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The last guy I shared a Men at Work experience with once drew a cow as commercial art. Brent Beck makes them. Well, not exactly makes them, but pretty close. Brent and his wife Tara own Beck Embryo Transfer, an active genetics company. They help farmers to use the best possible genetics in order to have the healthiest and best producing dairy cows.

My first career was as a Medical Technologist. I spent a fair amount of time peering into a microscope and handling all manner of bodily fluids. Furthermore, I’ve always loved science and a great entrepreneurial story, so I knew I would not be disappointed tagging along with Brent.

A lot of farmers handle eggs, whether they have egg laying hens for personal use or for selling. But the eggs that Brent handles can only be seen through a microscope. The embryos in this photo are the very same fertilized embryos that Brent had flushed from a cow just minutes prior. These were taken from a genetically preferred cow and then were subsequently transferred to genetically inferior cows. Some eggs are fertilized in vivo (within the cow) while most of Brent’s fertilization work is done in the test tube (in vitro). Any remaining embryos that are not implanted are quickly labeled and frozen in liquid nitrogen for future use. This is cutting edge science but it’s not necessarily new science. Brent just does it so well.

We look for physicians with good bedside manners. As a veterinarian, Brent definitely has these manners in abundance but it’s the farmer and not the “patient” in this case who benefits. I was amazed at Brent’s calm demeanor as he accomplished four or five things simultaneously while also carrying out a lively conversation with the owner of the dairy and me. When I am concentrating on something important, I am utterly useless for anything else at that moment. Brent effortlessly multitasked repeatedly flushing the uterus of a three-quarter ton cow with all manner of equipment clipped to his chest. Flush, drain, filter and repeat until he was confident that the embryos were safe and sound in his sterile filter. Then it’s off to this mobile laboratory in his oversized van where he grades and separates the embryos for implantation or freezing.

Brent began his career in 1988 as a typical large animal vet. He worked for a veterinarian, eventually bought into the practice and later sold his portion of the business to a new veterinarian. The business side of veterinary work has its own unique challenges. Many men and women are talented vets but poor business people. Brent and his wife just happen to be extremely adept at both. They have built a thriving business together while also homeschooling their four children. Brent’s skills are in high demand and I cringe when I see the number of hours he logs in an average week. I feel hopelessly lazy next to him. But I usually see him at his kids’ sports events so he does his best to balance work and family--the holy grail of all men at work.

Two summers ago Brent and his older children joined several others from our church to share the gospel to passersby on the streets of La Crosse. It was the “practice session” of a summer long emphasis on outreach in our church. Brent looked forward to sharing this vital experience with his older girls. Brent routinely does this in his daily life when the opportunity arises. It’s not guilt or glory that motivates Brent, but love for his Savior and a compassion for those who need to hear of the Savior’s sacrificial love. Brent loves his job but this is really the core of Brent’s heart. I love how he is a steward of the animals he works with, of his wonderful family and of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

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Men at Work Project #11

2/17/2017

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Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa? Merely an overpriced, wry smile. Munch’s The Scream? Looks a bit too much like Kevin from Home Alone. (Seriously—Google it!) Larrington’s Milk Moola Cow? The perfect blend of fine art and commercial success. Brian sketched the infamous bespectacled bovine back in 2003. Sadly, Kwik Trip has since retired Mr. Moola but not before Brian’s artwork appeared on at least a million milk jugs. His masterpiece is now enshrined as vintage artwork.

Ironically, Brian is still engrossed in cow and farm related artwork since he was hired by Organic Valley in 2004. OV is the largest farmer-owned cooperative in the nation and one of the leaders of organic food production. Brian enjoys creating. All kidding aside about the milk moola cow, he’s really good at it. You don’t become the Lead Designer at the nation’s only billion dollar organic-only food company unless you have a high degree of competence. I create simple brochures and powerpoint slides at church and enjoy ‘bragging’ to Brian about my artwork and try to convince him that he should use Microsoft products for his design work. It’s just one of the many brotherly banters we enjoy.

As talented as he is, Brian would probably prefer earning a living fly fishing and bow hunting, were that possible. Brian uses these hobbies as his sanctuary in God’s marvelous creation. The solitude of the river and the iridescence of the trout he catches are just two of the ways that he sees the Lord at work in nature. Many men and women enjoy being outdoors but some of them tend to turn these hobbies into an idol. They don’t just enjoy the outdoors. They literally exist for the next time they can be in the stream or waiting in their favorite deer stand. And they spend money on these hobbies like their very lives depended on it. But I don’t see this tendency in Brian at all. Also, don’t mistake him for a mere naturalist. The God he worships is a Trinitarian God and Jesus is his Savior. This is why he enjoys creation so much.

I love Brian’s testimony. He was raised in a loving, Christian family but did not fully stake a claim to his parent’s faith until his late college years. Unlike many who stray from the faith to live as a university party animal, Brian did not reject his moral foundation. But neither had he fully embraced Jesus. He refers to those years as living as “a rebel with conviction.” Like all who walk with Christ, Brian had to settle God’s truth in his own heart and mind and since then, he has never looked back. He’ll be the first to admit that he’s not perfect. No one’s tougher on Brian Larrington than Brian Larrington. But as he struggles along with the rest of us, his kind and generous heart are evident every time I see him talking with another adult or youth in the church.

Brian’s family has been a true blessing to our church body. Brian served as one of our elders for six years, helping to shepherd the entire church. His wife Deb has served in our worship ministry almost since they walked through our doors the first time. And now his children are leaning into Jesus and walking their own path of service and faith. He prays that they will retain his same faith in Christ while skipping over the “rebel” part. Such is the prayer of all Christian parents.

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Men at Work Project #10

12/1/2016

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By today’s standards, the year 1960 is not generally known for its cutting-edge technology. But this is the year that the telecommunications equipment was installed that Jason Rider still uses 56 years later (long before he was born!) Jason is pictured here next to the archaic but still functioning system. In a day when we expect everything to be small and sleek, the monstrosity that is their phone system was a bit shocking to me. It was so large and bulky that you might expect the interior to have actual female phone operators sitting inside connecting each call one at a time. This was just part of the fascinating look into the daily operations of a national phone carrier operating in a small town.

We see technology changing almost every day. When we have more computing power in our smartphones than in the room-sized equipment in the Boscobel office, of course one wonders why and how they could still be using such old equipment. The company Jason works for is caught between the proverbial rock and a hard place. When the U.S. government broke up the monopoly of “Ma Bell” (AT&T) and her baby Bells in the 1980’s, deregulation of the phone carriers initially helped businesses like Jason’s. Smaller providers were given a more level competitive playing field in order to expand their customer base and build their business. This began the hey-day of many local and national phone carriers—countless employees were hired, salaries grew and customers were happy.

But the same rules governing deregulation are now hurting the larger phone carriers. By law, Jason’s company has to provide local phone service for designated areas. However, with expanding cell phone usage and a corresponding reduction in landlines, the company has had to shut several local offices. This means that each remaining office is now responsible for a much larger area of service. In addition to being shocked at some of the equipment, I was surprised to learn that on most days, Jason was the sole employee in a multi-story building where dozens of employees used to work. It’s just Jason and one on the road technician covering parts of multiple counties.

Declining use of landlines has also meant that it is not cost effective to invest in new equipment to service this shrinking portion of their business. This is the reason they hobble along using 56 year-old equipment. They are not exactly ‘Macgyvering’ the antiquated equipment with bubble gum and shoe strings, but it almost felt like that would be the case. With strict supervision, Jason allowed me to make a new landline connection in their service area. One might think a click of a mouse would do the trick, but it actually involved several connections of tiny wires and links.

There were, however, other parts of the facility with true cutting-edge technology. The tubes of fiber optic cables and the room full of back-up batteries were curious examples of the modern intersecting with the ancient—sort of the telegraph meets the cell phone tower kind of thing.

This experience gave me a much greater appreciation of the unique challenges that Jason faces every day. From knowing his character, I know that Jason confronts those challenges with integrity and fortitude. Like all of the “men at work” I have visited, Jason pulls himself out of bed each day and heads to the office both because he ‘wants to’ and because he ‘has to.’ God has wonderfully given him a depth of expertise and creativity that he joyfully applies to his work. That’s the ‘want to’ portion. The Lord means this to give us a sense of fulfillment and accomplishment, but without turning us into workaholics. As Jason and his wife Becki shepherd their four growing boys, his work life inevitably takes center stage in their family. That’s the ‘have to’ part of the work equation. Bills pile up whether we like it or not.

It is a joy to have the Riders in our church family. They are a sweet family who are integrated into and serving in multiple area of our body life. Hopefully I now have a better understanding of how to pray for and support Jason in his work and family life.

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Men at Work Project #9

8/16/2016

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I wouldn’t last two weeks in his job. Yet Gene has been doing it faithfully for eighteen years. Gene is the Food Service Director at Sugar Creek Bible Camp. I can’t imagine someone doing this job as competently and with such cool composure as Gene.

I spent four summers as a camp counselor so I am no stranger to camp life. Even though I’ve known Gene for fourteen years and was aware of his busy schedule at camp, nothing prepared me for the pace. I jumped into the busyness by washing breakfast and lunch dishes and helping with some food prep. Sweat poured down my forehead as the dishes piled up faster than I could deal with them.

But when I arrived, Gene’s back was already drenched with sweat as he had been at it for several hours. Growing up on a dairy farm with seven older siblings helped fortify him for hard work and chaos. And anyone who says that men can’t multitask has never worked with Gene. He not only tackled several tasks at once, but he also was thinking several meals—and several days ahead—all simultaneously. If that were not enough, Gene was as relaxed as Michael Phelps in a kiddie pool. If there was any stress, it was hidden behind his generous smile.

Gene received a high compliment from a summer-long volunteer while I was there. This woman shared how Gene treats his staff and volunteers. She said that Gene possessed the rare quality of managing a diverse group of people without stepping on their toes. Gene can train a new staff person with care and diligence but at the same time he will never micromanage highly competent staff and volunteers. Gene trains and empowers people to maximize their gifts and training. All of this makes for happier staff, happier campers and a highly efficient kitchen.

When I hear tales of his kitchen escapades, nine times out of ten Gene is not complaining but rather telling us stories of spiritual conversations he has had with summer staff. Gene’s conservative evangelical beliefs are almost always different than the Lutheran college students who serve with him. This is the part of his job that Gene truly enjoys. He views all of his work at camp as ministry, but the spiritual conversations are punctuated highlights of camp life. The summer staff view Gene as a theological teddy bear. Most think his beliefs are odd and antiquated, but they know he cares for them—and so they listen. Gene’s success rate at changing hearts and minds is not high, but he knows that he is planting seeds of truth in their lives. He plods along steadily, trusting the Holy Spirit to do His part as Gene does his.

In our church body, Gene has been the heart and soul of a men’s ministry that has existed almost since the inception of our church. J4J (Java 4 Jesus) is a simple concept: gather men around coffee, snacks and casual conversation and close the night with personal sharing and prayer. It has been a great place of connection for men of all ages. Recently, Gene and his family have enjoyed a shared ministry working the sound board and powerpoint for our morning worship services.

I am blessed to call Gene my friend and I gained a greater appreciation of his work ethic and unique ministry context. May the Lord continue to multiply Gene’s sweat and prayers for His greater glory.

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Men at Work Project #8

6/22/2016

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Most people know that the real estate mantra is location, location, location. For men the mantra seems to be vocation, vocation, vocation. Rightly or wrongly, we gain much of our self-identity from our work productivity. This is one reason why I love Nathan’s career path.

A few years ago, Nathan Lenz left a good paying management position at a billion-dollar company to take a staff position at the home office of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship in Madison, Wisconsin. Ironically, Nathan originally left IVCF to take the position at the larger company and to raise his family in a smaller town. He started in the web department and was eventually promoted to lead the department and several employees. This is when his family found our church and they have been active in our body ever since.

The work demands at the large company continued to pull Nathan away from his family time and piled on the stress. When the opportunity to return to InterVarsity (while mostly telecommunicating from Viroqua) presented itself, Nathan and his wife Kelli prayed through their options. I wasn’t surprised when they decided to return to InterVarsity. This ministry has seeped into their DNA. After all, this is where Nathan and Kelli first met!

Nathan’s position at InterVarsity is Senior Web Developer, which means he spends most of his day creating complex codes, which absolutely boggles my mind. I also got a glimpse at the detailed collaboration that happens between a multitude of developers. It’s never enough just to do your own slice of the technology pie. A well-oiled web presence requires a healthy team approach to web creation and problem solving.

And problem solving is Nathan’s forte. One of the first times I observed Nathan’s creativity was when he replaced his roof several years ago. Of course he did all the work himself, but he also built his own ladder and hand carried every shingle up his homemade device. Nathan once told me that his hobby is collecting hobbies. He seemed a little embarrassed by this but it demonstrates his wide variety of interests and expertise. He attacks problems or hobbies with a tenacity and perseverance that is admirable. If he doesn’t know the answer, he will find it, solve it or create a (usually) homemade solution. The result might be gourmet coffee, artisan pizza or a new kitchen. This is the kind of grit that Nathan takes to the office each day. In my opinion, InterVarsity is blessed to have him on their team.

Nathan, Kelli, Eli, Solomon and Clara also make a great team. Nathan serves the Lord by giving outstanding web service to this vital campus ministry. His vocation is itself a Christian ministry, which can be the best of both worlds. But in so doing, he also serves and cares for his family. For a guy, these are delicate balances to achieve but I appreciate the sacrifices that Nathan has made to strive for this balance and love his family and his God.

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Men at Work Project #7

6/25/2015

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1,275,000. That’s the number of cows in Wisconsin in 2015. Wisconsin is still called the ‘Dairy State,’ even though California has 40% more cows than we do. About 60 of these million or so cows reside on the farm of Christopher Baird. He was not born into a farm family but he has spent the vast majority of his years in these fields and this very milk parlor.

Christopher’s family moved from the Seattle area to Wisconsin to leave the big city behind and build a family dairy farm. It was an audacious dream. How do you ‘countrify’ a city boy (his dad) and learn such a diverse set of skills as is required for farming? One thing you do is rely on your 10 children to help. A large family always works together and works hard but especially when their home is a dairy farm. Like every young person, they resent the endless chores at times. But for Christopher, farming quickly seeped into his DNA. And it’s a good thing too, since he now runs the farm all by himself.

Following his years at Patrick Henry College, due to some difficult family issues, the farm was passed on to Christopher--but with an enormous outstanding debt. He not only brings youthful energy to the task but new ideas as well. This was his family’s farm but now it is his and he does an amazing job. With bone-tiring work and some seasons of decent milk prices, he has been able to make a significant dent in the pile of bills. Of course he wants to succeed but he also loves his calling. Every animal in his growing herd has a name. He knows their habits-their likes and dislikes. Everything is measured and monitored in modern farming. He can view his farm stats on his smartphone. But this is not Farmville. This is blood, sweat and prayers.

Our church family appreciates Christopher’s gifts on the violin as he is a regular part of our worship teams on Sunday morning. His morning and evening chores prevent him from attending worship practice but his musical ear is so well trained that he can jump in at the last moment.

Alas, I was useless to Christopher when I paid him a visit in June. At least I kept him company while he toiled away in the small, aging parlor. Christopher has dreams of his own. His keen mind is always alight with new solutions to old problems. He would like new milking equipment one day. The herd needs to grow a little larger yet. Not California size, but into a manageable and consistently profitable enterprise. But Christopher is patient. Farming and the Lord Jesus have taught him that. I look forward to watching those dreams unfold.

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Men at Work Project #6

5/21/2015

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Mover of Men and Mountains. This is the title of the biography of R. G. LeTourneau, the Christian inventor, businessman and philanthropist, which Jeff Cade recommended that I read. It was one of the most inspiring biographies I have ever read. I commend it to you. But it also describes Jeff’s daily work life. Jeff moves mountains and he moves/manages a team of men to do it. He works for a road construction company that is always in need of breaker rock and gravel for their work projects.

It may literally look like child’s play. After all, every little boy playing with toy versions of bulldozers and dump trucks at one time dreams of doing this “when they grow up.” But this is so much more than toys in an overgrown sandbox. The work is more delicate than you might imagine. First, you have to deal with private landowners. The job of Jeff and his team is stripping the rock from God’s earth but first they have to gain contracts from the landowners. A strip mine may not be the prettiest site you have ever seen, but Jeff works with stewardship in mind. Once a project is completed, they grade the land in such a way that years later you would never know they were here.

Next Jeff contracts with demolition experts who drill holes in the rock and blow off sides of the hill. These are, after all, mountains of mostly solid rock-Wisconsin limestone. Then moving the rock and shaping the hills are another matter of precision. For a heavy equipment operator, there is an artistry to the multiple pedals and levers that are manipulated in one smooth motion--man and machine in a graceful dance of demolition and development. (But don’t tell these tough guys they are ‘dancing’!) Finally, they have the pressure of their bosses hammering for larger and larger quotas of rock to feed their hungry road crews.

Jeff is one of the kindest men I have known with an ever present smile of enthusiasm on his face. Jeff actually met the Lord in these rock pits. He grew tired of the country music blaring on his radio and one day switched to a Christian radio station. He listened to countless hours of music, sermons and especially enjoyed the programming for kids. Slowly his heart began to receive the truth of the messages. Jeff was a sinner and he desperately needed Jesus. God graciously replaced his heart of rock with a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26). Meeting his wife Kathy solidified his faith and now they are a staple of our church life. Jeff still moves mountains and men every day, but his greatest joy is watching the Lord move his heart to new heights of love and obedience.

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Men at Work Project #5

5/11/2015

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I cut my ministry teeth during four summers as a camp counselor. This service opportunity literally changed my direction in life but it also changed my personality. My first summer I was a shy, clueless 19 year old who just needed a summer job. By my fourth summer I had already felt a distinct calling to prepare for vocational ministry, probably as a pastor. The personality changes were evident. It helped me become more outgoing and begin to develop a wide range of ministry skills that I still use today. Furthermore, I met my wife Karen at this camp! These are the reasons that I hold camping ministry in such high regard and those who faithfully and sacrificially serve there. Men like Brant.

If you think about a couple having an argument, which topic comes to mind first? Money, right? The ‘experts’ tell us that most marital spats surround the topic of finances and far too many divorces are driven by the same strife. Not for Brant and Heather Hougas. They are the only couple I have ever met who actually ‘fight’ about who gets to balance the family budget and books each month. They don’t just tolerate financial details, they LOVE them!

This tells you why Brant is so well suited to serve as the Office Manager at Living Waters Bible Camp in Westby. God has created and gifted Brant with a mind that skillfully manages details. And thankfully he has a temperament that also enjoys this kind of vital service. Brant is a graduate of Moody Bible institute who has been serving at Living Waters since 2012.

Camping ministry always involves the great outdoors: hiking, swimming, horseback riding and zip-lining. Summer camp is for making crafts, sleeping in cabins and sitting around campfires. And Christian camps are about teaching and training people of all ages in Biblical knowledge and Godly living. Living Waters has all of these and more. I consider LWBC to be a premier discipleship and training camp in the Midwest region. What they lack in acreage they make up for in serious teaching and training. But all of this activity cannot happen without someone like Brant running the show from behind the scenes. Like all camp staff, Brant gets his hands dirty and loves to hang out with summer campers in the sunshine. They sing their hearts out to God and play their bodies out to exhaustion. Brant loves this, but his calling is in the details. A $650,000 budget, a staff team and hundreds of campers will fall into chaos without someone managing the details.

On the day I visited him, I tried to make myself useful by folding brochures and stuffing envelopes for a large ministry mailing. I’m not a detail guy but I can stuff envelopes for a few hours with the best of them. And I learned the coolest trick from Brant for ‘licking’ the envelopes! He could certainly teach me a ton about running a crisp office. (Just don’t look too closely at mine!)

Brant is committed to balancing more than finances-his family and work life. The Hougas family lives off of camp grounds which affords them the opportunity to achieve the fine balance of commitment to ministry and family. I know the feeling all too well. For anyone whose vocation is ministry, there is an ever present feeling that ministry is never done. When you are doing ministry, you feel guilty for not being with your family and when you carve out time for family, you can start to feel like you should be doing ministry. I doubt Brant is always free of these same ministry pressures but he and Heather are committed to raising their precious girls in the fear and admonition of the Lord.

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