WRBA WILD GAME DINNER 2011

The participants begin to gather for the meal

White River Baptist Association hosted its first annual Wild Game Dinner on Saturday, April 16.   153 men and boys (a few daughters attended also) participated in event held at the Exhibit Building at Baxter County Fairgrounds.  The menu included deer burgers, wild hog, and few unnamed entrees that tasted similar to opposum.  The meal was supplemented by covered dishes provided by the participants.

David Small kicks off the event

The program included brief introductions to our ministries by the WRBA Family Ministry Team leader (Randy Livingston) and WRBA Associational Missionary (Maurice Hitt).  David Small and Jim Brown, two of the planning committee members, shared their vision for future wild game dinners, and kicked off the event.  The pastors who were present were introduced along with the full planning committee.

Estel Grigg shares today's turkey hunt

After a great meal, Estel Grigg shared this morning's successful turkey hunt by his son and granddaughter.  (It made me wish my grandsons lived close enough for me to take them hunting.)  After an inspiring video of pro fisherman, Hank Parker, who shared his salvation testimony, Eric Smeltzer closed the service with a message on how God can take a "mess" and straighten out a person's life through forgiveness that only God can give.   

 Eric, pastor of The River Bible Church in Mountain Home, took a simple illustration of getting his dad's fishing reel all tangled-up, and by his father's skill, put the reel in order.  In the same way, God can take our mess and by His grace He can clean us up.

Eric Smeltzer share a testimony of God's grace

The Family Ministry Team of WRBA are already planning for next year's event.  Thank you for all the effort to make this year's Men and Boys Wild Game Dinner a successful event that is intended to draw us closer to the Lord and to our families.