The founding servant of Kicking Bear was fatherless since age five and then at the age of 13, was picked up and put in jail for the fifth time due to truancy for skipping school and continued running away from his foster parent’s farm.
While in jail, this young man discovered a magazine that he hadn’t noticed before and began looking at all the animals. Ray wanted to find out if these places and animals were real. He was taken out of his depression state for a short period because he dared to dream those same dreams. That day things changed in his life when his social worker, Tom, picked him up from jail and made a deal with him. If you promise me you won’t run away from the foster home again, I will take you hunting with my sons and me. In the meantime, I will find a better place for you to live. Tom kept his promise and showed up! In a short time, Ray had life-long dreams put in his heart.
He dreamed of all the big game animals across the US. There were also bountiful offerings in Alaska to include dangerous animals such as grizzly bears and polar bears in Northwest Territories. Beyond the borders of our country, there were moose in Canada and deer in Mexico. He then discovered the vast and plentiful Plains of Africa and scenery that few hunters ever see, let alone the average citizen.
Now a full-grown man, this avid outdoorsman learned that the Lord had a greater mission in mind. Much like Moses in the Bible, who was handed a staff by God and sent out to spread the Word, a bow took the staff’s place in Ray’s hands. The bow would serve as the tool for the mission of what would come to be known as Kicking Bear Ministry.
The ministry has taken kids off the streets for the past 21 years, following their mission statement: “Put a bow in a kid’s hand and lead their family to the Lord one-on-one.” The very same passions that took this young hunter on travels around the world that few could dream of has become an unstoppable life mission.
KBM camps are found all over the US, as the Word and locations continue to grow each year. During an average year, there are well over 100 events with an average attendance of 600 people. In the past 21 years, no youth has paid to attend these events. Any kid can attend these camps no matter their financial status. The theme of the centers is to get your kid and a kid from outside your own home.
I witnessed firsthand the excitement and appeal at my first camp this summer near LaCrosse, Wisconsin. Despite 2020 being a year challenged by COVID, KBM worked closely with local health officials, which allowed them to host yet another successful get together.
During my firsthand three-hour tour from the founding servant, Never have I witnessed in my life the excitement, passion, and devotion to any other organization, nor have I seen a group of kids this large having this much fun. Upon entering the grounds, a gigantic water slide set up on a long sloping hill attracted plenty of kids and adults during this 90 degrees Summer day. As I stood on this plateau watching everyone laugh and get wet, I was able to look out over the spacious grounds for an overview of all the activity stations. The most impressive things about this event were the organization of this event and how well countless volunteers organized everything while working in unison. Some of these volunteers began as young kids attending these events years ago and are now returning full circle as adults with their children as they help the incoming youth enjoy the ministry’s Word.
We walked the grounds, and there were many archery stations and games, including tomahawk throwing. I stopped to watch and found myself an eager participant throwing a tomahawk for the first time. Hitting the target four out of six attempts, I felt like a little kid having a blast and thought that I wish there was an activity like this when I was a kid 50 years ago. There were relay races, obstacle courses, and a station for kids to shoot at a fishing target out in the water as we continued to walk. A fishing reel attached to the bow returned the young archer’s arrow after firing at a large carp decoy.
Members of the Wisconsin DNR, conservation wardens, and local law enforcement also had organized stations with activities for youth to interact positively with these authority figures. It’s important to instill positive thoughts and interactions with authority at a young age, in my opinion. This event did an excellent job of promoting the exchanges mentioned above.
There were several group gatherings during the event for everyone to share the gospel and hear the Lord’s Word. One of these events’ highlights inevitably ends up being a bonfire with a colossal marshmallow fight that leaves everyone in attendance smiling and laughing, followed by sharing the gospel. KBM lets everyone know to keep following their dreams and that no matter what their problems may be, God has a purpose for them, and it’s not the “garbage” on the streets. Later in the evening, while the fireworks were going off, there were several baptisms for those who had accepted Jesus as their personal Savior and to let the world know they had received the Lord in their life. With all the challenges we face in modern life, I can’t think of a better way for families to spend a day participating in an activity that brings everyone together in a much closer bond.
KBM encourages kids to pursue those dreams and ensuring that dreams do come true. KBM also organizes mentored group hunting and fishing trips for the youth at no cost to their families. These events are the single most generous promotion of archery geared toward youth and their families that anyone could ask. If you’ve never attended a Kicking Bear event, you’re missing out, and I encourage you to take your children there to attend one.
Live the dream. Be the dream. You are the dream.
By Rick Pedersen | Photos: Rick Pedersen | Originally Published 2020 – UniMinds Media