We need prayer warriors. Please go to the Lord and ask Him to give us great wisdom. We were very excited when Uplands made the long-term agreement with the owner of Lone Hickory Arena. The plan was for the arena to be the new home of URCC. The agreement would have allowed us time to learn the operation and then begin to direct all the events. Our desire was that every event would glorify the Lord and the Gospel of Christ be shared. Many in the horse world travel every weekend and have little time for involvement with the church. The opportunity to share Christ at every event was the major drawing force that caused us to make our decision and move our family and ministry to Yadkinville.

 

Since the original agreement, a daughter of the owner has decided she wants the arena to go in a different direction. She has shared that she does not desire to honor our agreement. This situation is a major change from the great things that we had envisioned. We have walked through this situation for 18 months. Sue and I have spent forty-six years trying to build and keep families together. Staying would only cause conflict in the owner’s family. The owner is a friend and we have tried to make the situation work.

 

We have made the very difficult decision to step away from the arena.

Our hearts are broken because we saw the incredible potential of what could have occurred. Please pray because we are going to start brand new and develop a barn that Joanna can use to reach kids and teens. A nice stall barn and outdoor corral on a small piece of land would be an incredible way to reach young people. We plan to name the barn Simeon Stables because Simeon means, “One who hears and obeys.” The theme verse for the barn is Isaiah 43:18-19, “Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.”

 

Sue, Joanna, and I can commit that we will be faithful to our call and keep reaching people with the Gospel. We have served Christ for forty-six years and believe the Lord is in control even in the midst of our broken hearts. Thank you for being faithful. The Lord is going to do even greater things than we had originally anticipated. Look for future updates where we will share more of the vision. It will be a God-sized miracle, and all we want is for Jesus to get all the glory.