A little over five years ago I met Woody Shoemaker. We were both pastors. Most recently he had pastored in the Flint Hills in rural Kansas. I had pastored in the lovely village of Fremont, Michigan. Our families both had relocated to downtown Flint, Michigan to take part in a ministry housed in a sixteen-story hotel. He headed up the college program and I was the director of the building.
While we were working together, Woody would stop by my office. I would brew coffee and we would talk theology, discuss the ministry, and compare notes. We enjoyed rich Christian fellowship. Our boys were buddies. It was a great privilege, but it was an adjustment for both of us. We both loved the outdoors and the hotel was in the heart of the city.
We both found ways to adjust. He would visit his home in Kansas from time-to-time and ride his horses. I would get away to speak at camps and churches around Michigan. When he was gone I would keep an eye open for his charges. When I was gone he covered for me. When one of us would leave we would sincerely wish the other a season of refreshment.
Once when Woody had been away for a few days, his number showed up on my cell phone. When I answered there was noise on the line. It was the wind blowing over the mouthpiece on his phone.
“Ken?”
“Hey Woody, how are you?”
“I couldn’t be better. I’m sitting on a knoll and I can see for miles in every direction. I am on horseback. I have the wind in my face and the sun on my back. I can get a little reception here and I wanted to call and describe what I am doing.”
“Hey, Woody. I couldn’t be happier for you. Everything is under control here. Take your time. We’ll save some dirty jobs for when you get back.”
A few months later, travelling to a speaking engagement in west Michigan I scheduled a day on the Leelanau Peninsula and an afternoon hike out to Pyramid Point. The sky was clear, the lake was blue, and the islands were emerald green in the fresh air of spring. I stood high over the water and drank in the beauty. I called Woody and described the scene before me. He rejoiced with me and assured me that everything was under control.
Woody and his wife Gail and Lois and I would go out to eat from time-to-time. It was always lively, good, Christian fellowship when we were together. If I had known what that last year and a half would bring I would have gone out to eat with them more often.
We went our separate ways, Woody back to Kansas by way of Indianapolis, and Lois and I to a pastorate in Michigan. Gail got sick last year with cancer and just a few months ago went to heaven. She died gracefully, leaving a good testimony behind, a husband who loved her, three sons and three daughters who are walking with the Lord. The first thing I thought when I heard she had gone to be with the Lord was – I wonder how she would describe it if she could call us on the cell phone right now.
If she called I would want a full description and I would tell her that we will all get together one day and continue our long-suspended conversation.
Ken Pierpont
Granville Cottage
Riverview, Michigan
January 27, 2008
This brought tears to my eyes. Carol Kussy, my best friend did the same, they were in the Smokeys and we were in Warrenton, MO working at CEF and she called and told me all about the beautiful sites. I too wonder what she would say now. The streets are gold and there is no pain where she is and most of all she has seen our precious Jesus. She could have taken us with her but we need a righteous death in the Lord’s timing. She died June 25, 2007. Please pray for her family.
I would like to have met Carol. I will someday. You can introduce us. Thanks for commenting. I enjoyed watching the Southern Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia conversation in the foyer last night.
I remember meeting the Shoemakers in the summer of 2004 when the Family Fellowship Bible Church was meeting at the township hall north of Imlay City. Mr. Shoemaker introduced himself (just his name—“Hi, I’m Woody”), asked if our girls were twins (we get that a lot), and talked with us a few minutes about our obvious, upcoming blessing (I was a few weeks away from baby #4’s arrival). He introduced his family and that was that. I remember thinking they sure were a nice family and I hoped they’d come back to the church for another visit. I was surprised when I learned who he was and what his position was. He could have introduced him as “Mr. So-and-so, president of Such-and-such College,” as many Christian leaders often do. His humility made an impression on us. His good name follows him.
God bless!
The older I get and start to understand a few things about life, the more I respect the man Mr. Shoemaker is, the vision he has, and the things he trying to accomplish.
You’re a good man, Josiah. I hope we can all have coffee and take in a session of the conference together next week, if possible. Could you look into taking in an evening session or something?
Maybe I’ll give you a call here in a day or so, I’m also trying to convince Chuk that we wants to come check out Rochester for a couple days…we’ll see how it all sorts itself out. I’d love to see all you guys, swap stories, and down some high quality dark roast coffee. I’ll take a look at the conf. schedule tonight.
God bless.
It has been very interesting to have a Google Alert for Blogs on “Kansas Flint Hills!”
Yours came up today!
We have a 22 county Flint Hills Tourism Coalition, Inc. promoting visits to the Kansas Flint Hills — this is the website: https://www.kansasflinthills.travel/
Our web site is to promote the Kansas Flint Hills; and we were so happy to be in the 22 page color photo spread in National Geographic’s April Issue on the Kansas Flint Hills, as a distinctive landscape. We are now working to get the Kansas Flint Hills designated as a National Heritage Area.
We would appreciate a link from your site, to ours, if you are willing to do so. THANKS!
Best wishes!
Bill 😉
Personal Blog: https://flinthillsofkansas.blogspot.com/