Life Promotions

I can honestly say it’s not been easy, especially for my wife, Carol.  She and I have been married for 28 years, all of which I have been in ministry.  We have raised 5 children, have 2 grandchildren, and had our special needs sister Lois living with us for12 years.

I have averaged 180 days a year on the road in ministry.  I think I can relate in just a small way to what a soldier deployed to war must feel like.  Each time I head out to the front lines of ministry, I leave a family  behind at home that waits for my return, and a wife who tries to deal with life, the house and the kids.

We have always said that we will not sacrifice our family, but as a family, we will sacrifice.  Carol has led the way in sacrifice, from making it on one salary, a ministry salary at that, to being a single mom half the year.  I cannot thank her enough because she has been the rock in our family.  She has served like Jesus served.  Many times she has been lonely and sad, not to mentioned stressed with all the pressures of everyday life.

When we do birthdays at our house we always make sure to give verbal gifts to the birthday person.  On Carol’s birthday the kids always talk about how mom was always there for them at every play and sporting event, or when they were sick or just needed a hug.

I once wrote an article that included the words, “I believe in women’s lib, but I don’t believe in house wives.”  By that phrase I meant that I believe women should be liberated to be all that God has called them to be, yet no one has ever been married to a house.  I am the one who is Carol’s husband.  She is my wife.

I get so mad when people say, “Oh, your wife didn’t work.”  She may not have worked outside the house, but she sure has worked inside the home.

I want to say publically to my wife, Carol, that by choosing to be a full time mother and homemaker for our kids, you reached the highest position you could ever have attained, no matter what job, position or profession you could have gotten outside of that.  It is your calling and you have loved well.  I hear the Father saying, “Well done good and faithful servant.”

Yet now our lives have changed again.  With our kids grown and opportunities to minister continuing to open and grow, Carol has been able to travel with me.  She has come along to help with our booth, merchandise and promoting Compassion International on the road.  She joined me on one of our trips this past February.  I was speaking for schools and rallies.  During the school program the gymnasium was filling up with 700+ lively junior high kids.  The guidance counselor shared the challenges they faced with high dropout rates, home issues, abuse and drug problems.  I looked around to see the gym abuzz with loud noise and chatter.

Then they introduced AJ the Illusionist who has worked with me for 20 years.  AJ grabbed their attention and the kids were riveted and roared with laughter.  I noticed that even the at-risk kids who were kind of off to the side even got into it.  The hope, joy, love and laughter was so strong in that building.  To see these kids laughing and enjoying themselves and seeing a purpose in life was overwhelming.  I looked at my wife Carol and saw she had tears streaming down her face.  “This is what it’s all about,” she said.

Then I went up to speak and God was gracious to touch these kids with value, purpose and a message of truth.  Afterwards, kids lined up to talk to me.  When they left, Carol came up to me and gave me a hug, “This is why I support you.  This is why I endure all the times you’re gone on the road.  This is what I know you’re called to do.”

That night we held a rally at a local church.  The youth group that organized it and also arranged to have us speak in the school was made up of only 15 people.  They had big dreams, hoping that 200 people would come.  I was skeptical, knowing that kids are less likely to come back out to a church instead of an event back in their school.  But they had faith that their friends would come back out to hear about Christ.

Oh me of little faith.  They had 360 people come out.  They had to use every chair in the church, including those from the choir room.  112 kids received Christ that night.  Carol looked at me again, with tears filling her eyes, and said, “Bob, it’s worth it all, and it’s been worth it all.”

This May, like every year, we will celebrate Mother’s Day.  So I want to take this time to personally say thank you to the mom of my 5 kids.  Carol, you have impacted this world through loving and raising our kids, and you have impacted this world as being a partner with me in ministry.  We are a team together.  Happy Mother’s Day.  I love you more than words can say.

For the Kingdom,

Founder & President
Life Promotions, Inc

 

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