A "BIT" of HISTORY
“A Name for my Horse”
“I would like to Help”
“Help Me Lord”
“I can do it Aunt Cathie!
“A Name for my Horse”
The beginning of Bible Scriptures leading the way for evangelism through horses.
Early one June morning in 2000, Cathie asked the Lord, when she had her own horse if she could name him Jeddediah and call him Jed? The Lord impressed upon her the name Genesis! “Oh! We can name the horses after the books of the Bible so we may share Bible verses with the children when they come to the farm!” was her response.
That afternoon during an evaluation horse ride, they soon discovered … once a barrel horse, always a barrel horse and that this particular horse would not be suitable for beginning riders. At the end of the ride Cathie recalled a verse in Philippians 3:12-14 that she was teaching in her Sunday School class about “letting go of the old and making room for the new”; they ended in prayer making plans to return the horse and wait for the new.
Arriving back home late that same day Cathie received an email from Kaleb’s mom, Kathy, regarding a registered Thoroughbred gelding. She hesitated to call but with Kathy’s insistence she did. At the end of the visit regarding the Thoroughbred Cathie asked, “By the way what is the name of your horse?” and the reply will live within JAKES Club’s history … Genesis!
This began the most wonderful relationship with a woman that was not only willing to share herself with the ministry in many different capacities over the years but also her beloved and well disciplined horse…“Genesis”! These were the steps that began how the ministry would wait upon the Lord for horses and name them for a chapter and verse from the Bible.
“I would like to Help”
The beginning of the Administration Department.
Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
A dear friend shared “I would like to help by giving you a check, but Cathie I really think J.A.K.E.S. Club needs to get qualified so you might receive other gifts.” Cathie’s response came while she went into the kitchen to get her a pen, “Yes, you are right and we will be before the end of the year!” That response was the beginning of the ministry's Administration Department and the steps that would be taken by qualified volunteers the Lord brought into her path.
The first volunteer was a wonderful woman who was a CPA. She shared the directions over the phone on where and how to contact the State of Missouri to submit the “Articles of Incorporation” of a nonprofit corporation August of 2000 and also the Registration of J.A.K.E.S. Club’s DBA which would then be revised to JAKES Club in 2007. The next step in September of 2000 was a little more detailed to apply for the IRS 501(c)(3) status but through patience and prayer over each question the application was submitted and approved in October 2000.
This would be just the beginning of many answers to prayer for help and guidance from: forming the Board of Directors, making sure the special needs families would always be represented and forming an Advisory Council that would help teach and guide the Equine Department. Always believing in Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
“Help Me Lord”
The beginning of the Advisory Council, Jim Peddicord, DVM, George Allen, Professional Farrier and Trainer combining over 80 years of experience!
Psalm 30:10 Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon me: LORD, be thou my helper.
On a dark, cold evening in 2000, the Perry family huddled around in the rented barn north of Oak Grove, Missouri awaiting Dr. Peddicord to see a very old sick horse. The Doctor examined the horse but before completing his visit they asked him to evaluate everything in the barn from: stalls, feed, supplements, hay and tack. They sought his council so they might create a safe environment for the horses in their care.
Very early the next morning the phone rang to the voice of George Allen who the family would grow to love dearly. He said, “I do not know why but I have been thinking of you all through the night and upon arising I asked my wife Barb if we had an appointment for that new organization that called awhile back?” The call reminded Cathie that she had phoned to see if this missionary to the Arizona Indians would be available to be their Farrier. She eagerly accepted his expertise.
With the combined efforts of Dr. Peddicord, George & Barb Allen, Cathie’s husband Joe with his years of new home safe building standards experience and Kaleb’s family in the special needs community, these talented and professional individuals began Jesus And Kids Evangelistic Saddle Club’s Advisory Council.
“I can do it Aunt Cathie!”
Kaleb creates the Therapeutic Saddle Club – TSC
Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more then all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ...
One afternoon in the winter of 2002 Kaleb and his mom Kathy arrived at the indoor stable and arena where Genesis, JAKES Club horse was boarding. Jacob and Cathie had arrived late that day and were not prepared; they did not even have the tack unpacked from the trunk of the car. Kaleb being the helper and hard worker that he is said, “I will help Aunt Cathie.” So the foursome set out to prepare Genesis for his ride with the boys. Jacob or the adults always rode first to warm Genesis up and to just make sure the horse was being attentive and listening.
This particular day Cathie rode first then Kaleb and his mom got his mounting block while Jacob held the horse for Kaleb to mount. He was having difficulty mounting and seemed not to understand the concept. So, as they do on many occasions during horsemanship and riding times stopped and prayed. After doing so the concept was clear, “Jacob would you please teach Kaleb to mount and dismount?” As Kathy held Genesis, Kaleb and Cathie stood back to watch. Jacob being Kaleb’s peer model demonstrated the technique of: mounting from the mounting block, walk-on his horse a few steps, whoa and dismount without the aide of the mounting block. “Everybody say Yeah, Jacob!” was the cheer that soon became a JAKES Club trademark!
Cathie proceeded to ask Kaleb to go to the mounting block and prepare to mount by gathering his mane and reins. As she began to help put Kaleb’s foot into the stir-up he very firmly and with solid confidence said, “I can do it Aunt Cathie!”
This day ended with great joy and thanksgiving as they saw the Lord leading! No longer would they call Kaleb’s horsemanship and riding Kaleb’s class but they saw a new beginning for wonderful children to have their own Saddle Club, a Therapeutic Saddle Club! Which claimed his or her motto would be … “Every rider is able with Jesus in the stable!"