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The 2023 Kicking Bear Banquet By Kevin Bonnar “…not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:2 The annual Kicking Bear Banquet returned this year on May 11th. The ministry was blown away by how many amazing volunteers and sponsors stepped up to bring this event back after a three-year break. Banquet Champion Justin Briski led an awesome banquet planning team and as table/ticket sales opened up it was such a blessing to see the list of attendees grow and grow so quickly. Over 750 people packed the Omni Center in Onalaska, WI and the night was truly amazing. We were blessed by Tammy Kohler who kicked off the night with the National Anthem which got everyone fired up for the night. Austin Siewert did a great job MCing the event as we shared a delicious meal, had various opportunities to win prizes, and just filled the room with fellowship. During the program part of the evening, we shared a new video of Kicking Bear’s impact over the years, check it out here. We also celebrated the youth hunts by presenting some young hunters with deer mounts, turkey fans, and a bearskin rug that had all been harvested on Kicking Bear hunts. Seeing all the kiddos who have gone on hunts these past couple of years really was a powerful way of showing how many lives have been touched by the ministry and all the awesome mentors and guides who take kids hunting. We also honored our beloved Karen with this video as Tammy sang Raise a Hallelujah. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house. This was followed up with Ray sharing the Gospel and the salvation poem. Tammy really blessed us again with her gifts that night by singing a beautiful song about the salvation prayer composed by Matt and Sherry McPherson. You could hear a pin drop as God moved through the words and the music. It was awesome! One highlight of the night was when The Cheerful Giver Award was presented to longtime Kicking Bear family member Greg “Sarge” Symons. Sarge has served with such a beautiful heart for many, many years. Ray tells the story of Sarge pulling up to a camp years ago and noticing Ray needed a hand. As he would do for the next couple of decades, Sarge gave his “yes” and did what needed to be done to help families. Over the years Sarge has mentored kiddos, taught hunter’s safety, guided hunts, helped at camps/events, and just been the hands and feet of Jesus over and over again. Even the morning of the banquet Sarge reached out to me to drop off a turkey fan he had done for one of the youth hunters from this spring’s hunt. Then as we were cleaning up the night of the banquet, Sarge was one of the last ones to leave as he was helping stack chairs and roll tables. We pray continually for Godly men and women to step up and help fuel the work God does through Kicking Bear and we are so thankful for Sarge being an example of answered prayer and an inspiration for us all. THANK YOU, Sarge! Check out this video to see some memories from Sarge’s service over the years. All of us on the Kicking Bear team just want to say thank you so much to everyone who volunteered, sponsored, and attended the banquet this year. It was the largest and most successful banquet to date and the real impact is still to be seen. The war chest is full and the funds raised are going to help fuel the ministry as we work hard to reach more kids and families with the love of Jesus and the hope of salvation through the Gospel. We are adding and training more regional champions, adding new camps in new areas, offering more hunting and fishing trips with kids and so much more. So, THANK YOU Kicking Bear family! |
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