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FALL 2018 The Journal of Christian Veterinary Mission Christian Veterinarian in the
FALL 2018
The Journal of Christian Veterinary Mission
Christian Veterinarian
in the
© Christian Veterinary Mission 2018. All rights reserved.
In this issue of the Journal we invited veterinary professionals to share about when they saw God show
up in a surprising way amidst difficult circumstances. These are their own personal Isaiah 43 stories about
when God did something new, made a roadway in the wilderness or rivers in the desert.
Whether you are working in a clinic or in a remote culture, God is at work in a special way as you serve
others and live out your faith in the veterinary profession. Hope springs anew when we see God doing
something new in unexpected ways.
Page 3
Perspectives
Page 4
A Lifeline in the Valley
Page 7
My Source of Hope
Page 10
Somehow
Page 14
Clinging to God’s Promises
Page 18
Trophies in Heaven
Page 22
Securely Anchored by Christ
Contents Fall 2018
Hope | cvm.org 3
Perspectivesby Dr. Kit Flowers, CVM President
We each have memories of our own times of struggle through difficult
circumstances. We have similar recollec-tions of others we observed walk through dark times. These challenges may have left us with scars. But we have also seen God's deliverance and help. Such events become part of the foundation of our faith journey. Because of these experiences, we are able to stand in new difficulties as we remember to anchor our hope in Christ. We develop that sure and steadfast hope.
The writer of Hebrews challenges us that we may have, “strong encouragement” in times of challenges and difficulties. In tough circumstances we need refuge and we need to ‘lay hold of the hope that is set before us’ (Heb 6:18). That hope is an anchor for our soul, sure and steadfast.
We have encouraged the authors in this jour-nal to speak to such a hope found through their own experiences. A hope that is an-chored in Christ even in the midst of chal-lenge and difficulty, and one that reflects God’s promises as they live out their faith, reliant on this hope.
“Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth, will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.” -Isaiah 43:19
Perhaps you have not yet found that road-way in the wilderness or the river in your desert. Keep looking to Jesus, the author and
finisher of your faith. When you have seen those roads and rivers, be sure to share that testimony with others to encourage them in their faith journey.
Serving through the profession of veteri-nary medicine at home or overseas enables veterinary professionals to help others dis-cover hope in the challenges they are going through. Some challenges relate to their love and care for their pets. The trust relationship built with you as their veterinarian gives you the opportunity to share in many life circumstances. Consider how you can be a minister of hope. We invite you to learn how to be more effective during such times by signing up for a Real Life Real Impact weekend event near you or by engaging in the free E-learning trainings we have avail-able on the CVM website.
Please join us in faithful prayer and financial support so that CVM can continue to share these stories and challenge others to join His kingdom work through Christian Veterinary Mission. We are all messengers of hope.
Dr. Kit FlowersCVM President
4 | Christian Veterinarian Fall 2018
Have you ever noticed that people, in-cluding you, can experience such deep
valleys in life? Sometimes they almost seem too deep to climb out of without help. There are times when we look for an easier escape: that tram to take us to the top, or that train, or a plane, or a genie to magically remove us from the valley and place us high up on the mountain top.
Unfortunately, the thing that gets us up and out of a spiri-tual valley doesn’t come from manmade things. When we are weary or burdened, Jesus tells us in Matt 11:28, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Jesus becomes our hope and assurance in those gloomy, dark days. When He says come, we gird up and draw closer to Him.
Many of us are walking in that valley today. To borrow from another, “We are either in the valley, just came out of it, or are fixing to go into it.” John 16:33 tells us, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” When we walk with the Lord, we are guaranteed that there will be difficulties and that Satan will do his best to push us right off that mountain top and
down a slippery slope into the valley. The Bible is full of individuals that experienced mountain top to valley experiences and maintained their trust in God throughout.
Our theme verse for the year is Hebrews 6:16, “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul,
firm and secure.” It talks about being tied to the promises God has given to never leave or forsake us. When we are shaken, bent or broken, our hearts are heavy, but He tells us to place all that burden on Him.
Just as an anchor is tethered to a ship to keep it from drifting, I am tethered by a life-line to the Rock at the top of the mountain. When I am sliding or
face down in the valley, I have the assurance of knowing that I have a life line to the one who made me, who knew me before I was formed, who loves me so much that while I was a sinner He sent His son to die for me. I ask myself, “If I can believe that He holds my eternity in His hands, why wouldn’t I be-lieve that He has me right now in His hands? Where is my faith when I walk through the valley of the shadow of death?” I stand firm, knowing that my faith is built on nothing less than the blood of Jesus Christ. I want to
A Lifeline in the Valleyby Dr. Glen Gaines
“WHEN I AM SLIDING OR FACE DOWN IN THE VALLEY, I HAVE THE ASSURANCE OF
KNOWING THAT I HAVE A LIFE LINE TO THE
ONE WHO MADE ME.”
Hope | cvm.org 5
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6 | Christian Veterinarian Fall 2018
be like Daniel in the lion’s den, or like Joseph (one of my heroes) standing strong in the face of being falsely accused, or like Shadrach in the furnace of fire without being burned.
I could list many of the Old Testament folks as an example of endurance. God never let go of them or the promise that was afforded to them. He remained a fortress and an an-chor when the storms of life were beating down on them.
Today I am walking alongside my wife as she experiences health issues. There is es-trangement from a son, daughter-in-law, and three grandchildren who don’t even know us. Still, I continue to trust in the Lord. There are earthly moments of despair, but I grab hold of the lifeline that tethers me to my Rock, and look for others who are going through what I am. Helping hold each other’s arms up in the
battle—like Aaron and Hur did with Moses—we use our hope to support one another. We are never alone in our walk, so be prepared to share the hope you have in Christ Jesus by helping His people.
The Lord says in Isaiah 43:18-19, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the waste-land. We cannot keep looking back on the negative “woe is me” scenario. Jesus said, “Take heart, I have overcome the world.” We fix our eyes ahead to the time that we will be forever united with Him in the heavens, our real hope. No more tears or heartaches await us someday. Tell everyone around you about the lifeline of hope you have in Jesus.
DR. GLEN GAINES, DVM
Glenn Gaines DVM. Kathy and he live in Brenham, TX. Texas A&M 1982 graduate. He was in mixed and equine
practice until 2007. Since 1995, he has traveled to 8 countries serving on short term mission trips. In 2007, he and Kathy
traveled to Mongolia and stayed until 2010. Upon returning to the U.S., he has served as the the South Central US
Region Representative for CVM. Hobbies are teaching men’s bible studies, cattle raising, and wood and metal working.
Hope | cvm.org 7
For the past 40 years I’ve kept a journal of my Christian walk. During this time,
I’ve been in private veterinary practice, served in Haiti with CVM, completed a PhD/residency program in veterinary pa-thology, worked as a diagnostic patholo-gist and a toxicology pathologist, raised four children with my wife, lost a sibling, watched my in-laws waste away with Al-zheimer’s, and lived in three different states. My journal continues to remind me that God’s been faithful to me and has been my source of hope t hrough many challenges.
What does hope really mean for us as followers of Jesus? Hebrews 6:19-20 states, “We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that en-ters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf.” Our hope is in the glory of God. Je-sus Christ is the object of our hope because at His second coming the hope of glory will be fulfilled. Because of this steadfast anchor of hope, I’ve come to an understanding of the Apostle Paul’s perspective:
“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our
Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suf-fering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame,
because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:1-5, ESV)
When we were living in Haiti, our 5-year-old son was bitten by a stray dog. Rabies was very common then and we had no
access to an immune serum or vaccine, and no way to get back to the U.S. quickly. We prayed and committed the situation to the Lord. And, although we had never seen the dog before, it returned to our home daily (en-couraged by the food we offered), giving us assurance that it was not rabid. God pro-tected our son.
We were also in rural Haiti during the rev-olution of 1986 when ‘Baby Doc’ Duvalier was exiled. During those unsettling days, we frequently heard shooting in the night, houses were destroyed, and people slashed
My Source of Hopeby Dr. Rod Frank
“IN EVERY STAGE OF LIFE, GOD HAS BEEN MY SOURCE
OF HOPE.”
8 | Christian Veterinarian Fall 2018
Dr. Rob Frank with a partner in Haiti.
Hope | cvm.org 9
with machetes or killed were brought to the hospital daily. Even then, God provided hope. He brought a group of Haitian broth-ers and sisters from a remote community where we had worked to pray with our fam-ily for our safety.
God’s Word reminds me of His faithful-ness when I read how He brought Moses, Job, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, David, Jeremiah, Paul and many others through far more try-ing circumstances than I’ve endured. The same God that provided for these men and for me has called you into a relationship with Him through His Son Jesus. He’s at work in our lives and gives us hope as we receive and follow Him.
More recently, God provided hope through a very busy season of l ife with tight deadlines, the loss of a job, and an extended time away from my wife as she ministered to family mem-bers. I can unequivocally agree with Jeremiah: “But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faith-
fulness. 'The LORD is my portion,' says my soul, “therefore I will hope in Him.” (Lamentations 3:21-24, ESV)
In every stage of life, God has been my source of hope. Now, as I enter retirement I look forward to seeing how God will con-tinue to work and prepare me for His return. All to His glory.
DR. ROD FRANK, DVM
Rod Frank recently retired from Zoetis as Senior Research Director. He has a DVM degree from University of Illinois
and a Ph.D. from University of Minnesota in veterinary pathology. Rod has served on the Board of Advisors for CVM
and on the Board of Directors for ECHO. He and his family served with CVM in Haiti for two and a half years in the
1980s. He’s also been a teaching and discussion leader with BSF for many years. Rod worked in private veterinary
practice and held faculty positions at Kansas State University and University of Minnesota. Rod is an active member
of Calvary Bible Church and lives with his wife, Nancy, in Kalamazoo. They have four grown children.
10 | Christian Veterinarian Fall 2018
Dr. Patty Scharko with a patient.
Hope | cvm.org 11
Thirty-five years ago I was about to graduate from the University of Geor-
gia and needed a job. I interviewed at a number of practices in South and North Carolina. I wanted to do mixed practice but had no farm background and my only large animal experience was in veterinary school. As I searched, either the practices were not the right match or they did not offer me a position.
Somehow, I ra n across an advertise-ment for an ambu-latory internship at Tufts University, and somehow, my hus-band Tommy and I found the funds to fly to New England so I could interview with the ambulatory clinician who was on duty that weekend. While there, we saw lots of interesting cas-es and had a very busy time up all the way up to the time of departure. In fact, we left late, and traffic was so slow that it took forever to return the rental car. Some-how, we just barely made it on the plane at Hartford airport to depart for Georgia and arrive on time to continue my senior rotation. Then somehow, Tufts Ambula-tory decided to offer the internship to me.
But was it really SOMEHOW?
I believe it was God’s specific guidance and my listening that worked out my circumstances perfectly. It also helped
that God opened specific doors and closed others along the way. This was the first time that Tufts University of-fered an Ambula-tory internship and it was a unique op-portunity. I learned so much from those great veterinarians during that time. We also joined a tiny, lo-cal church where our arrival increased at-tendance by 10%. Several times when
the minister preached a longer message, my pager would let us all know that it was noon and time to go…there were animals calling for care.
I learned that “casted withers” was really a prolapsed uterus. The small ruminant farm owners preferred my smaller hands for deliveries. One dairy producer, who always looked like he needed a shave and a laundry mat, was shaved and in a clean white shirt when I arrived for a routine herd- health visit. After the students head-
Somehowby Dr. Patty Scharko
“I BELIEVE THAT IT WAS GOD’S
SPECIFIC GUIDANCE AND MY LISTENING THAT WORKED OUT MY CIRCUMSTANCES
PERFECTLY.”
12 | Christian Veterinarian Fall 2018
ed to the vehicle for departure, and I was cleaning up, he asked if I was married. I showed him that I had a wedding ring and he was back to unshaven and dirty shirt at the next herd-health visit.
Being in New England and driving the back roads to the farms, I was constantly reminded that I was living the James Her-riot “All Creatures Great and Small” life. There were days I felt that if I saw one more mastitis or retained placenta case, I would go spay dogs and cats for a while. The feeling quickly passed as there were several memorable calvings in Rhode Is-land. On a midnight call, I found myself in a barn with a down cow and a group of men staring down at me. I realized that they had each taken a turn trying to de-liver the calf . I sent a quick prayer for help. The cow was tired and dry, but with some lubricant and manipulation, I was able to deliver the calf. It helped to have God’s help and smaller hands for that delivery!
Isaiah 43:19 says “See I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not per-ceive it? I am making a way in the wilder-ness and streams in the wasteland.” I look back on 35 years of practice and can see how one thing led to another as my ca-reer grew, teaching at the Atlantic Veteri-nary College, as extension veterinarian at University of Kentucky, and currently as extension/field veterinarian at Clemson University Livestock Poultry Health. I saw new things spring up and God made a way. I am confident that God always has a plan, and we have to do our part. Somehow, we get out of bed in the morning, put on our shoes (or boots) and we go to do something great. Somehow, when God guides and we listen, our circumstances fall in line with His plans.
DR. PATTY SCHARKO, DVM
Dr. Patty Scharko earned a D.V.M. from UGA and a Master’s in Public Health from UNC- Chapel Hill. She completed
internship at Tufts University Ambulatory and residency in production medicine at NCSU. Patty was on faculty at
the Atlantic Veterinary College in Prince Edward Island, Canada. Patty was an extension ruminant veterinarian at
the University of Kentucky, Livestock Disease Diagnostic Center. She is with Clemson University as extension/field
veterinarian at Livestock Poultry Health. Patty is president for American Association of Extension Veterinarians,
immediate past president for AASRP, past president for AABP, and ACVPM (American College of Veterinary Preventive
Medicine), and. She served on Christian Veterinary Mission board of advisors 2000-08, Mongolia STM, Haiti STM
and has attended 19 Real Life/Real Impacts.
During that first year as a DVM, it is important that wherever you are that you are spending time listening to God-
through reading the Bible, prayer, or what draws you closer to God. Also finding a church and other believers helps
during the harder times, difficult cases or clients, long hours, etc.
Hope | cvm.org 13
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14 | Christian Veterinarian Fall 2018
Clinging to God’s Promises
Anonymous
After years of persecution, I was ready to pack up my family and leave the mission
field. I was feeling so discouraged because the community I had been called to share the Gospel with was not only rejecting my message, they were threatening to kill my whole family if we didn’t leave.” These were the words of Pastor Daru, a national mission-ary who was sent by his church in 2008 to share the Gospel in an area very opposed to Christianity.
Pastor Daru grew up in a Hindu family and when he received Christ in his 20s he im-mediately felt the call to take the mes-sage of hope to plac-es where there were no churches. So he packed up his fam-ily and moved thou-sands of miles away to a different state in a remote Hindu stronghold. He built a small house there where he and one other family would have church services.
Soon Pastor Daru’s neighbors started tell-ing him that if he didn’t stop preaching the Gospel they would kill his family. People in the village wouldn’t give him any rights to water, and they would spit at him when he
walked by. Along with the physical perse-cution, his family was struggling financially because no one would give him jobs to do in the village. When asked why he didn’t just give up he said, “Every night I would lie in bed and ask God the same question: Do you still have a plan for me being here? And ev-ery night the answer was yes. I had hope that God had brought me there for a reason and had a plan. I clung to that hope in the midst of some very trying circumstances.”
In 2016 Pastor Daru was invited to attend an animal health training put on by one
of CVM’s long-term fieldworkers. In five days he learned all about how to care for animals—give de-wormers, vaccines, and basic medicines and treatments. Af-ter the training he re-turned to his village and started slowly putting into practice
what he had learned. He soon realized that, because there was no access to veterinary services or medicines, the people were quite open to him coming and treating their cows, goats, pigs and chickens.
“People who used to slam the door in my face and spit on me started calling me to come
“THROUGH VETERINARY MEDICINE GOD HAS OPENED DOORS IN A HINDU STRONGHOLD.”
16 | Christian Veterinarian Fall 2018
treat their cows and goats. Not only did they invite me in for tea, they started paying me for the medicines and services. After a few months, I started becoming known as ‘Pas-tor Doctor Daru.’ Even the head Hindu vil-lage priest invited me to his house for tea! Then he invited the CVM fieldworker and her team to come to our village to do an ani-mal health awareness training for everyone in the village. We were able to share the Gos-pel at this meeting and everyone listened to our message!”
It’s been two years since Pastor Daru re-ceived training as an animal health work-er. Since then he has helped train five other local missionaries in his area and they all work as a team, going door to door treating animals and sharing the Gospel with peo-ple. He has miraculous stories of cows be-ing healed of poisonous snake bites, FMD, and life-threatening infections. Their small church has grown so much that they don’t have room to meet in his house anymore and they plan on building a church.
He recently wrote to the CVM fieldworker, “I am so thankful to you for training me be-cause through veterinary medicine God has opened doors in a Hindu stronghold. Dur-ing these days we are giving a message that we are not Cow-eaters but Cow-savers. So we have been saying that God appointed us as a caretaker of animals. We are preaching this message and God is being glorified and people are coming to know Him.”
In Hebrews 6:19 it says that hope is the an-chor of our souls. Even though things may
feel hopeless at times, as believers we are never truly without hope. We always have God’s promises to cling to in the midst of the challenges and suffering we are expe-riencing. Pastor Daru’s story is an excellent reminder of this. He clung to God’s promises in the midst of a very disheartening time and never lost hope to the point of giving up. And now God is using him not only to save cows, but to save souls and bring people into His kingdom.
Hope | cvm.org 17
A pastoral veterinarian teaches local men how to inoculate a cow against disease.
18 | Christian Veterinarian Fall 2018
Hope | cvm.org 19
Trophies in Heavenby Dr. Scott Houser
We were working out of the Hard Rock Gospel Mission for a week on the
Navajo Reservation in the small town of Leupp, Arizona vaccinating dogs, cats, horses, sheep, goats and cows. Surgical castrations and teeth floating were also on the books. It was getting near the end of the day when a car pulled up and an older Navajo cowboy got out and slowly walked toward us like an old horse that had been rode hard and put up wet. He said, “My name is Sammy.” His family was traveling and had some questions about their cattle back home.
Before we answered, Dr. Bill wanted to know how Sammy won the trophy buck-le he was wearing. He proudly explained he was a long time bull rider. He was 65 when he took his last ride, and he was now 67. He gave a big belly laugh and said,
“My wife threatened to divorce me if I got up on one more bull.” (His last ride was on a buffalo that hooked him with a horn, tore his vest, and put him in the hospital.) Sam-my told us to come visit him sometime and he would show us his room full of bull rid-ing trophies and buckle winnings. He said,
“Someday I will split them all up between my children and grandchildren.” Then his
daughter showed us pictures of their heif-ers with lesions on their heads that looked typical of ringworm. We gave them advice on how to treat it, met the whole family, and were able to pray with them.
Two days later I pulled into a small ranch outside of Hard Rock, Arizona. A young Navajo cowboy introduced himself as Daniel. I asked him about the two Team Roping Trophy Trailers parked on his property and he said he had won them. I asked him how many saddles he had won
and he told me eight. Then I asked how many belt buckles he had won and he smiled and said, “I don’t know, I nev-er counted them.” We vaccinated his roping horses and sheep, and I was amazed at how he worked a rope to separate sheep and catch the one he
wanted. After that, we were able to pray for Daniel, his family, and their animals.
Like these men, we all enjoy being recog-nized for doing something well. As veteri-narians we know how hard it is to get into vet school and it’s a proud moment when we are finally called “doctor.” But these earthly treasures won’t go with us when
“YOU BECOME CHRIST’S HANDS AND FEET, YOU ALLOW HIS LOVE TO FLOW THROUGH YOU
TO OTHERS.”
20 | Christian Veterinarian Fall 2018
our time comes. They will be left behind for our families to keep or destroy.
I imagine when judgment day comes Christ will ask us what we did. Will our answer be, “I was a well-respected veteri-narian and was cited in several profession-al journals?” If so, I think He might say,
“That’s nice … but when I was thirsty did you give me water? When I was hungry did you feed me? When I needed clothes did you clothe me? When I needed shelter did you shelter me? When I was sick did you comfort me? When I was in jail did you visit me? When my animals were all I had did you help me take care of them and teach me how to make them thrive?”
If you answered yes to any of those ques-tions, you’re building treasures in heaven. If you’ve never been on a mission trip, it’s a great way to start. But it will cost you—money to go, time away from work, will-ingness to work in uncomfortable environ-ments without the luxuries you’re used to, and facing the fear of working with people you don’t know.
You’ll receive much more in return. You become Christ’s hands and feet, you allow His love to flow through you to others. You work on animals out of compassion and love for their owners. You are honored to pray for people and show them how much God loves them. When the mission trip is done you will be physically exhausted, but you will have new Christian friends and mentors that are there for you as you journey through life. The value of going surpasses the sacrifice and your heart will be full of joy as you build trophies in heaven. In the end Christ will say, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25:40
B. SCOTT HOUSER, DVM
B. Scott Houser, DVM is a 1983 graduate of Colorado State University and has been in a solo large animal/
zoo practice since 1984 in the west valley area of Phoenix, Arizona. His wife Janet graduated with him and is in
small animal practice. They have 2 grown children and one grandchild. Their daughter graduated this year from
Colorado State University and is in small animal practice in Tucson, Arizona. As empty nesters, God pricked
their hearts to use their profession in missions. They have done two short missions trips with CVM and look
forward to doing more in the future
Hope | cvm.org 21
NORTHWEST January 18-20, 2019 Miracle Ranch Port Orchard, WA
SOUTHWEST January 18-20, 2019 UC Davis, CA
NORTHEAST January 25-27, 2019 North Carolina State University
SOUTH CENTRAL February 1-3, 2019 Oklahoma State University
SOUTHEAST February 8-10, 2019 Tuskegee University, AL
EASTERN CANADA February 15-17, 2019 Ontario Veterinary College
NORTH CENTRAL February 15-17, 2019 University of Illinois
WESTERN CANADA February 22-24, 2019 Pioneer Camp Alberta, Canada
CARIBBEAN March 1-3, 2019 Ross University
Join other veterinary professionals and students for a spiritual retreat created especially for you. Meet other Christian veterinarians in practice, talk with CVM long-term staff, find out more about missions opportunities and connect with like-minded people.
Sign up for an event near you
cvmusa.org/RLRI
This was a weekend that challenged me to step across a threshold I have never crossed before in my faith journey. I feel like I have scaled a mountain and come out on the other side…To spend a whole weekend with fellow believers and members of the veterinary profession was so encouraging. Such a wonderful opportunity to learn and refocus on
the why’s of our lives and our profession.
SCHEDULE
22 | Christian Veterinarian Fall 2018
Securely Anchored by Christby Dr. Bob Beede
Although I was raised as a Christian, I chose to rebel for 20 years starting at
the age of 14. I wanted to set my own sail in life, thinking it was all up to me. While running my own life, all I felt was a sense of emptiness, loneliness, and a feeling that life held no meaning. Then fortunately, God got my attention. During a Marriage Encounter week-end, I collapsed in a heap of tears. Al-though I had a very successful practice, a nice home, and good real estate in-vestments, none of it held meaning. I felt lost in the desert of life, without hope and without Christ. That turning point began a new jour-ney. Even though I’ve been through tumultuous times, I’m no longer alone. My walk with Christ has been full of bless-ing and thanksgiving.
Soon after the Marriage Encounter expe-rience, my wife and I felt led to sell our re-sort area veterinarian practice to a partner. I then made an offer on a distressed animal clinic in a different area where we felt God wanted us to settle. Just after we started the process, the real estate market crashed and my investments were suddenly devalued.
My resort area partner was also struggling to pay what we previously agreed upon for the original practice.
One morning before work as I walked and prayed, I shared with God that I would take whatever He wanted me to have from the sale of the resort area clinic. Upon return-
ing from my walk, my partner called and told me that he would pay me much less than expected and not enough to cover what I had al-ready committed to the new practice. I felt as if struck by lightning! I knew I was being tested by God, but could I trust Him? Letting go of my previous ways of running my own life left me once again in tears. God
proved Himself faithful and over time led me through many struggles and blessings as He continued to provide for us. I was learning that trusting in God’s anchor of hope was a life-long process.
Several years later, my ankle degenerated and needed to be fused. The first surgery failed and I was informed that if the second failed, my surgeon would have to amputate my foot. This news was really distressing.
“WHILE RUNNING MY OWN LIFE, ALL I FELT WAS A SENSE
OF EMPTINESS, LONELINESS, AND A FEELING THAT LIFE HELD NO MEANING.”
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Hope | cvm.org 25
DR. BOB BEEDE, DVM
Dr. Bob Beede retired at the end of 2017 after 47 years of practice—first in equine, camelid and small animal, and the
last 20 years in small animal only. He served on the CVM Board in the 1990’s and was Board Chair in 1997. Bob did
two short term shuttle trips to Peru. Bob and his wife Suzy host and co-lead a weekly couples Bible Study. Bob serves
on the Boise State Bronco Athletic Association Board and was board president 2012-2014. In retirement, Bob would
like to be a fisher of men and catch more fish than Dr. Flowers when fly fishing.
Shortly after, as I entered the exam room to see a new patient, a tall, athletic client looked at my foot in a boot and inquired about it. I shared the issues I was facing and possible amputation and he responded by saying it was “no big deal.” I thought he responded a bit harshly until I glanced at his legs. One had been amputated below the knee. He was a “disabled veteran” who went on to climb Mt. Everest and became a motiva-tional speaker. When we left the room that day, my vet tech turned to me and said, “Dr. Beede, God just sent you a message.” By the grace of God, my perspective changed that day and my ankle healed.
There have been many other times when I’ve been tossed and turned by the waves of life, but when I followed God He led me out of life’s turmoil and gave me hope. Hebrews 6:19-20 shares about the hope we have dur-ing those difficult times.
“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain …” Hebrews 6:19 NIV
In ancient times, the anchor was a common figure for hope. The rougher the weather, the more important the anchor was to the ship.
The anchor stabilized the ship and kept it more comfortable for those on board. As the ship must have hold of its anchor, we must take hold of God’s hope. We allow God to set the sail of our lives and, as we anchor in Him, we can move forward in His will, filled with His hope. This strong anchor of hope, carries us into the very presence of God.
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PRESIDENT
Dr. Kit Flowers
206.546.7226
PROGRAM & LATIN AMERICA REGIONAL DIRECTOR
Dr. Brad Frye
206.546.7248
TRAINING & ASIA REGIONAL DIRECTOR Dr. Karen Stoufer
206.546.7308
AFRICA REGIONAL DIRECTOR
Dr. Fred Van Gorkom
206.289.7953
SHORT-TERM MISSIONS COORDINATOR
Suzanne Symons
206.546.7344
U.S. MINISTRY DIRECTOR
Krista Forseth
206.289.7811
CVM CANADA
Dr. Suzanne Laidlaw
MARKETING STRATEGIST
Kellie Moeller
206.546.7257
DESIGNER Rachel Pearson
CVM’s Mission is... To Challenge, Empower and Facilitate Veterinary Professionals
To Serve Others By Living Out Their Christian Faith.
Our purpose as an organization is to walk alongside Christians in the
veterinary community whose desire is to bring glory to God through
the use of their professional skills. It is our honor and privilege to pray
with, talk with, encourage, equip, mentor and provide resources and
opportunities for men and women to follow God’s call in their life,
whether serving in their own community or cross-culturally.
Relationships are formed over the care of an animal. Trust is built,
hearts are shared, and a seed is planted for the Kingdom of Christ.
WHAT WE DO
The Christian Veterinarian journal is a quarterly publication. If you wish to unsubscribe, please send an email to [email protected] or call (206) 546-7238. We suggest an annual donation of $40/year for United States mailing address, $60/year for Canada and Mexico residents, and $100/year for International residents to support CVM and cover mailing and publication costs. You may also request to receive the journal electronically.
CONNECT WITH US
facebook.com/christianveterinarymission @cvmusa
Hope | cvm.org 27
Ministry Around the WorldRaising Support Through CVM
AFRICAAfrica, Dr. Shad & Amy
Central Africa Republic, Dr. Denise & Roy
Thagard,
*East Africa, Dr. Julie & Steve
Ethiopia, Drs. Trent & Tabitha Cox
*Ethiopia, Dr. Cherie Igielski
*Ghana, Dr. Ann MacCormac & Shawn Fischer,
South Africa, Dr. Rebecca Quam
*South Africa, Drs. Tim & Paula Ulrich
South Sudan, Dr. Troy & Rebekah Sammons
South Sudan, Dr. Gina & Steven Wintermantel
Tanzania, Dr. Margaret Thompson
Tanzania, Dr. Lena & Patrick Wensel
Uganda, Ms. Emily Arndt, CVT
Uganda, Dr. Daniel & Rachel Graham
*Uganda, Dr. Mary & Jack McDonald
*Zambia, Dr. Paul & Alicia Evans
ASIAAsia, Drs. Angie & Bill
Asia, Dr. Peter & Mary
Asia, Ms. Melissa, CVT
Mongolia, Dr. Mary & Richard Ballenger
*Mongolia, Dr. Heather Heisey
Mongolia, Dr. Hillary & Michael Mincher
*Mongolia, Dr. Gerald & Frances Mitchum
Mongolia, Dr. Andrew & Chris Spence
Mongolia, Dr. Justin & Helen Woolsey
Mongolia, V.E.T. Net
CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICAS*Bolivia, Dr. Kim & David Carney
*Bolivia, Dr. Bill & Heidi Janecke
Bolivia, Drs. Coalson & Dr. Ruth Lacey
Bolivia, Dr. Sara & Jason Phipps
*Bolivia, Dr. Don & Marilyn Wilson
Bolivia, VetRed
*Haiti, Dr. Lee Ann Berglund-Fosdick
Haiti, Dr. Kelly Crowdis
*Haiti, Drs. Jonathan & Leanna Dohanich
*Haiti, Mrs. Jan Flanagan
Haiti, Dr. Wayne & Lisa Hassinger,
*Latin America, Dr. Tom & Diane Schiefer
Nicaragua, Dr. Rick & Mary Ervin
LONG-TERM CANDIDATES
Ethiopia, Dr. John & Kristen Coatney
Haiti, Dr. Patricia Lyon
Thailand, Dr. Steve & Kelly Marks
EUROPE*Dr. Billy Myers
NORTH AMERICADr. Lauren & Jon Charles
*Drs. Susan & Court
Dr. Kit & Jan Flowers
Dr. Brad & Angela Frye
Dr. Glenn & Kathy Gaines
Drs. Monty & Shelley Mathis
*Drs. BJ & Sarah Louise Newcomber
Dr. Barry & Colette Schwenk
Dr. Karen & Ron Stoufer
Drs. Fred & Vicki Van Gorkom
*These Veterinarians are Volunteers.
Non
Pro
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US
Post
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PAID
Seatt
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No.
676
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CR
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Min
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1930
3 Fr
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N.,
MS
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Seatt
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A 9
8133
