Trailside Ministries
Here's some info for those who are hosting Ken and Pilgrim on their long journey across the country
How it works!
Just like the “old days” the circuit Rider will be hosted by one of the families from your church. He will arrive in time for supper before an evening service (or the evening before a morning service). For a Sunday service he will arrive Saturday afternoon or evening and leave Monday morning early, spending Sunday at the host family’s location or immediate area. The host family must be located as close to the church as possible as The circuit rider always rides to the church on his horse.
(It’s part of the realism for your people to enjoy). You must provide a place for him to tie his horse (a tree perhaps or even a pickup truck bumper). Ken may request an attendant to stay with the horse during the service. Please have a volunteer ready ahead of time. Ken’s policy is to never lodge where adult males are not present in the home with the rest of the family.
In areas of the country where there is no housing a days ride apart, we ask if you would secure a place to camp and provide meals. We suggest that you use these evening for a time of fellowship and outreach. You may want to bring tents and campers and have an evening campfire. Bring folks with you that are not comfortable going to church. The Circuit Rider will have a devotional or short message early in the evening . We do ask that after 9:00 P.M. or so, that there would be a quiet camp in order to get plenty of rest for the long trial the next day.
THESE “CAMP MEETINGS” MAY BE A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THIS EVENT. Small or large, they will render good will and fellowship for you church! Join with another church in perhaps putting it together. You will be a Vital Link on the long road across our nation therefore we ask that in the event of an emergency, and your church should have to cancel,that you notify the Montana office right away, and make every attempt to find a substitute church and/or host family or lodging. We’re depending on you for your “link” on this long trial. Speaking engagements are taken on the basis of “free will” or love offering. While there is no charge for the ministry, you may wish to donate a gift outright rather than take up an offering if you feel that taking up an offering would not be appropriate for the “purpose” of the meeting you have structured.
The gift amount is entirely up to you and the Lord. All money’s must be converted to a check and made out to Trailside Ministries as Ken cannot carry or mail cash. Please ask someone from you church or group to see that Ken receives that check after the meeting. A receipt for tax purposes can be issued by return mail.
Meals for Ken
- Generally anything is fine, and simple meals are preferred. Ken does not usually drink coffee or “regular” tea. Cold drinks are preferred with meals: water, juice, or milk. Herb tea or cocoa are the best hot drinks at other times.- Ken often will eat light or not at all immediately before he speaks. An early supper such as 4:30-5:00 before speaking is fine.
- Dry cereal with milk is great for breakfast. Ken does eat eggs , but they aren't’t necessary. If the road is long the next day, he may have to leave very early in the morning. Dry cereal and milk available would be appreciated.
- A sack lunch provided for the road on his next “Travel Day” will be needed. No drink is necessary.
Ken’s Horse
His horse will need 30 lbs. of oats; 10 lbs. in the morning 10lbs. in the evening. The additional 10 lbs. will be taken with Ken for noontime. Also a bale of hay for bedding and feed every day. Wild hay is fine. It should not be moldy of old. Better hay is fine, too. Cracked oats mixed with 1/3 corn is what his horse gets at home.
Lodging
Ken
- A private room, if possible, or one available for study or ministry preparation before a service. A bed is not always necessary – an extra blanket on the floor will do. A lamp by the bed or sleeping area would be appreciated. A dry area is needed to put Ken’s and his horse’s gear.
- Ken also will also be dependent on the host for laundry needs, which will be often as he travels very light.
Ken’s Horse
- A stall in the barn or shed with clean bedding, big enough for the horse to lay down would be appreciated,
but in dryer weather she can be “staked” out or tied in a place out of the wind. In dry, fair weather almost any place
will do as long as she can lay down. Ken will not pasture her with other livestock so as to guard against mishap or injury.
- Ken’s horse has stayed in chicken Shacks, garages in town, backyards, corrals, staked out, in horse trailers,
(parked in cities on lawns and in driveways). Almost anything will do as long as its safe for the horse!