Wild horses couldn’t drag Randy Freeman away from what he’s doing with his life right now — using wild horses to share Christ.
It’s great. He loves it. It’s kept him going since his wife, Shari, passed away.
Besides, by the time the Christian Horsemanship Association (CHA) gets through with them, those horses are as docile as sheep.
Freeman, 62, a member of Arbor Springs Baptist Church, Northport, in Sipsey Baptist Association, started what became the CHA in January 2008 with friend Greg Gettings, 43, a co-worker at DCH Regional Medical Center in Tuscaloosa and member of Tuscaloosa’s Capstone Church.
It hasn’t stopped growing since.
“God has really blessed us and has really given us a larger vision as we’ve gone along,” Freeman said. “He’s continuing to open doors for us. We started out ministering to the youth, and now we’re ministering to everybody. We’ve been able to spread the gospel to people that would normally not go to a traditional church.”
The CHA serves as a nonprofit umbrella organization for a couple of equestrian-focused ministries: Sharilyn Acres, a ministry named in honor of Freeman’s late wife that is looking to gain certification in therapeutic horse riding, and Open Range Ministries, a ministry focused on evangelistic outreach.
That’s where the young guy comes in.
Phil Crim, 30, a member of Moores Bridge Baptist Church, Elrod, in Sipsey Association and a professional horse trainer, has the kind of knack with animals that movies are made about.
He can saunter up to a colt that’s never been ridden, look it in the eye and be riding it in 90 minutes or less.
“It’s just a natural blessing from the Lord,” Crim said. “I didn’t train with anybody. I always messed with cattle and horses some growing up. Animals were always just a gift that I had, the connection with them. As I grew, horses just became more of my thing, and it’s just kind of developed into what I have now.”
His gifts were readily available to Freeman and Gettings, who called on him for some last-minute assistance at a demonstration held at an early CHA event.
“He said, ‘Sure I’ll be there,’” said Gettings, who serves as president of the CHA. “He came and brought one of his horses and did a tremendous job, and the Lord started speaking to him. We were friends and God just continued to bring us together. A cord of three strands isn’t easily broken, and He brought three strands together. We each have our strengths, but Phil just really complements things.”
At a recent demonstration, Crim even stood up in the saddle of a just-broken colt and cracked a bullwhip in the air, quoting Scripture all the while.
“The horse mirrors the human soul,” Gettings said. “Every emotion we have, a horse exhibits. That’s the connection people have with horses. That’s why people love them. What Phil does with the horses reflects how we run from God until we get to the point where we’re tired of running and then turn to Him.”
Crim describes what he does with horses as spiritual.
“You almost try to illustrate how the Lord works with us, and you show how the horse intertwines with our walk with Christ,” Crim said. “It’s a good illustration if you’re watching it. It’s hard for me to explain, but it’s really a process that grabs a lot of people. It’s not meant to hurt the horses. It’s done in a safe environment and everything, but it’s just pretty touching to watch something like that.”
That horses can service the spirit is a fact reaffirmed for Freeman not only as he watches Crim work his magic at CHA events but also every time he rides Black Jack, a 19-year-old Tennessee walking horse, into the hills behind his house.
“Black Jack is my favorite horse,” Freeman said. “He and I have spent a lot of time together, especially after Shari died. We’ve really gotten close. I talk to him and he just listens to me. We pray a lot. He knows me pretty well.”
For more information, visit www.christianhorsemanship.org.
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