Dear Friends,
This past year has been a season of change for our family. As we navigated the separation from EFM, there was so much uncertainty. How would we make it financially? What would we do? (The practical questions) And questions like, who am I now that I’m NOT the Director of Urban Ministry? Will anyone want me on their team? Can I still add value? I’ll admit there were some fearful moments and sleepless nights, but Jesus has been leading us all the way.
Having been on the Board of Heartland Christian School for the past six years, numerous times we discussed the need for someone to work in donor development for the school. Connecting with donors and communicating the vision was a large part of my work at EFM. I was blessed to receive 2 ½ years of mentorship and training from Zach Clark of Leadership and Development Coaching. He helped us to grow annual giving significantly at EFM over the nearly 8 years that we followed the approach he directed us to take. I learned a lot in that process! The Chairman of Heartland’s Board asked me to consider going a donor development program at Heartland. It seemed like this was God’s provision. In this season of life, education for our children is a huge priority and responsibility. Getting to support Heartland’s mission of “Partnering with Parents to develop Christlike leaders” appealed to me and getting to be with my children at work every day, also was a plus.
I accepted, and over the past year God has blessed Heartland with over $1 million in new giving and commitments. We are moving steadily towards building a new facility, debt-free, that will serve another 250 students and their families. The work of prayerfully building a team to do this important work continues, and I am grateful for how God has been providing. It is exciting to be part of an organization that has vision and such a strong culture of care and excellence.
As I look back, I have no regrets. God knew what we needed, and He has provided for our family every step of the way.
While this next chapter in our story is completely different from the “beginning of the book,” it is connected. All my experience has been some version of leadership training. In December 2023, we started Himelick Family Ministry Coaching and Consulting. It is a for-profit business designed to coach leaders and consult with organizations. While we are getting that started, Heartland has been my “anchor client” – providing us with the monthly resources to pay our bills, invest in coaching resources, and develop the business.
As I transition to coaching other leaders, I have a diverse set of experiences on which I can draw. Planting churches. Starting a coffee shop. Raising millions of dollars. Recruiting and leading teams. Walking with addicts in recovery. Discipling converts. Recording a podcast. Narrating audio books. Writing a book. Serving at a college as a Christian Service Director. Starting a farm. Growing a Community Supported Agriculture operation. Raising beef cattle. Training over 120 interns from 13 different colleges and universities. Pastoring a congregation. Preaching weekly. Traveling in missions internationally to 9 countries. All while being a husband and a father.
To experience all of that is one thing, but to remain rooted in the only identity in life that really matters is quite another. Learning to live out of my identity as a dearly beloved child of God has been transformational. My goal is to pass along that same pattern of living to the leaders we coach. Developing Victory Acres as a place of hospitality and healing is part of our plan. Making it a place where we can pour into young people, leaders, and those that God sends across our path is my deep desire.
Some of those young people are my own children. In December 2024, Samuel and I will have the opportunity to minister together in South Africa. This is the first time that I will travel internationally with my children, and we are excited! We will be preaching to a gathering of churches each morning and evening, and Samuel will be shooting aerial drone footage that will help the ministry show their work to better tell their story. The cost of our trip is roughly $6,000 and any donations towards those costs can be given directly to the organization with which we will be serving:
ICHA Missions
P.O. Box 345
Ossian, IN 46777
(Designated: Himelick South Africa Trip)
Thank you for your prayers, encouragement, and support for our family. It means more than you will ever know. God has been faithful, and we are confident that He will continue to guide us in the days ahead.
In Christian Love,
Eric, Rachelle, Kaylynn, Rebecca, Sarah, Samuel, Esther, and Karissa Himelick
The Gathering at Victory Acres 