When we both got saved, discipleship quickly became part of our lives. It was driven into us that it is paramount to living our lives for The Lord. It was just natural that as missionaries our focus would continue to be discipleship. (Matthew 28:19-20). No matter where Mary Jo and I have been, even before we began disaster relief, we did all we could to be part of the discipleship process, discipling others while we ourselves were being discipled. For us, discipleship was, is, and always will be the driving force behind anything that we do and any decision that we make.
Our mission will never cease to exist on this side of heaven, although the way we fulfill that mission can and will change over time.
When we set out just helping people with their disaster-related issues on a more part-time basis, we always made it a point to daily spend time in The Word and prayer with anyone serving alongside of us as well as any homeowners who desired to join us. This has never changed and is our mission. This is way more important than anything else we do, how we do it, or where we do it. We may call ourselves disaster relief missionaries, but in reality, we’re disciples, discipling others! Disaster relief is just the means by which The Lord has used us to be His hands and feet, discipling others as we’ve lived our lives for Him in front of them!
As with any other Christian, things change in our lives, whether we like it or not! We always thought and prayed that others would join us full-time. But the life we live, what we do, and what’s required of us to do it isn’t easy. While many expressed interests in joining us, between what they found out we actually do and that we don’t “make” money like a “normal” job, they all fell away to other things in life. Not saying that’s good or bad, it’s just what has happened.
We began doing part-time disaster relief in 2004. It wasn’t long before we were doing it more than what we expected we would, though we still didn’t think it would turn into a full-time ministry. But when we responded to Hurricane Sandy in 2012, The Lord made it clear, “Go”! So go we did! We quit our jobs and headed out. We didn’t retire, just quit making money and instead began relying totally on The Lord to meet all our needs and began living life as minimal as we could.
The first several years we had lots of help, local and from afar. The stories we have of God’s faithfulness, especially when it comes to lives that have been changed for eternity, is just amazing to us. And there are many stories that we won’t know until we get to heaven, as often, we were just planting seed. After all its God who ALWAYS brings the increase!
As time has gone on, this world and culture has continued to change into a more “me” focused world and finding folks to help us has dwindled. We get many requests to help people, but the workers are few. The last major response we did was in Florida after Ian where we had over 100 volunteers who committed to come help, began cancelling, just over 2 months into the response, some at the last minute. Because we finish what we commit to do, we’ve spent a lot of time over the years serving others by ourselves. This has taken a physical toll on both of our bodies and of course we aren’t getting any younger.
There’s a lot of physical issues that we’ve been able to push through over the years, but in the fall of 2022, I tore a few ligaments in my right hip, thigh, and knee areas. As I usually push through things praying that it won’t be anything big, I didn’t find out the extent of my damages until spring of 23. I was also told I have arthritis in my knee and a bulging lower back disc. The doctors said that it is all degenerative based on the work that I’ve been doing for the better part of 30 years, especially when they found out that I oftentimes end up working by myself. They have not recommended surgery at this point, but instead have given me an exercise/stretching routine that takes about an hour and a half every morning. I was also advised to go on light duty. Well light duty lasted about a month, there’s just too much to do just taking care of Mary Jo and myself and all our stuff. Most days I feel fine, and I can keep busy without any issues, not like I could 2 years ago, but effective for sure. Sometimes though I do too much, of the wrong things or work too long and I can end up benched for a couple of days, but then I get right back at it.
We still desire to do disaster relief, but we don’t know to what extent. The Lord has blessed us with a lot of knowledge dealing with disasters and all the ins and outs, so it seems plausible that we’d still be involved in disaster relief. What we do is up to The Lord and as we encounter opportunities and feel led to go, we will go. There are many that still wish to be part of what we do when we do respond, so we’ll see what The Lord does!
We will still be doing something involving helping others as we are part of the discipleship process wherever The Lord will have us. Currently we’re in Culpepper, VA at Cedar Ranch Retreat Center. All our stuff is with us. We’re living our lives out loud for Jesus as we help with some maintenance oversight and getting dirty when we need to! There are several college age kids who live there and several adults from the volunteer staff that are all part of our lives. I lead a campus Bible study once a week and oftentimes get some one-on-one time with others. This is still a mission position for us, as they purchased the place on faith, praying for funds to operate it and folks like us to come alongside of them to help with some of the work.
Five months after completing our response to Ian and being on "light-duty" at the ranch, we had the opportunity to do flood relief twice. Once at a house with a flooded basement and leaking roof after a rain storm and once on a trailer of a single mom and her 5 year-old son after a winter storm. It seems that The Lord is already showing us that we’re still doing disaster relief. Only He knows what the future holds!
Hundreds of folks from around the country go the ranch for youth camps or other retreats to spend time with Jesus and get to know Him more. What we do helps give them a place where The Lord is lived out loud and they can draw into a deeper relationship with Him, whether it’s just enjoying God’s creation on the property, sitting in a Bible Study, or serving alongside of those living there. Just another form of discipleship as it’s meant to be lived!
We still need work teams to help us at the ranch and have disaster relief related things to do on our vehicles, trailers, and tools as well as when we deploy. Anyone who wishes to join us is more than welcome! We just want to be Jesus's hands and feet and share His love with others to bring more people into His kingdom!
If you’re interested in growing in The LORD as you selflessly serve others alongside of Calvary Relief for future disaster relief or at Cedar Ranch, please let us know! For more info on joining us, click here.
As missionaries, we do what we do and expect nothing in return from those we help, whether it’s responding to a disaster or helping at places such as the ranch. Feel free to contact us with any questions concerning how you can be involved with us as we follow the LORD and His will for our lives! We are not funded by any particular church, organization, government or individual. We rely on The Lord as He uses people, churches and organizations to allow us to serve Him full time wherever He may have us. For more info on how you, your church or organization can donate to Calvary Relief, one-time or on a monthly basis, click here. If you’re interested in helping with any of the expenses with Calvary Relief, please click here.
If there’s ever anything you need prayer about or just need to talk to someone, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us and let us know!
Here to serve and disciple until He calls us home,
Curt & Mary Jo
