Holy Cow!

by Dave Schneider, Lone Rock Bible Church

I would like to share a story about a nondescript red cow who achieved great things for God’s kingdom.

I grew up on a small dairy farm in rural Minnesota.  Like many farmers, my folks couldn’t make ends meet with just the farm so they ran a small grocery store to make up the difference.  They always have had a heart for missions, but being cash poor, they seemed to have no real way to help.

Regardless of the circumstances, in 1964 my folks let STEER Inc.  purchase and place a cow on our farm.  For lack of a better title, she was simply called "Ol’ Red," although my Mom affectionately referred to her as "God’s Cow."

Although she wasn’t a genetic marvel and the bulls weren’t the best, year after year Ol’ Red produced premium veal calves.  Often my Dad would graft on a bum calf as well, thus doubling the money we would send to our missionaries.  She did so well that after five or six years we decided to hold back one of her calves as a second STEER Inc.  project.  She was aptly named "Red’s Calf."

Well, cows don’t live forever, and at fourteen, 1978 was Ol’ Red’s last year.  She was arthritic by that time, and you could hear her snap, crackle, and pop when she walked.  That year she surprised everyone by having twins.

In 1980 the family farm closed down, ending our STEER, Inc.  project with Red’s Calf.  Sometime later my Mom did the final accounting on Ol’ Red and discovered that this exceptional cow had raised $11,000 for missions!

Ol’ Red’s life was such a blessing and testimony of God’s faithfulness to me and my family.  Her life fulfills a phrase from one of my favorite Christian songs, Ordinary People: "Little becomes much when you place it in the Master’s Hand." Please call (406) 532-1565 or e-mail Jim Parks if you feel as though God is leading you to help missions by becoming involved with RMBM or STEER Inc.