A 10-year-old Metter boy soon will experience a dream come true.
Bo Miller suffers from kidney disease and he will spend Dec. 4-6 enjoying a weekend of
deer hunting and fishing at Scarboro Bluff Plantation, thanks to a group of
compassionate Bulloch County sportsmen.
The “Dream Hunt†weekend is sponsored by www.bullochsportsmendevotional.com, a
Web site created by local business owner Claude Howard.
“I was watching a hunting show on television one day and went to the website advertised
and saw a sportsmen’s devotional,†said Howard, who owns the Howard Lumber Company
in Statesboro. “It was located in the Midwest. I knew God was talking to me telling me I
could do this for Georgia, so I started brain storming. God was really talking to me telling
me that a weekly sportsmen’s devotional from sportsmen is a great way to get Jesus’
word out.â€
One of the group’s projects is to host a “Dream Hunt/Fish†for sick children 8 to 18 years
of age once a year, he said.
“We have two deer hunts, one fishing trip, and one turkey hunt.â€
Bo suffers from FSGS (focal segmental Glomerulosclerosis), a chronic kidney disease
that attacks the kidney’s filtering system. It is the second leading cause of kidney failure
in children. His big dream is to go on a successful deer hunt, but his weekend will include
a fishing trip as well.
“His dream is to kill a deer. We will also take him fishing and skeet shooting,†Howard said.
A film crew, Crowridge Productions, Inc., from Columbus, Ohio, is expected to come down
and spend the weekend following Bo as he enjoys the exciting weekend at the Howards’
plantation in Scarboro.
“There will be a story and pictures shown of the ‘Dream Hunt’ on the Web site shortly
after the hunt is over,†Howard said.
In addition to hunting and fishing, Bo will have a birthday party, since his birthday is that
weekend. The Bulloch Sportsmen Devotional group is planning to present him with
hunting clothes, boots, his own orange vest and a rifle, Howard said. .
Howard met Bo at a recent fundraiser by the Southern Cruisers at the Statesboro Kiwanis
fairgrounds. He was speaking to the child and his family when the idea struck him to host
another kind of benefit event – the dream hunt weekend.
When he contacted the Miller family, Bo’s mother was ecstatic, he said, exclaiming that
her son loved hunting and fishing more than anything. The idea grew into the weekend
birthday surprise for Bo, who has suffered from the kidney disease since he was only 1
year old.
The “Dream Hunt†idea is but one way the group enjoys spreading the word of God as
well as the joy of Christianity and love for humankind, Howard said. He started www.
bullochsportsmensdevotional.com in February and his vision “came true,†he said. “The
Web site was spreading Jesus’ word all over the internet all over the world.â€
The devotional site has six board members: Barry Bloser, Debbie Martin, Johnny Martin,
Bill Mathis, Jr., Keith Barber, and Howard.
Its mission statement is: “ To provide sportsmen of Georgia and those worldwide a weekly
sportsmen’s devotional from sportsmen who love Jesus and the outdoors. These men
and women will share their personal relationships with our Lord.â€
“We have a worship service that meets every other Sunday morning at Bill Mathis’ cabin
at 6:30 a.m. for breakfast, and Sam Wilder is our pastor,†Howard said. “Brian Rountree
had God talk to him and came up with the idea for the Sunday breakfast service.â€
Howard said the Web site, spreads the devotionals.
“You will get a weekly devotional, pictures, and sportsmen’s tip of the week,†he said. “If
you would like to write a devotional, you can send it to
claude@bullochsportsmensdevotional.com. Please include with the devotional a picture,
bible verse and sportsmen’s tip of the week.â€
While excited about the devotional site, Howard won’t take credit. “I give God all the credit
for coming up with bullochsportsmensdevotional.com. There is no way I could have ever
come up with all of this alone. Bulloch Sportsmen’s Devotional is proud to spread Jesus’
word all over the world through sportsmen, men and women, who love Jesus and the
outdoors. It doesn’t get any better than that.â€
Anyone interested in donating the nonprofit ministry can contact Claude Howard at
claude@bullochsportsmensdevotional.com.
written by Hollie Bragg and Claude Howard
Thank you for letting me go fishing and hunting at your
plantation.I am very grateful for all of the gifts you have
given me.My favorite was the rifle and also the grunt
call.I enjoyed staying at the Plantation all of you have
been very nice to me.
&nb sp; Love,
&nb sp; &nb sp;
&nb sp; Bo
On December 4th-6th my son Bo and myself were given the privilege of participating in a
hunting and fishing weekend at Scarborough Bluff Plantation. We arrived at the farm on
December 4th and upon arrival were met by the Board Members of Bullochsportsmens
Devotional and a film crew from Crowridge Production out of Ohio. They immediately
welcomed us and got an amazing weekend underway. They presented my son Bo with a
new rifle and took him to the rifle range. Bo was a little shy and nervous at the range but
the men hosting the event went out of their way to make him as cormfortable as could be.
Alan and Dana with the film crew were great. They made Bo feel at ease and I could tell he
was very comfortable with them from the start. After meeting everyone and getting settled
Bo went on his first hunt .He made a shot but missed. Everyone was supportive,not critical
and made him feel better about missing his deer. After the hunt he was presented with
plenty of very nice gifts from the members of BullochSportsmensdevotional. The next day
Bo went on two hunts,fishing ,skeet shooting. It was a very exciting weekend for Bo and for
myself. The hunting was great,the hospitality was wonderful. It has proven to me that their
really are some Great,wonderful people in this world and Bullochsportsmensdevotional is
at the top of that list.I want to especially thank Claude Howard,Johnny Martin,Bill
Mathis,Barrie Blosher,Keith Barber,Debbie Martin,Kathy Howard,Carol Howard,Arthur
Howard,Cecil Howard and all the members of Bullochsportsmensdevotional,film crew and
all the wives for the Great Adventure Weekend Dream Hunt/Fish.
&nb sp; &nb sp; Thanks,
&nb sp; &nb sp; Gene Miller:Bo's Daddy
The Deer hunt was great Bo shot at one doe and one buck but missed. Bo caught a
large catfish and alot of bream. We had a great time with Bo and his Dad on this dream
hunt and even through Bo didnot kill a deer he had a great time and we enjoyed
hanging out with Bo on this weekend and pray that his kidney problems will be healed.
Please keep Bo in your prayers we were told this weekend that he could not go hunting
any more he needed to stay inside because of his blood work. God is good we had a
great time at Scarborough Bluff Plantation with Bo and oh yea he played golf and hit the
ball great. We also had a Birthday cake and ice cream for Bo and you could see the joy
from Bo when he blew candles out.
&nb sp; &nb sp; Thanks from the Board of Bullochsportsmens
DREAM HUNT/FISH CLUB:$25.00 A MONTH GIFT TO SPREAD GOD'S
WORD:This helps fund website,devotional cards,ads,billboards and we
are trying to get the Duck Commander Phil Robertson to speak this
spring and outdoor dinner too.
1.JEFF EDWARDS
2.BILLY NELSON
3.GARY BRANNEN
4.JAMIE HOSKISS
5.LEWIS SPIVEY
6.TONY SAMMONS
7.FRANKILN GORFORTH
8.KEVIN SPENCE
9.BJ TILMAN
10.PAUL COLLINS
11.TIM REDDING
12.CECIL HOWARD
13.ED ELLIS
Tags: Bullochsportsmensdevotional.com
