Ministry seeks to get people on target with bows but also in life

Ken Foeppel, of Centerton, took careful aim while practicing on the outdoor range Monday evening.
Ken Foeppel, of Centerton, took careful aim while practicing on the outdoor range Monday evening.

— Hunting season is just around the corner and Wilderness Outback Outdoor Ministry in Gentry provides bow hunters and archery enthusiasts a place to brush up on their skills.

The group meets in James Barger’s shop on Monday evenings to study the Bible, eat hotdogs and chili and practice target shooting.

The archery ministry is held for 10 weeks a year and has two purposes, sharing the gospel and helping participants practice for hunting season and archery tournaments, Barger said.

Many people who won’t come to church will get involved in the archery group, said Ken Foeppel, who helped found the ministry. The group represents severaldifferent churches and denominations, he said.

The ministry is now in its third year and has been steadily growing, both spiritually and in attendance, Barger said. The down-to-earth devotionals have outdoor themes and focus on the Christian walk.

“This is an ‘on target’ ministry. We’re trying to get our bows on target and our lives on target,” said Barger, “In archery, the target down the range is the goal, but in life Heaven is our goal.”

Barger and Foeppel are longtime friends and outdoorsmen. Barger is a highly qualified hunting instructor who knows how to entertain his audience while making a point people will remember and has more than 30 years of experience working on bows.

Barger has taught seminars across the country. He is a Mossy Oak “prostaff” member and a board member of the Arkansas chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation.

Group members can fine tune their bows at the indoor range, with Barger on hand to help if needed. The outdoor range helps archers train for longer distances and helps them learn to estimate a distance in the field, Foeppel said.

Both men agree that practice is important so that hunters can make a clean harvest without leaving any wounded animals.

“The main thing is to get your practice so you can make a humaneshot,” Foeppel said.

The program is for everyone who enjoys the outdoors, whether young or old, families or individuals, Barger said.

For more information, call James Barger at 531-2359.

News, Pages 9 on 07/11/2012