One of the most formative moments of childhood occurred when I was about 4 years old. I grew up in Northern Michigan, only about 30 minutes from the then headquarters and home of the famed Fred Bear. My dad hunted with a recurve bow and one afternoon we drive down to Bear Archery and the Fred Bear Museum for a little shopping and hunting inspiration. At that age I was not fully aware of whom exactly Fred Bear was but my childhood ignorance did not stop him from posing for a picture with me in front of the huge, full body mount, brown bear trophy he had shot. I suspect it was at this moment that my lifelong dream of pursuing big game began. As a youngster I would stalk the woodlots around my home with my little, red, 25# Fred Bear recurve and quiver full of arrows pretending to stalk deer, moose, or other large or dangerous animals.

Years later Fred Bear Archery moved and the legend himself ultimately passed into eternity. I can remember the day I learned of his death as vividly as I remember many of the breaking news events of our day. A few years passed before I rediscovered my love for archery. College, career, and family obligations preempted my time to bow hunt. When I did I realized I needed a new bow hunting role model. A guy by the name of Ray Howell was taking the bowhunting world by storm. His adventures had become commonplace in hunting publications and when Gander Mountain began their TV series Ray was one of the first hunters profiled. Of special interest to me was the fact that Ray Howell had developed a program named Kicking Bear as a means to giving back to kids what God had so richly blessed him with. Kicking Bear camps was reaching out to underprivileged, hurt, and neglected children using archery and the outdoors as a median for the message of hope that Ray felt led to share. I knew right away this was a guy I wanted to know more about. When I saw Ray and John Strasheim, the President of Bowtech Archery, walk into the 2007 CSF Prayer Breakfast at the SHOT Show in Orlando I was excited. Soon a friendship began and I learned, as they say, the rest of the story about Ray Howell and Kicking Bear.

Ray was born in Michigan but was raised primarily in Wisconsin. As a young child who adored his father, he was completely devastated when one day his father walked out on his family. Watching his father leave had a profound impact on then 5-year old Ray Howell. Ray had to be pulled from the backseat from his father’s car kicking and screaming the day he left. He had hid there hoping to be able to go with his dad. This experience helped breed a hardened heart in Ray and an unwillingness to forgive his father for years for the pain and hurt he put him through. It would be this experience that later in life God would use to help give Ray inspiration to begin a foundation to help other hurting kids. At the age of 5 however, God’s plan for his life had not been revealed and would likely have been dismissed in the midst of the pain being felt in his tender heart.

For several years, Ray, his mother, sister and two brothers lived with his grandparents. Ray’s grandfather took over a formative in his life and taught him many of the life skills Ray would depend on later in life to help build a successful business. Ray learned the value of hard work and was taught to weld by his grandfather, but archery, Ray’s true passion, was learned largely on his own. A man named George, who lived nearby gave Ray his first bow and arrow and with it he learned to instinctively shoot. For fun, he would shoot running mice scared up under piles of wood and junk. Later, after his grandfather became ill Ray and his brothers were sent to foster homes. Life as a kid was one adventure after another for Ray but without a permanent father figure in his life he soon began to get into a lot of trouble. Even the influence of parochial school could not stem his passion for mischief. A couple of close calls, including a near fatal car accident while riding with friends, could not tame his wild spirit. His rebellion led him to run away from five different foster homes growing up. Each time, however, Tom Poukey, his probation officer, would track him down, pick him up and take him back.

One day while sitting in a local jail cell, Tom saw Ray reading some hunting magazines. Ray had become immersed in the tails of adventure the stories held. Tom offered to take Ray hunting with him and his family. It was this introduction to the outdoors that finally made Ray focus on what he wanted to do with his life. It also helped Ray understand the difference one man could make in the life of a kid while using the outdoors as a classroom.

Ray eventually grew up and matured (not always synonymous), married and opened a welding shop based on skills he gleaned from his grandfather as a child. Ray’s business prospered, as did his success in the field of powerlifting, a sport he began as a youth. Ray trained hard between running a successful welding shop, raising a young family and shooting his bow. He went on to win many national power-lifting titles and set many national records, all drug free. Seemingly, he had it all. One day, Tom Poukey came by to tell Ray about a troubled kid who, like him year’s earlier, needed help. He accepted the task and that first young man was with Ray and his family for six years. This act of reciprocal compassion was just the beginning as soon Ray found himself helping more and more kids.

One day a young man named Ben Ring walked past Ray’s house and Ray asked him why the police were always there. Ben explained that he skipped school a great deal and each time he did he got in trouble. He then asked Ray if he could go hunting with him sometime. Ray welcomed yet another young man into his life. It was this chance encounter between Ray and Ben that provided the motivation for Ray to begin Kicking Bear, he just did not know it yet. At this point in Ray’s life, God was still not a priority.

Ray’s wife, Karen had been attending church and soon became very concerned for Ray’s salvation. Karen confided in a man named Pat Aucoin. Pat, a strong believer, and fellow hunter, agreed to talk to Ray. One day, he shared his testimony with Ray. For two hours he explained to Ray about what it meant to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and that life would never be totally fulfilling until he had that relationship. Ray listened intently to the message but did not make the commitment. Ray had taken for granted his prosperity, success and seemingly invincible persona.

One day, Ray was outside practicing with his bow and no matter the distance or the difficulty of the shot all his arrows hit their mark. It was almost as if he could not miss. He began to wonder where his shooting ability came from and at the same time reflected on his prosperity. For the first Ray realized that everything that had happened in his life had happened for his purpose. His troubled youth, his business success, his success in powerlifting and hunting were not coincidences. Ray says it best, “There was an overwhelming burning in my heart--so overwhelming that I went to my knees. I realized with my bow in one hand and arrows in the other that the Lord had been the one who had been guiding my arrows long before I knew He was, and He is the one who has given me all of my abilities. I also realized that these abilities were given to me for a purpose and that purpose is my calling here on earth. That calling is that nothing else means anything except to do what is God’s Will. He is the one who has opened all the doors for His purpose. At that moment, that’s when I let Jesus into my heart and knew that there was no other path to follow here on earth. All of the questions that I’ve ever had about religion, the right church to be involved with, and who I really am were answered then. I hold all of that truth in my heart and have been guided by His Holy Spirit without a second thought since then”.

The name, Kicking Bear, was inspired by a too close for comfort encounter grizzly bear hunt in Alaska. Ray and his guide, Ron Sherer, were following a huge set of tracks near a river. Dead fish littered the path and the smell was nearly overwhelming. Suddenly, Ray heard a splashing noise from the river. As he peered through the brush he saw his monstrous bear. Suddenly the bear was on the move and walking right at them. The bear came so close Ray could not shoot and had to allow the bear to walk past him. At 18 yards, Ray sent an arrow through the bear. As the arrow sliced through the bear he spun and snapped at the entrance wound. Then, he charged. An angry bear can cover a lot of distance when he so desires and 18 yards is not much distance! Luckily, the arrow did its job and the bear slid to a stop literally under the feet of Ray. Neither Ray nor his guide could believe what had just happened. Ron looked at Ray and said, "You really kicked that bear!” Ron, an American Indian lore enthusiast, told Ray that his Indian name would be “Kicking Bear”. Soon, the name “Kicking Bear” would come to identify Ray’s passion for reaching kids.

As Ray was chasing his bowhunting dreams and the pursuit of the archery Grand Slam he became involved in writing stories of his adventures and also began appearing on TV and video. In everything he did he would talk about the importance of being a mentor to a kid who needed one. At the same time company after company was asking Ray to endorse their products or be an ambassador for their company to the archery world. At the time he did not know why he was getting these offers but he would fully realize later in life what this was all about.

One day Pat Aucoin, called Ray and told me him had broken his arm and was unable to go on his scheduled polar bear hunt. He asked Ray if he would like to trade tags with him as Ray had a tag for two years later. With only a month until the impromptu hunt began Ray and his wife scrambled how they could pull this together. Ray wanted to take a satellite phone so that each night he could call back to a computer post a daily log of his adventure. Ray knew this would be an extremely successful means to reach a lot of people and spread his message to inspire others to help kids. About 250,000 logged on to one of the three websites Ray was plugged into during the hunt. Everyone was waiting to see if he was going to be frozen into an ice chunk or be chomped in half by a bear! Ray says of this opportunity, “This was an incredible hunt for me. Every day I got to wake up, take my bow into a hostile environment and chase my dream. Every day I took a minute and talked about the importance of being a mentor to a kid and how you can change a kid’s life by spending a just little time with him or her in the outdoors”.!

Ray thought by setting an example that other sportsmen and sportswomen would follow. Throughout his 15-day polar bear hunt he had passed up several nice bears before he connected with the one that he wanted. The gun hunters had gotten their bears early and were gone home. Ray told the outfitter that he was going to stay there until he got his bear of until the ice thawed out and they had to come and get us off an island with a boat. On the 14th day Ray harvested a magnificent bear with his bow. It was an unbelievable dream come true!

Ray talked to his wife about how many emails they were getting and although there were many there were not many from folks wanting to help kids. A week after Ray got home there were still only 5-10 emails from people who were interested in becoming mentors. Hundreds of people emailed Ray congratulating him and asking questions about the hunt. As time went on, Ray felt like a huge failure in what he was trying to accomplish by introducing sportsmen and women to kids who need help. One day while talking to his wife Karen, it became clear to Ray what he needed to do. He was going to put on a campout and archery shoot that would be totally free to everyone. Where he could introduce kids who needed help to other families and mentors mirroring his own life as a kid and the actions of a few key people that so inspired him growing up. Kicking Bear camps were off to a start.

Since the first camp Ray put together interest has grown and now camps are being held in many states with more and more asking to sponsor camps each year. Thousands of kids are attending camps accompanied by adult mentors to insure the child does not get lost after the camp experience. Camping, games, outdoor education, and of course archery all are part of the Kicking Bear experience along with an organized youth hunt to follow each individual camp. However, Ray always makes sure that during the course of the weekend he shares with the kids the real reason behind Kicking Bear. He challenges the kids to pursue their dreams as he did and that a relationship with Jesus Christ is "Key" to any successful life pursuit. Ray often likes to use the example of David and Goliath to illustrate the fact that anyone can pursue their dreams and overcome insurmountable odds as long as their faith is in God.

In about 2002 Gander Mountain Stores signed on with Ray Howell and Kicking Bear to promote its message. Ray said when he received the call from company CEO Mark Baker to talk about a ProStaff position, he took along a 2” thick resume of all the boyhood dreams he had chased in the outdoors. Ray knew he was going to be very clear in the meeting as to what the message of Ray Howell and Kicking Bear was all about. He unashamedly told Mark about what he wanted to accomplish and instead of shying away Mark enthusiastically embraced Ray’s mission. Ray didn’t even open his resume. Instead all he and Mark talked about was how they could help kids together. Mark told Ray that he was “breaking the chains and giving those kids dreams”. Right then, Ray knew what Mark’s true heart was and where he wanted to be. Today, Ray can be seen routinely on the retail store’s weekly television show, “We Live Outdoors”, seen on The Outdoor Channel. Some of his videos can be watched directly from the Gander Mountain website. Kicking Bear has become a prominent theme with the outdoor retailer taking center stage in much of their advertisement and video production.

In 2005 Ray joined forces with BowTech Archery and their subsidiary Diamond Bows to support the mission of Kicking Bear. BowTech and Diamond have developed a huge following of hunters on account of their product quality and innovation and their exposure in the hunting and outdoor industry has led to a relationship that is especially exciting. John Strasheim, CEO of BowTech and Dewayne Tiller, General Manager have made it perfectly clear in a statement to Ray that it does not matter how many youth bows they sell, but rather how many people find a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. At that point, Ray knew why he was there and who his new “fishing” partners were. Having had the opportunity to meet John Strasheim I know the passion he exudes for his faith and for Kicking Bear. It is not just lip service either. While having attended different outdoor trade shows over the last year, when one walks past the BowTech and Diamond booth one of the first things noticed is the prominently displayed Kicking Bear logo.

In a tremendous show of support, Bowtech and Diamond have announced that the Diamond Cutter and Edge are the official bows of Kicking Bear. In addition they are currently raffling one of their signature Diamond Black Ice bows with all proceeds to go to Kicking Bear. Seldom can one find a company so willing to throw so much support behind programs like Kicking Bear. Then again, few companies have the ministry and mission mindset that Bowtech and Diamond demonstrate everyday.

Ray says his greatest sponsor in life is his wife Karen. Rays said that from the time Karen came into his life there has been a daily growing love for her. “It’s been like the mountains I have climbed—when you think you’ve made it to the top—it’s only another level and as the love grows and what true love is, you’re only looking up to what you think might be the top. She has been my “all in life. She truly is a gift from my Heavenly Father”. With nine children, Ray and Karen’s “quiver is full” no doubt and is also a testament to their love for kids and commitment to family, something missed by Ray as a child.

Since finding faith in Christ the gifts and accomplishments keep coming for Ray. His tumultuous childhood, one filled with heartache and discontent, has helped him to better appreciate all that God has done for him. God blessed his business thus allowing Ray the opportunity to follow his boyhood dreams of bow hunting big game. He is now only a few animals short of completing the Ultimate Grand Slam with a bow and arrow (that is all of the 28 recognized North American big game animals each of which must qualify for Pope & Young). In 2006 Pope & Young recognized him with the Stewardship Award on account of all he has given back to young people and the sport of archery. In 2007, Outdoor Life named Ray as one of the 25 most influential sportsmen in with the Unsung Hero Award. Rays says that nothing he’s done in life, no amount of money he’s made, record broken, award received, or trophy taken compares to spending even just five minutes helping a kid.

“There is only one Pro-Staff in life—and that involves being an ambassador for Christ. By taking care of your spiritual Pro-Staff status the blessings and rewards are way beyond our imagination just as Kicking Bear has been to me. Therefore I have never taken the applause, standing ovations, or the celebrity status for granted. I have always given all the glory to my Father in Heaven”.

One can read about Ray’s adventures in various magazines or watch Ray on television and still really not understand what he is all about. It is not until you have the chance to meet Ray, talk to him, and see him interact with kids that Ray Howell’s life is a radiant example of who, what and how God will use someone and something to further his Kingdom. Statistically, sociologists would tell us that Ray Howell did not stand a chance as a kid but since when was God concerned about statistics? God had a plan for the life of Ray Howell though that plan was not revealed until later in life. God said in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (NIV). Who would have thought that God’s plan for thousands of young people would involve a former foster kid, juvenile delinquent, welder, weightlifter, and world-class bow hunter? God’s hand has certainly been on the life of Ray Howell, even when he did not realize it. Today God is using him, Kicking Bear, and partners like Gander Mountain and BowTech Archery to encourage kids, many of whom would otherwise have no hope or future here on earth, to follow their dreams and trust in the Lord, and build for them a hope and future for eternity.

Sidebar

In August, I attended a Kicking Bear Camp in Michigan; 340 kids, many from inner city Detroit and unsure of what to expect, arrived at the campground on Friday night amid pouring rain and thunderstorms. Despite the conditions their excitement could not be extinguished. It was an incredible experience to watch, and participate, in the many events Friday night, to include what had to be the world’s largest marshmallow fight. These are popular events at Kicking Bear Camps. There is no way to describe seeing 20,000 marshmallows being thrown; you just have to see it!

Saturday brought more rain but shining spirits. First breakfast, a safety brief, and then it was off to the 3-D archery ranges with the campers. It was a chance to bond with smaller groups of kids. I met a boy whose mother recently died. I met an 8-year old girl who earlier in the summer had been hit twice by bullets in a drive-by shooting. Behind the smiling faces, there was a lot of hurt. What a mission field!

At the end of the day everyone gathered around to listen to Ray and retired Detroit Lions lineman Tony Semple speak. Ray shared the exciting story of David and Goliath and how nothing is impossible if God is on your side. In the end, the Gospel was presented. Heads were bowed, eyes closed. Kids prayed. Lives changed. To think it all began with a boy, a bow, and a bear!