Todd Bradrick, Smoky Hill Baptist Assocation
By Todd Bradrick
What opened your eyes to the fields where you serve? What drew you there? How did God call you there?
I grew up in small town North Central Kansas. About 4 years ago, a friend and myself were up in my hometown of Mankato deer hunting and on our way into town I told Jason that I felt this sudden heaviness and darkness. . . I told my wife what had happened and she made a comment that we better get ready because we may be moving. Then two years ago the Smoky Hill and Central Baptist associations joined efforts when a church property was given to them. We were asked to pray about going to Smith Center and working in a church plant. After much prayer and God answering many prayers, we could see that God was working, and that it was clear that all the sheep skins we kept laying down before the Lord were being answered.
When you look at the fields, what do you see? When you see, what stirs you? When you see, whom do you see?
When I look at the fields, I see many people with church background, I see a lot of religion but no relationship with Christ. I see a lot of tradition but no transformation, comfort and no conviction. When I look around, there are many young people who are raising their families who were raised in church, and for some reason or another they have walked away. Trying to find a way to minister to those families and help them see that they have been given the responsibility to raise a family centered on God’s foundations. I want to help them see the value of a relationship with Christ and the difference that it can make in their lives and the lives of their family.
How ripe has your harvest been? What does this ripeness look like? Who is helping you in the gathering?
The Lord has blessed us many times over since we came to Smith Center. Trying to break through the crust in a town can be difficult to do. Getting people to trust you and commit to something new is a challenge. The Lord has given us several ways to break through and let people see us for what we are, and what we feel is the vision that God has shown. Several families have committed to being a part of the work the Lord is doing here, with roughly 70% of the community and surrounding areas either un-churched or lost there is plenty to do. . . My wife Gaye has been a sounding board for me, and she not only keeps me on track and takes care of our family, she also takes care of most of the secretarial and janitorial duties at the church, as well as teaching children’s Sunday school. Ecclesiastes 4:12 is a constant reminder to me about my wife and the importance of making God the binding strand in your family and ministry.