These are not people we know.

While we have occasionally seen our photo on the refrigerator of a friend, you won’t read about us in tabloids. You’re not likely to see us on cable or television networks, either.

Others may do a better job of marketing. We’ve tried to stay away from that stuff. It becomes too easy to believe that you’re bigger than life and uniquely anointed.

Like most people, we pay taxes, have a mortgage, car payments, pay taxes, insurance, utilities, all the expenses of living…and we pay taxes. For now, we have suspended making contributions to a retirement program. Maybe next year. We’ll see.

We live in a comfortable home built in 1983 because an amazing friend sold it to us at a price far below market value. We drive used vehicles, and neither the 2007 Malibu nor the 2003 Tacoma are luxury vehicles.

Life and ministry is not all about us. That’s why OPEN DOORS has provided over $1 million dollars to dig fresh-water wells, sponsor Bible School students, and involve people personally in missions and global evangelism all over the world since 1990.

We make every attempt to simply be obedient. We believe God has honored those attempts and the successes of the past 21 years of ministry are due to His blessing upon our feeble attempts.

We are not very popular. That’s okay with us because Jesus never called us to a contest. He called us into a Great Commission. We’re just happy to chip away at helping to advance the Kingdom of God around the world.

Blessings!

Ric & Sheila Shields