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A Pennsylvania horse trainer and speaker brings his unusual approach to the Citrus County Fairgrounds this weekend.
By GAIL HOLLENBECK
© St. Petersburg Times, published March 10, 2001
INVERNESS -- If you think the only place you will hear biblical truths this weekend will be from a pulpit in church, think again. Lew Sterrett will be teaching them from the back of a horse.
Sterrett, a horse trainer and speaker, is bringing his unique "Sermon on the Mount" program to the Citrus County Fairgrounds arena from 2 to 5 p.m. today. Sunday at the same time, he will present a "Horseman's Workshop" there.
Sterrett, 48, says he created the program using horses to illustrate the relationship between God and ourselves about 20 years ago, but the concept was not his idea.
"It was the Lord's idea," Sterrett said. "He used the tools in my hand, the reins of a horse and my love for horses to teach me about himself through his Word, and I just began to see and understand these concepts for my own life personally. It was very convicting and very life transforming for me. I began to share with others and they also began to respond to Christ and to share it. It's just kind of grown like that over the years. It's an accumulation of little gold nuggets that we put together."
Sterrett said he grew up on a farm in southeastern Pennsylvania, where he developed a special affection for horses and got involved in 4-H horse programs. Under the guidance of owners and breeders, he gained opportunities to train and show, and attained national recognition. Later, while attending Pennsylvania State University, Sterrett learned from qualified trainers and educators.
It was while at school that the Lord got his attention and he became a Christian, Sterrett said. That redirected his focus. He received Bible training and was an instructor at a Christian equine college.
In 1977, Sterrett and his wife, Melodie, assumed the directorship of Miracle Mountain Ranch Missions near Erie, Pa. Initially a summer camp, the ranch has grown to become a Christian training center, which oversees a summer youth camp, a year-round leadership training program, weekend seminars, a counseling-based ministry, and outreach to both secular and sacred audiences as well as to horse and school groups.
During the course of this ministry, Sterrett developed his "Sermon on the Mount" series.
"Each one of the shows is different," Sterrett said. "They are all unique because every horse is an individual and you deal with their life history and what they've learned. You see how they have developed. There will be some horses that have never been ridden that will be ridden for the first time. Then there will be horses that have been started, but have some developmental delays or setbacks in some way. Some horses are well trained and very responsive, so we will have a contrast."
All of this is a parallel for the Christian life, Sterrett said.
"Even a non-horse person can see attitudes that the horse is having and will see their belief or trust in the trainer and their response to the trainer. For a Christian, that shows how God is using the pressures in our lives to conform us or to deal with our heart attitude. As we grow and mature, we begin to discern more that the purpose of the pressure is not to withhold good from us, not to harm us, but to help us and guide us into a productive life."
Sterrett chooses horses belonging to local owners for his demonstrations. Last March, when presenting his program in Tampa, Sterrett worked with a horse belonging to the Maddox family of Bushnell.
"He used our horse for a demonstration on rebellion and it was quite interesting," said Derek Maddox, 14. "He probably bucked and kicked for almost an hour, and all Mr. Sterrett was asking him to do was go in a circle, but he was rebelling against that."
"It was really interesting watching him work with Sport," added Brittney Maddox, 15. "It was very insightful for all of us to realize that Mr. Sterrett was working with him much the same way as God is working with us. There's never a time when we're totally mature. There's always something in our life that we need to work on. Sport is a lot better than he was, and he responds a lot better now."
The Maddox family is behind Sterrett's visit this weekend. After seeing his program last year, the family got a group together locally to watch the presentation. Later in the year, they visited the ranch in Pennsylvania and asked Sterrett if he would return.
Derek and Brittney, who are home-schooled, made numerous presentations to potential local sponsors, talking about the program and showing videos of Sterrett's work. They raised enough money to cover the expenses of the event, including the use of the arena. Each of the teens created a brochure for the weekend's events -- Derek for the Sermon on the Mount, and Brittney for the Horseman's Workshop. Brittney made contact with the local media.
"We are hoping about 400 people will come," said Brittney.
"Our hopes are high," said Derek.
Sterrett's hopes are high as well.
"We enjoy people and love the horses," he said. "It's just a fun time together and non-threatening but provocative. We want to help people to become more fruitful in their personal lives and in all of their relationships. That would makes us feel successful."
"Sermon on the Mount," illustrations of biblical principles using horse training techniques, 2 to 5 p.m. today; Horseman's Workshop, tips on working with horses going through various stages of maturity, 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Citrus County Fairgrounds Arena. Free admission, donations accepted, all are welcome. For more information call the Maddox family at (352) 568-3222.
Eight "Sermon on the Mount" principles are taught and demonstrated on eight videos that will be on sale at the programs. Normally priced at $175 for the set and $29.95 each, the special program price is $160 for the set and $25 for a single video. The principles taught are faith, virtue, meekness, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love.