Celebrating 24 Years of Faith, Family & Ministry

Hello, our faithful and loving supporters and friends!

Today marks Lord Family Ministry’s 24th Anniversary! Precisely 24 years ago, on November 8, 2002, we embarked on a journey that changed our lives forever.

What started as a family’s effort to renovate a donated old bus into a home, turned into a family of eight living by faith, traveling across the United States to spread the Gospel, sing, and be a light in the darkness.

And I, Bethany Joy, the youngest in that family of eight, had a front-row seat to the miracles, testimonies, and life-altering moments that made up our ministry on the road. Even though I was only 18 months old when this ministry first took off.

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A Childhood on the Road

I am now twenty-five and I find it extremely difficult to sum up in this newsletter just how much my life was made better by this ministry and our late, incredible Executive Director—my father, Kerry Lord.

It would be an oversimplification to say it was just “made better”… just as it sometimes was an oversimplification to say it was “just a ministry”… because it wasn’t. It was a lifestyle and most definitely a calling—one my parents did not take lightly, even as they journeyed through the most difficult season yet this past spring.

The way my dad made it his mission to find a way to laugh, smile, and exude Christ’s light in emergency rooms, doctors’ offices, and chemo treatment centers speaks to that. It speaks to the unfaltering faith that he held as a torch for this family, the faith that inspired my own.

From 2002 to 2013, I had the privilege of calling three buses and one sketchy van—renovated by my dad and his friends—my homes-on-wheels. We traveled all throughout the United States, making lifelong friends and turning some into family.

From hot sauce challenges and late-night card games, to AG kids camps and “Gray Squirrel” songs around the campfire… I grew up in this ministry.

It is where my faith grew, where my character and core beliefs were formed, where my family devotion and loyalty were established, and (unfortunately) where my sense of humor was developed—all under the great influence of the amazing, godly people who surrounded me during that time.

So when I say this ministry was my childhood, I mean it. I do not know who I would be today without such an incredible opportunity to experience Christ so early on in my life, and I am so thankful for it.

I am thankful to my parents for being brave despite being called crazy; I am thankful to the spiritual leaders who supported us; and I am thankful to all of you—most of whom have been here with us since the beginning, praying for us, listening to us, and supporting us through it all.

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Carrying the Torch Forward

I cannot lie… it’s incredibly strange and hard to be writing this instead of my dad. His absence is greatly felt every day—every moment. It is felt both in this ministry and, especially, in our lives.

As a tribute to our ministry’s great Executive Director and this family’s incredible father, we will be sending out an email every day until Sunday, November 15. Each email has been written by a member of this family to share our hearts with you and some beautiful thoughts about what this ministry has done over the past 24 years.

Next Sunday, we will be announcing LFM’s new vision, board, and ministry direction. We hope you will join us as we try to carry forward the torch of the amazing man, the incredible dreamer, and the devoted servant of God that we lost.

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A Message from Dad

Before I close, I want to include the 2025 LFM Anniversary email my dad sent to our family…

Good morning all!

Do you remember those early days when we had no electricity and Mom would run Uncle Ron’s generator to vacuum and let you kids watch a video on the tv? Then one Fall day in 1994 we got power from the electrical company and that night and every year afterwards we celebrated with a candle lit dinner! Then in 2002, that Fall, I left our comfortable job at the bank and began working for the BIG GUY on 11/08! The theme for the year was “2002 -Our dreams did come true”. Only GOD knew way back in January what would happen 11 months later as we stepped out in faith and started living by faith on our very own “Venture With God!” Who would have thought that 23 years later our family of 8 would grow to 21! And that we would still be living our faith influencing in so many ways! This year’s theme has been “2025 - Year to Thrive and Revive!” I know Mom and I have seen this play out and perhaps you have too?

May GOD bless and keep us all as only HE can do and bring us all together soon!

Happy Anniversary!

Love you all!
Mom & Dad

So here’s to honoring where we’ve been, celebrating what God has done, and faithfully carrying the vision forward into all that is still to come. Happy 24th Anniversary, Lord Family Ministry!

With love and gratitude,
Bethany Joy Sargent
Lord Family Ministry