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Thursday, October 10, 2013

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Speaker for Harvest of Talents

Celebration Sunday, October 27, 2013

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Gene Shepherd, former Senior Minister of Lincoln Christian Church, and now residing in Anaheim, CA has been chosen to deliver the message for the Harvest of Talents Celebration Sunday to be held in the Chapel of Lincoln Christian University, Lincoln, IL. on October 27. Shepherd delivered the sermon in February of 1984 which launched the first Harvest of Talents for World Hunger. The Harvest, celebrating its 30th year on October 26, in the Fellowship Center of the Church; is the unique “every person” hunger ministry of the Lincoln church.


Shepherd, who graduated from Lincoln Christian College and Lincoln Christian Seminary, has held ministries in Missouri, Illinois, Texas (Dallas Christian College) and California. He recently retired from ministry at the Anaheim Christian Church where he served for 13 years.


When living in Illinois Shepherd became interested in weaving as a diversion to the responsibilities and stress that accompany most aspects of ministry. By the time he reached California he was searching for something offering more of a “high touch” sort of experience. Remembering watching an elderly woman hook rugs during his childhood he decided on a whim, to make a rug as a diversion. “I guess I could say I was hooked”, notes Shepherd. “Although I am self taught, for the most part, I like to say that I “hook by ear”. “Part of the reason I have been so successful is because I have spent so many hours honing my communication skills ~ skills which pay off as I teach, write and film instructional videos on this art form.”


Shepherd is currently Director of Cambria Pines Rug Camp, always held the first full week of June at Cambria Pines Lodge, Cambria, CA as well as Director of the on-line Internet Rug Camp. He regularly teaches private and group classes in Anaheim, CA and has also taught at various Biennial conventions of The Association of Traditional Handhooking Artists. This year he is also serving as Co-Director of the 2013 ATHABiennial in Long Beach CA. Known for his particular passion of introducing rug hooking to multi-ethnic children and adults, he has traveled as far as Russia, England, Canada and Australia to teach this art form. His hooked rugs have been featured several times in Rug Hooking Magazine and the ATHA Magazine. Four of his works have been chosen to appear in A Celebration of Hand Hooked Rugs: Fog, in 2002, Russian Birch, in 2004 and Miss Weigle, in 2005 and Big Momma, in 2009. Russian Birch was also chosen as a Reader's Choice finalist. In 2003 he served as one of 4 judges for Celebrations XIII. Although most of Shepherd’s work is based on his original designs, he has re-created two rugs for the US Park Service. Working with black and white archival photos he designed and hooked two rugs that had been lost from FDR's Top Cottage at Hyde Park, New York. These rugs went on display at Hyde Park in 2004. He is a frequent contributor to Rug Hooking Magazine, His published works include The Rug Hooker's Bible, Prodded Hooking for a Three Dimensional, his latest book, Prepared to Dye and over 80 professionally produced instructional DVD's on various topics associated with the making of traditional hand hooked rugs.

 

On a personal note, Shepherd comments that he has found that rug hooking has opened up many doors of witness for him that he might otherwise not have had. He receives calls and letters asking for prayers and counsel from all around the world because he is well known as “the rug hooking pastor”. Shepherd r sides in Anaheim, California with his wife Marsha and daughter, Ann.


For a gallery of Shepherd’s work, teaching schedule, original patterns, links to companion sites or information about Cambria Pines Rug Camp, log on to his website www.geneshepherd.com


The public is invited to attend the Celebration Service, held at 10 a.m. in the Earl C Hargrove Chapel of LCU. The service will feature a parade of flags from all of the countries that have been recipients of Harvest funds over the past 29 years. A check representing the proceeds of the 30th Harvest will be presented to Rick Jett, Executive Director of International Disaster Emergency Service. The multi-media worship service will conclude the weekend activities of the Harvest of Talents for World Hunger. In the past 29 years the Harvest of Talents for World Hunger has raised over $1,718,145.23, every penny of which has been channeled to missions worldwide to alleviate spiritual and physical hunger.

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