Thriving on the Back Side of the Desert
Thursday, November 27, 2025
“God’s preparation always fits the future assignment.” – Os Hillman
In order to become a doctor, you must graduate from medical school. Lawyers must pass the bar exam, and many pastors attend Bible college and/or seminary. But what kind of training prepares you to launch America’s first-ever athletic prison ministry?
Would you believe working for 11 years as a department head at a Christian retirement community?
At age 23, that’s exactly where God planted me on the “back side of the desert” if you will. Just like He did with Moses, who learned humility and obedience while tending sheep for 40 years before God called him to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, God used my decade of service as Director of Recreation, Development, and Volunteer Services to prepare me to lead hundreds of missionary athletes into prisons throughout North America.
During my time at the Wiley Christian Retirement Community, I learned to supervise staff and volunteers; prepare and manage budgets; plan and coordinate special events, day trips, and overnight excursions; and design direct mail fundraising campaigns. All of those skills came in extremely handy when I founded The South Jersey Saints in 1987, which later became The Saints Prison Ministry.
Then, in 2011, God sent our family packing to Vero Beach, Florida to start a new ministry from scratch. After all, how can you lead an organization called “Risk Takers for Christ” if you haven’t taken a giant leap of faith yourself?
Nothing that God does is by happenstance or mistake. On the contrary, everything He does is part of His master plan for your life and mine. And so, I challenge you to “trust the process” because someday you will look back at your current circumstances and understand what God was up to.
Meanwhile, claim the following promises…
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:11-13 (BSB)
“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” Philippians 1:6 (NLT)
- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President
