Local author Monty Rieck will be speaking on Thursday, March 9 at 6 p.m. at 3321 State St.Santa Barbara.
Rieck, nicknamed the Cowboy Preacher, knew the trouble. Before becoming a minister of Christ, he said, he chased after everything the world had to offer, leaving him hungry for answers. Little did he know, he was the one being hunted.
Despite financial loss, emotional heartbreak, and physical pain, he finally found what he wanted, which changed everything, including his identity.
“I’m a cowboy, fourth-generation plumbing contractor, former building inspector and building supervisor,” Rieck said. “My life has been filled with extremes – working harder, playing harder, tragedy and pain with real joy.
“My dream is to be a professional rodeo. But God has other plans. I can only attribute my survival to God and show me His love.
“Later in life, I hung up my spurs and began to recover from numerous injuries to become a minister of Christ. Along the way, I saw the absolute healing power of God as I prayed for those who stood in my way.”