Dr. Tom C. Rakow (In over his head!)
C.A.A. Founder & Executive President
Phone 320-327-2266

Ministry to Anglers

The C.A.A. distributes free-of-charge a twenty-four page devotional booklet titled Devotions for Anglers which contains true stories of how God has worked in the lives of various hunters. Members agree to a basic statement of faith and sign a membership application.

The basic goals of the Christian Anglers Association are:

1. Evangelization
2. Edification
3. Education
4. Entertainment

Bible and Angling

• An awareness that fishing can be an excellent opportunity for sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with other anglers (Mk. 16:15-16).
• The proper view towards those who are in authority, such as DNR officials (Rms. 13:1-7).
• The importance of faithful church attendance and involvement during the fishing season (Heb. 10:25).
• A wiser use of time spent while actually fishing (e.g. Scripture reading, memorization, prayer, witnessing).

Dr. Tom C. Rakow - Founder/Executive President
Chuck Carlson - Executive Treasurer
Martin V. Zsolnai - Executive Director of Outreach Development

"[Jesus] said, 'Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.'  When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish." (John 21:6, NIV).

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Devotional Excerpts

A Great Catch

Scripture Reading: Psalm 37:1-6

    My grandfather taught me how to fish as a little girl on the lakes of Minnesota using a cane pole and bobber.  What fond memories I have of those times.  God used this interest later in my life in His plan to teach me and bless me.
    As a young Christian woman, I was waiting on God for His plans for me.  Would I marry?  When?  Who?
    As a single, God taught me to be content where I was, serve Him faithfully, seek His plan for me first, and keep Him as my first love.  It was a unique season in life to do these things undividedly and wholeheartedly.
    In time, I became friends with a Christian man whom I increasingly grew to love.  I told God of my heart’s desire for him despite this guyfriend’s seeming lack of interest.  Over the next one-and-a-half years, I learned to pray earnestly and asked God to either crush my hope for him or maintain it enough until His right time.
    The next spring, God brought the opportunity to go fishing with this young man and I jumped at the opportunity.  A trusted girlfriend teased, "You’ve become a real fisher of men," as I went on three subsequent fishing trips.  On two of these trips, we didn’t catch a thing, but God used the time to turn the heart of this man toward me and eventually to bless me with him - now my husband.  God is faithful to those who love Him and put their trust in Him!
    "‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’" Jeremiah 29:11

Prayer: Heavenly Father, how you delight to give your children good things. Teach me to love you first and to trust in the plans you have for me. Help my desires to be your desires. May I love and serve you more. Amen.

Janice Wahlbeck - Virginia

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How to Be a Winner

Scripture Reading: John 5:24-27

    When it comes to losing in the area of fishing, I always strike out big when I try to hook into salmon or trout.  But that’s only when I’m fishing with my brother-in-law, Joe.  He always outdoes me.  Indeed, for me trout and salmon fishing seems to be a total washout if my brother-in-law is on the fishing excursion.
    When fishing riverbanks for trout, Joe will be hauling in fish left and right and all I’m able to land are creek chubs.  Joe will be filling a stringer of trout as I play catch and release with the river’s chubbies, but the worst times of fishing with Joe was for salmon on the Great Lakes.  I can think of at least two times when everyone in the boat was catching salmon, but me.  We all used the same tackle and lures, but I came home empty-handed each trip.  The few fish I did hook, I lost!  In fact, one of those times Joe even caught a beautiful steelhead that topped off his ice chest full of salmon.  This was like rubbing salt in my wound.  Did my brother-in-law feel sorry for me?  Not on your life!  Joe just loved it!
    I might lose out when fishing with my brother-in-law, but there’s one place I’m a winner and that is when it comes to my eternal salvation.  Jesus said, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).  You also can be a part of God’s ultimate fishing creel and thus be assured of winning out for all eternity.  Accept God’s free gift today!

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for sending your Son to be the Savior of the world.  Amen.

Gerry Caillouet - Ohio

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How's Your Fishing Form?

Scripture Reading: Luke 11:1-13

    Time and again, my line floated undisturbed past a partially submerged snag.  It was the same place where a little earlier I had felt a solid tug of a good trout on my fly rod.
    Suddenly, it struck me what was wrong.  I had been so busy trying to make the right presentation that I hadn’t noticed my fly was missing.  Since the previous strike, I had been fishing without a hook!
    Unfortunately, many well-meaning church people are doing something similar.  Although they may be sincere and appear to others as having it all together, in reality they are merely going through the motions.  Like an eggshell drained of its contents, so these appear outwardly to have something within - but inside they’re empty.  They have what Paul referred to as "a form of godliness" (2 Timothy 3:5).
    The truth of the matter is a person can be baptized, confirmed, join the organized church, and even read the Bible on a regular basis.  Nevertheless, if that individual has never been born again (see John 3:3), his or her religion is empty.  Such individuals are like artificial flowers.  They outwardly look like the real thing, but there is no life within.  They are disconnected like a branch that has been severed from a tree.  As the apostle Paul pointed out to the Christians in Rome, "if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ" (Romans 8:9).  However, the good news is that by simple faith in Jesus Christ, we can receive the promise of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for making it possible to live the Christian life by granting the gift of your Holy Spirit.

Tom Rakow - Minnesota

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Memories

Scripture Reading: Song of Songs 8:7

      As a young girl, I was given the responsibility of staying with my grandpa when he came from Iowa to fish.  You see, he had arthritis in his knees and hips and had quite a time getting around.  He would sit in his wooden "fishing chair" and fish in the lily pads on the "soft side" of the bay.  Good bullhead country!
      One day I was playing with my fishing pole on the dock that was built over the water going to "the point."  I caught a very small sunfish.  It swallowed my hook and I couldn't get it out.  I went to Grandpa, who also was hard of hearing, and asked for help.  Grandpa got the hook out for me and then said, "They gotta be bigger than that, Charlie Boy."  (My grandpa's name was Charles and that was his nickname for me.)  I was born close to his birthday and had become a special person to him.  Well, I went back to my spot.  The water was running from one side to the other under that dock and I was having fun watching it.  I would throw my line in on one side and watch it come back again.  All of a sudden, the bobber went under and I pulled up a three pound bass.  With a smile on my face, I ran back to Grandpa with my fish and yelled, "Is this better, Grandpa?"  He turned,  looked at my fish, and his faded blue eyes lit up.  He said, "Charlie, move my chair."
     Did that bring a smile to your face?  It was meant to.  You see those times we spend with loved ones, especially fishing, are moments that last a lifetime.  Looking back at that moment makes me realize haow much my Heavenly Father cares for me by even giving memories of a grandpa who loved me.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for grandparents.

Cheryl Jakobitz - Minnesota

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