“His physicality was slowly getting worse and worse,” Laura Ricker said about her husband’s condition. “He just couldn't stand up straight. He had never had anything serious like that before, you know, because he's so active. My partner in life may not be here. Will he survive?”

For many years, Darryl Ricker and his wife, Laura, have been strong advocates for physical activity in their community on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in Montana. But a nasty fall while working on their home put Darryl’s lifestyle at risk.

“A Really strong wind came and blew the door, and it knocked him backwards,” Laura said. “He was on the ground and he had hit his head. ‘Are you okay? Do you want to go to Emergency?’ He said, ‘No, I think I'll be okay.’ I know that he hit pretty hard on the concrete. It seemed like that was the beginning of some things going on with him. He would say, ‘I feel weird. I feel kind of dizzy sometimes, and I'm a little off.’”

Shortly after the fall, Daryll got into an altercation while defending his daughter. He took another severe blow to the head in the fight. Again, Daryll tried to walk it off, but his health quickly deteriorated.

“He just was off balance,” Laura said. “He said, ‘My eye is all red, can you look at my eye?’ I looked, and it wasn’t right, so we ended up calling my niece in Wisconsin who is a registered nurse. She said, ‘You know, it sounds like he's having a stroke, get him to Emergency, like, right now.’ That’s when we ended up going to the hospital. When they took a CAT scan, they realized that he was having a massive stroke. It’s a shock.”

Darryl stabilized within two days and was released home to await an appointment with his neurologist, but that’s when things took a turn for the worse.

“He started forgetting things,” Laura said. “He fell several times. He couldn't even sit up on his own. You would look at him and you knew that something was going on because he would look at you with a blank look. We called the ambulance. They came, and they had to put him on a stretcher and carried him out. This is life and death. Everything was turned upside down. You're losing that person that you love so much, and you’re preparing for what you might have to do and then possibly a life alone.”

Darryl was airlifted out of the reservation and taken into emergency surgery after he was found to have a brain bleed. At the same time, Laura contacted her church and everyone else she could think of to ask for prayer.

“Prayers were coming from everywhere. We had people praying in different states, just rallying around us. It was like, ‘You're not alone in this.’ In my heart it was a tremendous feeling of comfort, like God was wrapping his arms around you and working through these people and saying that, ‘It’ll be okay.’

However, Darryl’s condition worsened after the first surgery. With his life on the line, Laura refused to give up and the prayers continued to flow in. Then a breakthrough – the bleeding stopped.

“Daryl came out of surgery and he's talking,” Laura said. “It was instantaneous, and I was just amazed, like, ‘You’re back!’ God sustained him and healed him. That neurologist, she called him ‘Miracle Man.’ She even realized that this was not normal, that there was something that happened. Something incredible.”

“I believe God did heal me, I really believe that,” Darryl said. “It was good to be with my wife. I think it'll take the rest of my life to thank her.”

Darryl was back home within days. He didn’t require any physical therapy and was able to start running with Laura again in no time. It’s been two years since his brain bleed, and Darryl is now stronger than ever, even training for an Ironman Triathlon. The Rickers credit God for his survival and use his testimony to encourage others within the Native American community.

“We are such a small population, but we have the highest rate of heart attacks, strokes, diabetes,” Laura said. “I honestly believe that God did this to help the Native People to see that there is hope. Darryl is a walking miracle, he should be gone. I'm just so thankful. Prayer is very powerful.”

“I am grateful for God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit,” Darryl said. “God had bigger plans than I even had for myself. I'm glad to be here, and I'm glad for this opportunity. I'll cherish it for the rest of my life.”

Four-year-old, Rizka, was born with a club foot. Her mom, Tini, said she’ll never forget the question her daughter once asked her. “She said, ‘Mom, why does your foot and dad’s foot look normal—and my foot looks like this?’ She often asked me to buy her shoes. My heart was breaking when she said that.” 

Ever since Rizka was born, her parents and grandmother have tried to find a way to pay for surgery to repair the foot. But they did not earn enough. “I did random jobs but mostly I fish,” Rizka’s dad, Ade, told us. “From that I earned about 3 dollars a day.” 

Rizka’s Grandma Yoyoh said, "She couldn’t imagine her life with her foot like that. I knew kids would bully her, say hurtful things that will make her cry.”  

So, Operation Blessing arranged for Rizka to travel to a hospital in the city.  An x-ray revealed how the bones in her foot and ankle had not formed correctly and how an operation could fix it. We then paid for Rizka to receive a free operation from one of the top orthopedic surgeons in Indonesia. We also provided physical therapy for her.

“I am so happy and grateful that my daughter’s foot has been fixed. Now she can wear shoes!” said Tini. “I want to say thank you so much to Operation Blessing and all the donors who provided help for my daughter! Thank you. Thank you so much!” she added with a big smile.   
 

THE WINGFEATHER BACKSTORY

The popular Wingfeather Saga books, written by Christian singer/songwriter and author, Andrew Peterson, chronicle the adventures of the Igiby family, made up of grandfather Podo, mother Nia, and three children, Janner, Kalmar "Tink," and Leeli. They discover secrets of their family history, then run into the evil Fangs of Dang who are occupying the country of Skree where the Igibys were raised. They combat Gnag the Nameless, the master of the Fangs. The story takes place in the fantasy world of Aerwiar, which has not developed electricity or firearms, and which has a number of strange creatures.  To date, The Wingfeather Saga (WFS) books, first published in 2008 and re-published in 2020, boast 1.5 million copies sold in the U.S., and have been translated in 14 different languages.

As to the video series, Season One was released in winter 2022- 2023, though plans for the family-friendly production began seven years prior.  In 2016, more than three thousand investors provided $265 thousand to bring to life a 15-minute short film based on the book series.  By 2021, many more investors made the way for a video series of six, 25-minute episodes.  The series targets 8-12-year-olds and their families, and is the second most-watched show to The Chosen on Angel Studios App.  As to the style of animation, Chris says that WFS is not “CG photo-real,” but “paint motion,” and then explains what each means.  Most of feature CGI (computer-generated imagery) animation aims for a photo-real image, where the visuals are so crisp that nothing needs to be filled in by the audience’s imagination, he says.  Chris and his production team aimed for a hand-crafted, “storybook” quality, which invites the viewer to fill in what’s not there, similar to 2D animation, like the 1942 movie, “Bambi,” where the abstract paintings inspire the imagination.  This approach is distinct in avoiding just making a “cheaper version” of feature studio work, Chris explains.  The voiceover talent behind the WFS characters is topnotch also, including Jodi Benson (of Little Mermaid fame), Kevin McNally (Pirates of the Caribbean), Henry Ian Cusick (Lost), and Billy Boyd (Lord of the Rings). 

THE WINGFEATHER “WHY”

“If you want someone to know the truth, tell them.  If you want someone to love the truth, tell them a story,” said Andrew Stanton, filmmaker (Finding Nemo, Wall-E) at Pixar.  Chris Wall says this philosophy is the motivation for producing the WFS - for both kids and their families.  The truth, as he and his colleagues believe, is grounded in the gospel of Jesus Christ.  For those unfamiliar with the WFS stories, Chris’ Shining Isle Productions describes them this way: “Epic, like Lord of the Rings.  Witty, like The Princess Bride.  Full of Truth like The Chronicles of Narnia.”  Like those great fantasy stories, Chris says WFS also embeds a deeply felt Christian worldview.  “This subversive approach allows the story to sneak past the ‘watchful dragons,’ (as C.S. Lewis put it), as the viewer considers the redemptive truths.  In a world that challenges kids to follow their heart, and cut the deadweight of family, it is rare for a series like this to resonate deeply with both mainstream and Christian audiences.  And the major theme of identity is more timely than ever for families, along with themes of self-sacrifice and redemption.”               

The fact that Chris and his wife have six kids of their own, and that Chris considers himself “a kid at heart” are hugely motivating factors for his career; he wants to make a difference for family entertainment.  Growing up in the 80’s, he says there weren’t great options in the family and faith market.  In 2006, Chris says, VeggieTales comprised 96% of the faith market for kids and families.  While it’s a great production, they found it sad that there weren’t more faith-oriented choices along the way.  Producing WFS is for him a way to lead others to help fill that space. 

THE WINGFEATHER FUTURE

The future of WFS looks bright indeed.  Season Two of the video series was released in April 2024, and pre-production for Season Three: The Ice Prairies began in August for Fall of 2025 release.  The project is the largest crowd-funded animated family video series in history, with ten thousand investors, and ratings of 8.4/ 10 on IMDB, and 100% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.  Chris says the plan is to produce seven seasons, completing the story in the novels.     

For more information click https://wingfeathersaga.com

CREDITS: 

Executive Producer and Showrunner, The Wingfeather Saga animated series since 2016 /  Founder, Shining Isle Productions, 2016 / Collaborated with DreamWorks Animation and Big Idea Productions for a dozen years, producing 16 direct-to-video VeggieTales CG animated movies, including Noah’s Ark, Wonderful Wizard of Ha’s, and Saint Nicholas / Creator, Slugs & Bugs Show with Brentwood Studios and RightNow Media / Editor, Max Lucado’s You Are Special video series; voice talent for “Punchinello” character /  Married to Heather, six children / Boy Scout volunteer / TV and Film graduate of Oral Roberts University

JANE’S CALLING AS A DEBORAH 

It might surprise people familiar with Jane and her family’s longstanding ministry that she didn't grow up in the church.  However, she did sense God’s presence at various times in her youth. “When I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Savior at the age of fourteen, I had a deep sense of divine destiny within me that there would be more to my life than going to college, getting married, and having a career,” she remembers. 

By 1978, Jane was a 16-year-old who wanted to know God’s plan for her life.  As she sat in her room one day, she prayed and then waited on God, not knowing what to expect.  She says she was amazed when she heard His Spirit speak to her.  What He communicated, Jane says, was that His plans for her were not the plans she’d made for herself: “Instead of going to that (secular) college, I am going to send you to Bible college.

When you get there, you are going to meet a man and you will get married young.  I will send you to the nations of the earth.  Sometimes he will preach and sometimes you will preach because I'm going to make you a team in ministry."  She looks back at it as a calling to be a “Deborah-like” leader in ministry.  

Jane attended Bible College, met and married Tom Hamon, son of Christian International Ministries founder, Dr. Bill Hamon, and entered ministry. God led her into ministry, and she says His leading has challenged, comforted, and instructed her along the path of destiny.  "I longed to impact history, not for my name or fame, but that God would be glorified, souls would be saved, women would be empowered and even nations could be transformed by the power of God,” she says.

FIGHT TO WIN

After decades of ministry, Jane has watched countless others endure spiritual attacks, oblivious that it’s even happening.  With a desire to open our eyes to the thief who is robbing us, Jane decided to write her latest book, Confronting the Thief. The focus of the book is helping readers discern the truth, overcome loss, and reclaim what has been taken from them. Sadly, Jane says that so many believe the trials and hardships of life are normal.  She calls it the “just life” mentality. 

The Bible specifically warns us to “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8, ESV). 

Jane shares practical advice to:
1.    Identify the Enemy's Tactics: Hamon outlines how the "enemy" attempts to steal, kill, and destroy your life.
2.    Enjoy Restoration and Recovery: Giving guidance on how to move from feeling like a victim to becoming victorious over life's challenges.
3.    Take Practical Steps to Reverse the Damage: With biblical teachings, prophetic insights, and practical decrees and prayers, Jane shares how          to move from a passive approach to an aggressive approach—confronting the enemy and taking back what he’s stolen from you.  

For more Information on Jane Hamon click the Link 

CREDITS

Author, Latest: Confronting the Thief, (Chosen Books, 2024) / Senior Leader, with her husband, Tom, of Vision Church at Christian International in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida / Prophetic voice, teacher, pastor, and sought-after speaker / Jane and Tom have three grown children and seven grandchildren.