Dogwood Ministries, Inc. is located in Big Sandy, Tennessee.  We were both born in Texas - J.R., in Lufkin, and Bonnie in Waco.  J.R. had the good sense to stay in Texas, but Bonnie's parents moved her to Little Rock, Arkansas, so we both grew up in the piney woods.  We never knew we were poor, because we had everything we needed.  So we developed a special value of family.  We met in Houston, Texas, and it was love at first sight... at least, for me. Bonnie took a little work.  But it didn't take long, and she came around to my way of thinking. 

We've had a wonderful and adventurous life together.  In 1994, we moved to Branson, Missouri, where we got to meet and get to know people that otherwise would have never crossed our path.  And we got to do what we do best at Silver Dollar City - we acted silly and got paid for it!  And we made some wonderful lifelong friends. 

Then God moved us to Salem, Missouri.  We didn't know why, but His plan was obvious after we got there.  We had our own live talk show on Christian radio on Saturday nights, and not to brag too big, but it was the show with the biggest audience the station had ever had.  Then, a year after we got there, they shut down the Christian station.  Before we knew what was happening, the people in the community had appointed me and Bonnie to establish a new Christian station.  We soon found out how Job must have felt!  What a battle!  But the station went on the air in February, 2003. 

To shorten this story, we moved to Kentucky in 2002 and were there for two years, and then found our little piece of heaven - sixteen acres on the edge of Big Sandy, Tennessee.  It had everything we needed... a boat dock five minutes away, pine trees, and Blue Bell ice cream.  What more could we ask for?  In all seriousness, Bonnie and I are both disabled, but we continue to maintain the ministry that we have had for thirteen years - daily devotionals distributed all over the world, active mentoring and counseling of new Christians, many of whom have been caught up in cults before meeting Jesus.  I have the wood shop that I've always dreamed of, and I love producing special things for other folks.  I've also added welding and boat trailer making to my list of things I love to do.  Bonnie makes custom, one-of-a-kind fine jewelry.  If you're interested in seeing any of the things we make, just send us an e-mail and let us know what you're interested in.  We hope that if you purchase one of our products, it will be a special to you for years to come.  But most of all, we hope that you will feel the love that we have for our Lord Jesus Christ.  He grew the trees and made the stones, and He allows us to shape them into things of value, sort of like He shapes each of our lives and gives them value - but most of all, salvation through His sacrifice on the cross.  If you're ever in Big Sandy, Tennessee, stop by.  The coffee pot's always on, and we'll treat you so many ways, you're bound to like one of them! 

The things that we produce help to finance the ministry and give us a unique way of contacting people in all sorts of situations.  God has been extremely good to us in our finances.  And we are hoping to expand the ministry into preaching and teaching at churches around the U.S. and Canada.  If you feel your church might be interested, please check our Teaching and Preaching page for details.