Introducing Thad DeBuhr with Your Jesus Journey

Bonners Ferry native and leader of the out-of-the-box ministry called ‘Your Jesus Journey’ has reached out to us and graciously agreed to do a Sunday segment devotional for 9B.News!

Thad, his wife Kaila and their dogs Tucker and Odie travel the United States meeting new people and sharing Jesus.

Just to get to know him better, here is a quick note from Thad…

Hello Bonners Ferry! It’s great to reconnect with my 9B family. My name is Thad DeBuhr, and like many of you, Bonners Ferry has always been a special place in my heart, even if I’ve wandered a bit over the years.

My story began in Paradise Valley, near the little white church, where my family settled when I was just a toddler.

My dad was the principal at Naples Elementary, and my mom taught at Valley View. Life took a turn when my parents divorced, but my brother, sister, and I were fortunate to grow up here, enjoying an amazing childhood filled with party lines, swimming holes, and the simple joys of a time before the internet. And yes, I was one of those lucky kids who got their driver’s license at 14, cruising those familiar county roads! My memories are like pages out of a Patrick McManus book, full of adventures and laughter.

If you’ve lived in a few places around here, there’s a good chance I was your neighbor! My mom

had a knack for finding new homes, and between Naples and Bonners Ferry, my sister and I

counted somewhere around 25 to 27 different houses! All that moving taught me to be adaptable

and to value experiences over possessions.

My first “real job” was at Clifty View Nursery, grading trees after school, and summers were

spent in construction, chasing after fun, and exploring Snow Creek and Beaver Lake. I graduated

from Bonners Ferry High in 1991, and later worked at Buy-Rite Building Supply, where I loved

connecting with folks across the county. Like many, I had my share of teenage escapades, but I

managed to stay out of major trouble (or at least, I wasn’t caught!).

At 20, I married a Naples girl, and we started our family. Like many young folks from Bonners, I

had dreams of exploring beyond our beautiful valley. Life took me on a journey; much of it was

great, but there were some hard turns, too. Not long into my marriage, I was divorced, and along

the way, I rediscovered my faith in Jesus, leading me into a career in ministry.

For over 10 years, I served as a junior high pastor at Real Life Ministries in Post Falls, and then in other ministry roles. The years flew by, filled with family, new opportunities, and both joys and challenges.

Though I don’t live in Bonners Ferry full-time, it will always be home. My mom, still here and

nearing 80, my oldest son, my sister, and her husband all call Bonners home. We visit often,

cherishing our time in my beloved hometown.

My wife and I are now leading an exciting, out-of-the-box ministry, and I invite you to learn

more at http://www.YourJesusJourney.com. I’m thrilled to be contributing a weekly column to

9B.News, where we’ll explore God’s Word and how it applies to our lives, offering wisdom for

whatever Boundary County life throws our way.

I look forward to connecting with you all! If you’re ready to dive into the Bible sooner, I’d encourage you to check out our LIVE daily Bible Podcast that comes on live every morning at 6 am Pacific Time. It’s 30 minutes or less every day, working through the Bible verse by verse in a way that makes sense. Find it on our channel at http://www.YouTube.com/@yourjesusjourney