Hunting for Hope: Trusting God Through Trials
A novel inspired by the faithful life and ministry of Pastor Kim Earhart

In the rugged quiet of Montana’s wilderness, where the winters are long and the hearts of men often guarded, one preacher learns to follow God’s call the hard way.

Caleb Harding was raised in the shadow of the pulpit, the son of a faithful Baptist pastor. After Bible college, he returned home to serve under his father, with every expectation—his father’s and his own—that one day, he would step into the pulpit as pastor. But when his father died suddenly, the church chose another man, and Caleb was quietly shown the door.

With little more than his Bible, his family, and a stubborn faith in God’s providence, Caleb took a call to a small church in a struggling Montana town. What awaited him there wasn’t warm fellowship or eager congregants—but cold stares, silent suspicion, and years of hardship. For five long years, the town offered no work, no welcome, and no help.

Out of sheer necessity, Caleb turned to hunting—at first clumsily, but eventually with skill born from desperation. It was meat that kept his family fed, prayer that kept his soul nourished, and the quiet strength of his wife Rachel that held their home together.

Then came illness—an aggressive, rare infection that nearly took Caleb’s life. For two years, he battled through hospital visits, painful treatments, and total weakness. For another year, he learned to walk again. And through it all, the church held fast, and Rachel remained a steady rock by his side.

Hunting for Hope is a fictionalized story inspired by the real life and faith of Pastor Kim Earhart, who, along with his faithful wife, continues to serve God in the small town of Plains, Montana. This novel is not only a tribute to his endurance, but a stirring reminder that God’s good hand is present—even when the path is lonely, the trials are many, and the freezer is empty.

Readers will find within these pages:

• A heartfelt portrayal of rural ministry and the unseen burdens pastors often bear.

• A testimony of God's provision—through hunting, odd jobs, and the kindness of a once-cold community.

• A vivid reminder that faith is not proven in ease, but forged in fire.

• The beauty of a marriage that clings to Christ through every hardship.

• Encouragement for anyone wondering if their sacrifice has gone unnoticed.

With rich storytelling and spiritual insight, Hunting for Hope will resonate with pastors, missionaries, laypeople, and anyone who has ever served faithfully without fanfare. It’s a story for the weary, the unnoticed, and the faithful. And above all, it is a story about a good God who never lets go.

Whether you’re looking for encouragement in your own ministry, or seeking to understand the cost of following Christ in quiet places, this book will strengthen your heart and point you toward the One who always fills the freezer—even if it’s not with what you expected.