As Kirk Moore’s Dream Team of finish carpenters were installing trim and molding for Home C7, Brian and Hannah Ellermets were hauling in their belongings. This sense of certainty and urgency wasn’t always part of their family story. But it’s their story to tell so here’s Brian to unpack the entire narrative.
I have worked in the manufacturing and design engineering fields for most of my career. But for the past 4 years, God has blessed me with a successful career as a Realtor and Land Specialist that I have truly enjoyed. I never imagined (until this past summer), that I would leave this career!
As of March 1st, Hannah and I are blessed to be the newest home parents at Shiloh. We have been married for 18 years and have 4 amazing kids. For the past 10 years, we have lived in Mattoon, IL. We attended Broadway Christian Church and enjoyed volunteering, specifically with the student ministry programs.
Our son, Hunter, 15 years old, is looking forward to the privilege of getting his driver’s license this year. He enjoys playing music and singing in the worship band. Hope, 14 years old, loves all things about all animals. She is eagerly looking forward to life on the ranch! Emmalee, 12 yrs old, knows no stranger. She is full of joy, dancing, and happiness. Both girls love crafting, hunting, fishing, and anything outdoors or to do with animals. Paxton, 8 years old, loves playing with cars, riding his bike, jumping on the trampoline, and playing with his friends.
Hannah has a passion for taking care of us all by cooking amazing meals, homeschooling, hosting, planning adventures, and also enjoys reading theological books. I enjoy spending time with all the kids outdoors, whether that be hunting, fishing, hiking, farming, shooting, swimming, or projects/building things.
During the 2020 year of Covid, we decided it was best for our family for Hannah to begin homeschooling our kids. In 2021, God blessed my real estate career so much that it allowed Hannah to quit her job as the administrative assistant at our church and focus solely on homeschooling our children.
Over the past several years, we felt led to help children in and around our community. I can’t explain why, but our hearts ached for children who are in bad situations. We volunteered with a program called Safe Families for Children, where we hosted children on a short-term basis whose families were facing crisis situations.
How we were introduced/led to Shiloh
In summer of 2023, a man at our church was telling us about going on a mission trip to a place called Shiloh. I was knee deep in real estate transactions and making money (my security), so honestly, I didn’t want to give up a week during peak selling season. Also, we had just had a rough ending to a child hosting with Safe Families that had us hurting. Frankly, we did not want to visit a place like Shiloh because we were scared that we might like it there! So, we passed on this opportunity to serve in 2023.
That entire year, God was working on my heart. I remember thinking, “I call myself a Christian, I believe in God our Creator, but I’ve never read His Word cover to cover! What am I doing with my life that shows I truly believe all of this? Where is the fruit?”
God was working on my heart to do more for Him. In December of 2023, I had just finished reading through the Bible cover to cover for the first time. One night, I was cleaning my barn, and these thoughts would not leave me alone. “What am I supposed to be doing with my life?” I stepped outside, looking up at the stars, and asked God to provide me with opportunities and I would say yes. That’s all I knew to pray. I didn’t know what the purpose of my life was, but I knew that God wanted me to say yes to things I knew to be right and good.
“Well that was quick, God. Okay, yes I’ll do it.” It’s slow season in real estate, I’m doing okay on income, there is no excuse here. So, yes, I believe this is something that God wants me to do!” Hunter even went with me for our first experience of Shiloh.
After this trip, I had a constant nagging in my mind about being a home parent at Shiloh, although in February I would never have admitted to that! I had 101 reasons to dismiss this thought, but over the spring and summer, God checked off every one of my doubts!
Simultaneously, Hannah and the kids had been studying biographies of missionaries during homeschool. Reading these stories of how God guided, provided, equipped, and sent men and women who were willing to be used by Him began to place desires into Hannah’s heart of how we as a family could say yes to serving God even more. One of her favorite missionary quotes is from Jim Elliot: “He is no fool to give what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose.”
During a family conversation about Shiloh, our wonderful daughter, Hope, asked me a thought-provoking question: “Hey Dad, when you die, do you want your gravestone to read ‘World’s Greatest Realtor’?” I’m thinking of course not! That would be a meaningless life!
Hannah and I both believe God has been working on our hearts and our children’s hearts over the last several years in preparation for this transition. He has given us an unexplainable peace about this move, and we are eagerly anticipating the start to a new chapter of our lives. We are excited, feel blessed, and even unworthy of this opportunity. Some things we are excited about include spending more time together as a family, learning to be better parents, taking kids hunting and fishing, having fish fries, weenie roasts, and getting to know the other Shiloh families better.
We are looking forward to having the opportunity to host and serve the many people who support Shiloh. Pray for us to have parenting wisdom and discernment as we bring children into our Shiloh home.
The Ellermets Family