Meet Vicki

Vicki Coachman is a lady with the true gift of hospitality. She and her husband are great entertainers, working together to prepare and serve delicious meals each Sunday after church for their family, friends, and visitors who attend our church. Recently, my husband and I were privileged to be among their Sunday dinner guests in their home. There were 11 adults present on that particular day, but they are always open to having as many as they can find. That takes a lot of shopping and preparing -which Vicki considers to be more than worth the effort. She says, “Mike and I agree that in reality our home has been given to us by the Lord, and He wants us to share it with others. Our doors are always open to those who are in need of a place to stay, a meal, or just a place to have conversation. We laugh with each other at the thought that we will ever be ‘Empty-nesters!’

Vicki was born in Pennsylvania. Her mother was an only child and she has one sibling, a sister 2 years younger than she. Her family were not church attenders, except for twice a year, on Easter and Christmas, and the main reason they went then, was for the opportunity to wear their new clothes. She did; however, go to Vacation Bible School a few times in her early teen years. She had a curiosity about spiritual things. Vicki has always been a voracious reader. One summer as a young teen she came across an antique copy of a book which she read, and with which she found herself completely enthralled. At that time she didn’t understand its full meaning, but loved it and has read it many times since. That life changing book was Pilgrim’s Progress by Bunyan. She still retains and cherishes that very copy. She wishes now, that she’d had someone at the time to discuss the true meaning of what she had read. It wasn’t until about twenty-four years later that she came to fully understand its spiritual significance.

She and her husband Michael will celebrate their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary in July of 2012. They met and married while stationed with the military in West Germany, moved to North Dakota in 1990, and permanently settled in Larimore after his retirement from the Air Force. Together they have four children, one of which has gone on to meet the Lord.

They also have six grandchildren, but only one of them lives close enough to enjoy regularly. The other five live in California. All are deeply loved by Mike and Vicki.

Before moving to Larimore, Vickie was a stay-at-home mom who in addition to her regular duties, home schooled their older children. Not long after they arrived in Larimore, she began working in our Christian School and served there for seventeen enjoyable years. She has been a great school librarian and helper for students. Now she is back to being a stay-at-home wife. Vicki relishes spending more time with her husband, reading, making lovely cards, and keeping a comfortable home for all those who cross its threshold.

Speaking of her love for reading, I want to say that so many have enjoyed her book reviews which were published for our benefit on www.beautifulforthee.blogspot.com under the title of “Good Reads.” Many, including the “Young At Hearts” folks,(the senior saints in our church) have been the recipients of her homemade greeting cards for all occasions.

Vicki never realized what the future held for herself. Growing up, Vicki never thought that she would be saved, part of a church, serving God, and teaching other people’s children . If she had known what was in her future, she would have done many things differently. Because she did not come to know the Lord until she was thirty-seven years old, she has some regrets. She lived a lifestyle that she finds difficult to look back on, except to remind herself that others who have made a mess of their lives need encouragement that she is uniquely qualified to give, and need to realize that Christ is the answer to their every problem. She is now a victorious example of a woman of God, transformed by God’s grace. She is a ‘vessel unto honour.’ (II Timothy 2:21) How we appreciate your wonderful spirit, Vickie!

One of Vicki’s greatest joys now is to serve God by singing in the church choir. Music has always played a part in her life and now she uses her beautiful voice for God.

She appreciates the privilege to help prepare the hearts of people in the church services for hearing and responding to Pastor Shaffer’s messages.


A Bible verse that has come to mean a lot to Vicki is Isaiah 61:3, “To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.”

To God be all glory, honour, and praise.

Your faithful spirit and open hospitality is an example to all of us Vicki and we thank you for it.