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From Rodeo Dreams to Preacher Cowboy

Monty Rieck authors I Am Eli, recounting his wild ride to redemption story

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (January 23, 2023) — A wild ride to redemption autobiography describes how Santa Barbara-based author and minister, Monty Rieck’s life transformed after chasing all the world has to offer as a rodeo cowboy growing up in Lompoc, California. The book, I Am Eli, is the first of three planned for The Cowboy Preacher Series, publishing Wednesday, January 25 on Amazon and other retail outlets including iBooks and Barnes & Noble.

In I Am Eli, Rieck offers colorful descriptions from living on a ranch, learning to rope steers and ride bulls. With dreams of becoming a professional rodeo cowboy, Rieck would also learn a lot of hard lessons about life, love, and death. He writes about falling into addiction, looking for love, making money and the fallout after his father, William Rieck, the 1968 Super Stock Car Drag Racing World Champion, passed away. Little did Rieck know, but he was the one being chased — by God — which changed everything including a new identity.

“I lived the hard life and paid for it,” Rieck said. “With 12 surgeries to repair my body, I decided to use the time in recovery to recount many of the incredible turning points in my life. In I Am Eli, the reader will get a glimpse of my early years and hard living along with how I found the ultimate love of God. It’s quite a journey with lots of bumps, bruises and brokenness that I think people will relate to.”

A retired, fourth-generation plumber, Rieck resides in Santa Barbara with his wife Heidi, where he attends Calvary Chapel Santa Barbara, volunteers on the board in his homeowner’s association and is teaching himself to play the fiddle. Between him and his wife, they have eight children and twelve cherished grandchildren. Subscribe to Monty’s news at cowboypreacher.us.
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Praise for
I Am Eli

A well-told story of redemption and the loving power of our living God. As interesting as your life was before knowing Christ, I loved learning about your life after you got saved. You described the works of our wondrous God in the life of a man who was willing to be made new. Very uplifting!

—Susan Stewart, retired interior designer

Reading your book has been such a positive experience for me. Thank you for sharing your hardships and deep-founded faith.

—Yvonne Westervelt, retired travel consultant

Monty’s story is truly a story of “every man.” His honest transparency draws you into his world and you begin to realize that, despite differing circumstances, his story could be your story. You see how God’s Holy Spirit orchestrated Monty’s life circumstances to bring him to a relationship with Christ, and you realize how God did the same in your life!

— Craig Harriman, Director of Aquatic Ministries, Athletes In Action

This is a treasure. I’m thankful that God laid it on your heart to write.

—Nate Bramsen, Bible teacher and podcast host of Into Your Bible, www.IntoYourBible.org

All I can say is WOW! As I read, I was celebrating with you how God led you out of the muck and mire, laying down a clear path for your family to follow.

—Rick Shoemaker, maintenance specialist, Trinity Church in Lompoc, California

Monty’s first of three in The Cowboy Preacher Series is a nice, easy read that tells the story of a California cowboy whose life experience took him through great challenges before being redirected to his true calling in life.

—Rob Widiner, retired business owner

Monty’s story is about trying to be a good husband and father, while providing for his family and following God’s path, all without the normal parental role modeling in his growing-up years. It’s an open and honest story of hard knocks and heartache before spiritual awakening sets in.

—Mary Widiner, CPA

Great story of God turning around a life headed in the wrong direction.

—Paul Aijian, MD, internist in Santa Barbara

This is a gripping true story. I can’t stop reading.

—Ray Wallenthin, retired Realtor

I’m enjoying your whole story. It has an easy reading flow with great substance.

—Paul Purter, retired military contractor

What a blessing your book is! I’d recommend this to anyone, Christian or non-Christian.

—Russell Capshaw, instructional aid at Hancock College

Well done! What a life you’ve lived!

—Marty Reitzen, retired senior pastor

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About the Book

Growing up on a ranch in Central California, I never thought I'd stop chasing all the world has to offer, and become a preacher man. Turns out, God was chasing me the whole time, despite my drinking, doing drugs, womanizing, roping steers and trail riding.

I was always competitive, doing gymnastics as a young kid, playing football, soccer, and running track in high school, and later, boxing. I loved the challenge of bow hunting and working on our family ranch but when I was invited to learn how to team rope and calf rope, I was hooked. Unfortunately, I would get hooked on the wild, wild, west lifestyle too. Don't get me wrong, I had a ton of fun while it lasted.

Besides running his plumbing company, and hunting, my Dad became a world champion professional drag racer and was nicknamed the "Terror of the West", driving "The Quarter Bender." A hard-working fella, so he didn't have much spare time for our family.

I had a few run-ins with religion, but mostly was scared off. I learned the plumbing trade and business working for my Dad 13 years, which helped me get ahead financially so I was off-and-running. I learned the hard way that life is not all beers, steers and gals. Eventually, I found someone who loved me despite my faults. It changed everything, including my identity. My name may be Monty, but I am Eli now.

After my mom and dad divorced, my sweet, loving mother, spent years trying to find answers from many spiritual sources. In the end, she found the truth of God's love that she was so desperately searching for. She was an awesome example of the scripture, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.“ Philippians 2:3

About ME

Monty Rieck: Author, Evangelist

I'm a fourth-generation plumbing contractor, former building inspector and construction superintendent. My life is marked by extremes -- working hard, playing harder, tragedy and suffering followed with true joy. I can only give God the credit for my survival, and for showing me his love. Later in life, I hung up my spurs, began recovering from numerous injuries and became a minister of Christ. Along the way, I've seen the absolute healing power of God as I prayed for those God put in my path. My energetic wife, Heidi, and I live in Santa Barbara, California, with eight grown children and 12 cherished grandchildren.