Ron at home at his work station
where he creates and designs his lovable cartoon characters.

Ron's Resumé

Here’s where you can find out everything you could possibly want to know about humor illustrator and cartoonist, Ron Wheeler.

Be sure to scroll down to “Ron’s Story” and read the incredible story of how God clearly called Ron to create cartoons to be a communication vehicle for spreading His Truths.

Here's a summary of Ron's artistic experience and the various organizations that have used his talents, as well as samples of art done for various clients. You can also view a collage of the Wheeler extended family, or see Ron's family at their best (worst?)!

Articles about Ron

Fulness magazine.

On the Right Tract (American Tract Society)

Kansas City Star

Christian Computing Magazine

Ginger the dog...agent of God?

The Miracle Bibles (the story from Guatemala, trip 1)

Your Work Makes a Difference (the story from Guatemala, trip 2)

Cartoon Character (from It's a God Thing by Luis Palau)

 

Ron's Mission Statement

To use cartoons as a communications vehicle for spreading God's truth.

Ron's Story

   As many of you know, I am a cartoonist by profession. I began drawing cartoons from the moment I could pick up a pencil. However, it wasn't until college that I started to become successful with it. While there, I drew a comic strip called "Ralph" for the school paper. Ralph was a hit with the students because I poked fun at a lot of things with which they could identify. People would tell me that there was a lot of truth in what I wrote. This led me on a long journey to pursue what truth really is, so I could then relate it through my comic strip.

   I knew that there was a lot about life I hadn't learned yet. So, I thought that if I experienced all life had to offer, I would understand truth. This zeal for experiencing life enabled me to enjoy many things from mountain climbing to sky diving. I thought I had it all. After graduation, I landed a great job in a major corporation. I had a hot new sports car, and I even had more hair on my head. But there was a lot I was missing too. All that notoriety in college didn't carry over into the real world. I found that spending time trying to experience life wasn't gaining me friends, and I found inner contentment becoming more and more elusive. By this time, my thirst for adventure had led me into immoral areas where I didn't belong.

   Fortunately, it wasn't long before I got fired from my job and my life fell apart. I say "fortunately" because if it hadn't, I might not have come to grips with the fact that there is a lot about life, such as inner peace, that I can't experience through my own strength. For the first time, I began to seek help in the church.

   I was surprised to learn at church that the Bible had a lot to say to me personally. I learned that God had always loved me, but my pride and selfishness kept me from experiencing that love. I also learned that God already knew about my life of sin and sent His son, Jesus, to pay for my sins through His death. By inviting Christ into my life, I could freely come before the Lord and experience His love.

   One night, this finally made sense to me. I was at the end of my rope and had no place else to turn. I had been trying to become a cartoonist in my own strength. My identity was wrapped around my abilities in this area. My pride was such that I actually thought I was a better person than others because I could draw cartoons. However, the more I tried to make it as a cartoonist, the more doors seemed to be slamming in my face. Finally, I let go of my desire to be a cartoonist. In fact, I let go of my very life itself. I just wanted to be right with God. So, I cried out to God and placed my total trust in Jesus.

   The irony of all this is that the day after I accepted Christ, I got my first full-time job as a cartoonist and it was waiting for me for three months, right across the street from my apartment. After I gave my life to the Lord, He opened doors so I could be used where He wanted me. You see, He created me with the desire and the ability to be a cartoonist, and He wanted to fulfill His purposes through me. But He couldn't use me until He had me. Once He had me, the doors began flying open for me to be used drawing cartoons as a communication vehicle for spreading God's truths. Now, I am drawing cartoons that are published all over the world. I am fulfilled in that purpose. What is even more satisfying is that God has filled me with His peace for eternity. I had been searching for peace for so many years, (I actually thought true peace was an illusion) and now... I have it because of the personal loving relationship I have with God through Jesus Christ.

MIRACLE ON SUMMIT ST.

   I have a great story to tell you about God's faithfulness.

   You may not know it, but we have been stretched financially lately, having spent many, many months creating and marketing CD sets containing my cartoons in a clip art format (http://www.fatfreeclipart.com).

   That said, we have had a serious need for a new computer. My main three+-year-old computer had a hard drive that was about to die, and it was becoming too slow for the increasing demands I was placing on it. I had a huge poster assignment coming soon, so I figured I would have to go into debt to buy a new computer just to get through this assignment. A spiritual mentor of mine, Jake Combs, and I had been praying about this situation, so I began shopping the catalogs. I decided a new Mac G3 with 266 Mhz and a 6 GB hard drive would suit me just fine.

   Two weeks later, I got a call from my friend Rob Moritz, who has a ministry called Dramatic Impact Ministries, in which he dresses as the Apostle Paul and recites Paul's writings. He does this in churches as well as leading tours in the Holy Land. Many of these tours are mission trips, and his people hand out some of the tracts I have created. When he called, he asked me if I remembered that G3 computer he had. I jokingly said, "Yeah, do you want to give it to me?" He said, "As a matter of fact, I do." I was stunned. It was (you guessed it) the exact computer I was looking at in the catalogs. He wouldn't sell it to me. Rob insisted on giving it. God called him to give it to me, as his ministry was shifting directions. What is amazing is, Rob had no idea I was looking to buy this exact computer, and he had no idea our financial situation was as thinly stretched as it was. The blessing to me was not only in the gift itself but in the divine timing as well.

   Yet, the greatest blessing came from what Rob said when my family and I went to pick it up. Rob told us that we would be amazed when I get to heaven and see how many people were helped in their salvation because of the cartooning gift God has given me through the many tracts I've created through the years (http://www.cartoonoftheday.com/). If there was any way this gift could enhance my ministry for Christ by creating even more tracts, Rob wanted me to have the computer. This validation of my ministry meant more than the gift itself.

   My thoughts at that time were ones of great gratitude for this timely and divinely appointed gift, and of tremendous humility because I really was not any more deserving of this blessing than anyone else. I was also thinking, "Yeah, sure. I would love to create some new tracts, but I haven't had that opportunity in four years."

   This is where the story becomes even more miraculous. Shortly after we got this computer set up, I got a call from American Tract Society. With the new leadership there, it has taken them awhile to work through their line of products. You guessed it. Now they are ready to begin revising and updating their cartoon tract line. Thus at the end of 1998 I had ELEVEN tracts to revise or create new. Before this point, I had never worked on more than four tracts in any one year.

   But wait. This gets better. Good News Publishers, a new client, also wants me to create FIVE new tracts for 1999 beginning in January. As you can see, God clearly has a plan here to get the Gospel message out, and I have had the privilege of being part of it. I hope this story has been a blessing to you, as it has to us.

   If you would like to know more about Rob the gift giver's ministry, Dramatic Impact Ministries, e-mail him at: rob@dramaticimpact.com, or check out the website http://www.dramaticimpact.com .