God's Great Outdoors

Gerry visits with Dennis and Peggy Robinson on this week’s Trail To Adventure! The couple relates an experience that happened back when they were dairy farmers in Wisconsin. Dennis had put God on a shelf and everything in his life was about him what he wanted. So, Peggy had turned him over to the Lord and said, "You need to deal with him Lord, he is yours." Two days later Dennis was pulled half way through a hay wagon, mechanical apparatus and was not expected to live from the massive injuries he received. Yet, God had a plan, and it included transforming a man to be what God wanted him to be.

International Falls, Minnesota is the location for this interview as Gerry connects with station manager of Psalm FM KBHW, Bruce Christopherson, to talk about his love of ducking hunting and experiences there on the border with Canada. Bruce also reflects on losing his dad and how much fun and how many memories he has of him as a deer hunter. The two talk about a terrible event that happened to the radio station and as bad as it looked, how God came through, which caused the station’s situation to be better than ever before the tragedy took place.

On July 6 of 1996, God’s Great Outdoors first aired on WCDR radio out of Cedarville, Ohio and one of those individuals who was instrumental in getting the program off the ground was today’s guest, Jon Skillman. It just so happens that in the year of 2015 in September Jon will be celebrating his 50th year of broadcasting with the vast majority being on Christian radio. Jon shares a number of things during the interview, but the most important thing was how a little boy standing next to him as a teenager beside a roaring bonfire said, “I’m sure glad I’m saved because Hell is going to be much hotter than that fire in front of us!” That night at that Christian camp Jon could not get that out of his mind and prayed to receive Christ as Savior and Lord.

This interview takes place during a Fisher’s of Men Retreat at Rushing Wind Retreat Center in Ontario, Canada. The guest Jeff Swan reveals how skeptical he was the first year attending, as his church group had labeled the event a “mission’s trip”. He thought “Yeah, it’s really all about fishing, I’m sure!” But, did he discover how wrong he was and how God spoke to both he and his wife, the first year they attended. Jeff also reflects the importance of being the kind of man or women that God wants us to be.

Gerry visits with an old friend from Christian radio, Mark Looy, who was for many years the voice and commentary that introduced Ken Ham’s radio program from Answers of Genesis. Mark was in Vandalia, Ohio speaking at a men’s prayer breakfast to share about this apologetic ministry that focuses on the importance of the first book in the Bible. Mark shared about the ministry’s founding and the importance of the Creation Museum that is located in Petersburg, Kentucky.

On this week’s Trail To Adventure Gerry is visiting with Jim Butler in Pennsylvania’s scenic Appalachian mountains. Jim and his wife Barbra run Strath an De Farm, which in Celtic means “God’s Valley.” The beautiful forest setting is the location for annual summer father and son retreats that are designed to make lasting memories in the lives of those who attend each year. Jim shares about the numerous activities that the men and boys join together in with the goal of deepening the family bond and one’s personal relationship with the Creator God. Also Jim relates to Gerry how his anger with God was broken down by Christian couples just being themselves when he and wife Barb were first married.

On this week’s radio program, Gerry is at a "Trail To Adventure!" pastor & layman teaching conference in Farmington, New York. He’s visiting with one of the pastors from the church, Ben Beauchemin at Calvary Chapel of the Finger Lakes that is hosting this evangelistic outdoor outreach ministry conference. Ben shares how he got involved in the outdoors and the fond memories he has of those times and his dad. He explains how after he joined the Marine Corps that he became an alcoholic, bringing havoc on his marriage. But, how God in his mercy through Christian radio brought him to his knees and changed his life, giving him the desire to do whatever it takes to grow closer to the Lord Jesus Christ.

This week Gerry is in North Augusta, Georgia at the Sweetwater Baptist Church, where they conducted a Trail to Adventure! Pastor and Laymen Conference on how to do outdoor ministry. Gerry is joined by Dr. Bill Brown who teaches through the online program at Liberty University. Bill formerly taught at the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary where he taught Evangelism and Church Planting. Through Bill’s personal years of being a pastor in Alaska, and the things that he learned on how to reach men, he relates these strategies to Gerry and the listeners. Growing up in an outdoor family, and experiencing the numerous outdoor interests that men from his congregation desired to do, allowed him to formulate a plan and program to reach the unchurched in the community where one lives. Dr. Bill Brown shares how on some Sundays, he had more men in his church as a pastor in Alaska then women, which is unheard of in most churches because he geared up for men!

On this week’s program Gerry hooks up with Steve Chapman in Nashville, TN to discuss Steve’s new book “A Look at Life From a River Bank”. The two reflect on Steve’s first book that focused towards outdoorsmen of a similar title called “A Look at Life From a Deer Stand.” The book was first released in 1996 and is still going off of bookstore shelves as it has been reprinted numerous times. This book clearly addressed a desire by many women who wanted something that directed the reader to their love of the outdoors and specifically hunting, but also had spiritual impact and would change lives. Steve also discusses how important outdoor ministry can be in reaching the man and the impact that it can have on the family. As much as Steve loves hunting, and fishing, the hope for these books is to make trophies of grace for the Creator God Jesus Christ.

On this week’s program, Gerry visits with Russ Miller who is the founder of the Creation, Evolution & Science Ministries. The two talk about the battle that rages over this topic and the scientific facts that point to our Creator God speaking our world and the universe into existence as stated in the Bible. Russ guides tours in Arizona’s Grand Canyon and shows from the rock and fossil records evidence that backs up what his ministry presents. These adventures are not only great fun for the family, but certainly groups travel from across the country every year to join Russ and be a part of these fact-finding trips. Besides this interview’s discussion on Creation and how God has everything in control, the two talk about the struggles that come to all ministries that stand on the Word of God and refute what world science and opinion has to say. It was during one of these incredibly low times that Russ Miller asked God to make Himself clear in his mind that he was really doing God’s will in educating and equipping others through the ministry of Creation, Evolution & Science Ministries. This interview shares a time through Russ’s outdoor adventures when God clearly showed His love and support for him and his life’s direction.