God's Great Outdoors

On the Trail To Adventure! this week, 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 outdoor memories he has of him as a deer hunter. The two men talk about a terrible event that happened to the radio station from a summer thunder storm. However, as bad as it looked at that point for the ministry God came through, which caused the station’s situation to be better than ever before the tragedy took place. This reminds Gerry of something Ron Lindner share with him once, “God’s seldom early, but never late!”

Have you ever wondered how someone with absolutely no training in radio and no knowledge of how to use a computer needed to produce a radio program came to produce a radio program? On this week’s program Gerry talks to Paul Gathany, the retired station manager of WCDR where God’s Great Outdoors got its start. The two talk about the radio station’s beginnings over 40 years ago on the campus at Cedarville College as Paul and Dr. David Jeremiah started it in their dorm with one FM of power. Paul shares how he was introduced to Gerry who had the crazy idea of sharing what people are doing in the outdoors through the creation and the relationships that can be built through outdoor ministry. The listener will realize from this program how God’s timing, the location, and the relationships with people who have experienced changed lives through the power of God, all came together to make this radio program possible.

On this Trail To Adventure! this week, Gerry interviews one of the outdoor sports world’s legends at the ATA show in Columbus, Ohio. Pro fisherman and television host, Jimmy Houston, shares about his old friends from the early days of tournament fishing when the sport was just getting started, and how they have remained close friends. Jimmy also talks about relationships, and the ability for him to be able to share truths from the Bible with people he encounters because of his position in the outdoor industry. He gives away a Bible each year that he has personally used during his own twelve months of Bible study and reading entirely through the Bible, which he has done for over 40 years. His challenge to the listeners is to be in God’s Word each and every day, plus share it with others!

This week’s Trail To Adventure! Radio Program has the listeners going back into the Badger State as this recorded interview was done at the Prayz Network in Sparta, Wisconsin. Our host Gerry has hooked up with Matt McPherson, the owner of Mathews Bows, located in the same city as the radio station. Together, from an engineering/design prospective, the two men look at the Creation around us including the entire Universe, giving credit to our Creator God who spoke it into existence! “Intelligent Design” is the topic as Matt, a design engineer, invites listeners to not just accept what evolutionists say, but mindfully look at the many facts revealing that there has to be a “Designer” in all that exists. Matt presents a number of excellent arguments that can help “break the ice” that ask those around us to examine some truths and begin to think intelligently in the matter!

On this Trail To Adventure! a family tragedy is part of the story as the guest will give the listeners some real recreational water safety thoughts to consider. Kenny Ratliff begins this interview by describing great times in the outdoors with his dad and reflects on how he introduced him to spending time afield and stream. This later in his life became where he directed his vocation and passed up opportunities to wear a suit and tie to work. Kenny then goes into the story of how on Father’s Day some years back, and at the same time, the family was celebrating his dad’s and his youngest brother’s birthdays, something terrible happened. Kayaking on an area river, both of these two loved ones were taken home to be with the Lord because of a boating accident. A sad event to be sure, but one we can all learn from to be safe in our future recreation on the water.

At this interview on the Trail To Adventure! Pastor Dan Williams from Manitoba, Canada visits with Gerry at the June couple’s retreats that take place each summer at the Rushing Wind Retreat Center in Ontario, an hour above International Falls, Minnesota. The two share how the location is remote to the point that those who attend are brought in by float planes. This is a fishing trip that many folks dream of, and so opens the door for bringing along unsaved friends and relatives who need Jesus. Dan tells the story of his desire to catch a big lake trout and despite the bad weather conditions decided to go way up lake and try for one. On heading back, the storm had really blown in and the wind wouldn’t allow the boat through a narrow, shallow area. Dan tried gunning the motor and broke the shear pin, which was only the beginning of the adventure!

On this Trail To Adventure! Gerry is with Roy Hendrickson at a fishing event that includes Jimmy Houston the keynote speaker in the northeast corner of Ohio. This multi-species fishing tournament is an outreach ministry of the likes Gerry had never seen before. It is where a small fish like a sun fish that’s caught during the time on the water could be a winner over a larger species fish, such as a bass. It all works on a state records and a percentage, with the formula for judging being explained by this week's guest Roy Hendrickson. The lake the church was using was public access and fishable from both the Ohio and Pennsylvania sides and you will discover that this ministry outreach is also designed to share Christ. This tournament concept can even be done on a small farm pond that has several species of fish.

On this week’s Trail To Adventure! we’re in the middle of Lake Saint Clair, as Gerry is with Jay Yelas, a pro bass angler. Jay was there to pre-fishing for an upcoming tournament on the FLW Bass Tour. This beautiful lake boarders the state of Michigan on south side and Ontario, Canada on the northern side. Jay stopped his casting and the bass boat to talk with Gerry. Parked on Lake St. Clair, somewhere close to the Canadian border in the center of this huge body of water, the two discussed outdoor outreach ministry. Looked at how you can use God’s Creation, (Romans 1:20) tied to the changed lives of believers, (Ephesians 2:10) building a relationship with others to see them come to know Jesus as Creator, Lord and Savior. All this is found in his book, Jay Yelas, Faith, Family & Fishing!

On this Trail To Adventure! as was traveling to speak at a Game Dinner in western Wisconsin, Gerry rendezvoused with Arnie Wolf, who is the owner of Rushing Wind Retreat Center in Ontario, Canada. The two men are joined by Larry Drossart who shares about his personal struggle with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and many of his fellow veterans as well. Arnie mentioned to Larry of his desire to do some type of wounded warrior (style) event at his fishing camp located a little over an hour above International Falls, Minnesota. That struck Larry hard as that day he’d heard of 4 Wisconsin veterans who’d committed suicide and felt something had to be done to stop this trend. Speaking that summer not only impacted Larry and his relationship with Jesus Christ, but helped another man in camp too! Since then the special week has grown in attendance and in the scope of how it’s helping other Vets with their struggles also.

On this week’s Trail To Adventure! Gerry is in Sidney, NE as he’s on the road again to a speaking outdoor outreach event in Wyoming. Sidney is the location of this rendezvous with an old friend, Burt Harris. Gerry first met Burt at Maranatha Bible Camp near North Platte. Burt gives a history of his working for the outdoor outfitting store chain of Cabela's and shares how he started to reach out to a new employee, Steve Collins, who needed Jesus Christ. Steve falls into the statistic of 95% of adults being won to Christ through a one-on-one relationship that develops over a period of two years or more. Almost to the day, Steve came to Christ after two years, and outdoor outreach played a part as well. This interview gives listeners something for their church members to consider doing, having outdoor outreach events in order to touch men in their local communities and so changing lives for eternity.