God's Great Outdoors

On the Trail To Adventure! program, Gerry’s with the founder and head of the television show, The Buck Commander, Willie Robertson. Willie starts by sharing about the family’s history and how his dad, Phil, was converted from one very bad dude to a man who loves the Creator God, Jesus Christ. Part of this story talks about the early days of The Duck Commander, but even beyond that, how his father was visited in a bar that he owned, several times by a pastor who eventually led him to the Savior. Willie shares about his family and the businesses start up. He also tells how beyond the business and making a living, they really work hard at helping those they come in contact with to know about the Lord Jesus Christ and how He can change their lives, as He did with his father Phil.

This week’s Trail To Adventure! was during a time Gerry was on a speaking tour of several churches up in Alaska. This program has him visiting with Dave Battle in Anchorage, as Dave shares about the way that he was raised to believe in Jesus, the Bible, and the idea of Creation. The program’s guest discusses his early years in life and growing up in the mountains of North Carolina and following his dad through the woods is how Dave Battle begins this interview. Remembering the other men who also were instrumental in his life and how that one individual, on a gravel mountain road impressed him greatly to be more active in his relationship with Jesus Christ. This was because the man had his Bible with him on the seat of his work truck. These days, Dave is a wildlife biologist working in Alaska and he states that he is still learning about God’s Creation, every day of his life!

On the Trail To Adventure! photographing mountains, fields, streams, seashores, and much more is the topic with this week's guest Dr. Charles Stanley. Dr. Stanley shares how he got involved in photography to include even developing all of his own photographs which are featured on just about all of the In Touch Ministry's items available to the public. He tells how awestruck he is by God's creation and by the memories surrounding the photos. Dr. Stanley also tells of his early years of fishing, hunting, and shooting, but how the absence of a father in his life to do these things with were clearly remembered in later years when he was a man. He offers to the audience that they may not think that taking a youngster fishing that has no father figure is a big deal, but he assures them that it is and how it can leave a lasting impact for eternity.

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.