God's Great Outdoors

On this week’s Trail To Adventure! we’re exploring how two guys, David Hale who was a farmer, and Harold Knight a barber, got together to design, develop plus, market turkey calls. Gerry visits with these two legends in the outdoor world to discover that the only reason they started to sell their calls was because there weren’t many turkeys in Kentucky and they hoped to be able to make enough to buy a non-resident hunting license in Missouri. Giving one of these calls to an outdoor writer way back when there weren’t many turkeys to start with, created quite a stir. His article in an outdoor magazine drove in hundreds of phone calls to get one of their “turkey tubes” and it just went on from there. Both these men give all the glory to God for what has happened in their lives and they continue to praise Him as the years roll by. The two are able to present their story at game dinners, telling of God’s blessing on them!

On this week’s Trail To Adventure! Program, Gerry is with professional outdoors writer, photographer and “Big Whitetail” legend, R.G. Bernier. Gerry met R.G. at his home in Standish, Maine. Known for his ability in tracking down big bucks in the snow, Dick Bernier has authored a tract called “A Deer Tracker’s Journey!” In this radio interview, the story of R.G.’s twice coming close to death is laid out for the listeners. In 1968 at the age of 9, he had open heart surgery to repair a defect there from birth. Also, in his college years, Dick worked with a touring evangelistic ministry team from Liberty University in Virginia. One March night the van hit ice and was t-boned by an 18 wheeler, causing Dick some very serious and life threatening injuries. But, God’s plan was to use these two close calls and R.G. Bernier’s deer hunt success over the years as a speaker at Game Dinner and outdoorsmen’s outreaches. So, in his printed tract and in front of groups of sportsmen Dick is sharing about the love of Jesus, the cross of Christ and blood that was shed to cover and forgive our sins, for an eternity with our Creator God!

The interview on this Trail To Adventure! is with Toni Mattson of the Trinity Equestrian Center located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Gerry and Toni visit together in Green Bay, Wisconsin at a Trail To Adventure! pastor and laymen teaching conference that helps people learn how to do evangelistic outdoor out reaches. Toni shares how the Trinity Equestrian Center use horses with people that are disabled, mentally challenged, criminally incarcerated, wounded veterans and all others, to make a difference in their lives and help them find the creator God, Jesus Christ. Can’t make one of these conferences? Well the material’s used and handed out at one, is available through GGO’s website too!

On this week’s Trail To Adventure! Professional fishing legend and television host, Hank Parker joins Gerry and shares with the listeners his fishing career, his television show on fishing, and his co-hosting with his two sons on the TV show for hunters titled “Flesh and Blood.” Hank also tells of his dad’s alcoholism, conversion to Christ, horrific death in a car accident, and how he left a note in his Bible requesting that the pastor preach a salvation message at his funeral if he died because both of his boys were on their way to Hell. Because of that note covered in his dad’s blood, Hank and his brother both prayed to receive Jesus Christ as Savior. It is a powerful true story you’ll want to share with others!

You’ll get hooked on this Trail To Adventure! as Gerry’s with the owners and operators of Rushing Wind Retreat Center. Arnie & Dee Wolf share how God worked it out in their lives to own this facility. It’s a once in a life time adventure you can take someone on where they’ll have the Creator God speak to them by way of the outdoors, speakers and fellowship of others! This couple also talks about all the aspects of the camp, as they work to set the stage for sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. This fly-in adventure fishing camp is a place where men can invite friends and relatives to join them for the five days. Also, there are couples retreats that have helped restore marriages and seen changed lives for eternity time and again. Why not check out what a Rushing Wind trip could do for your loved ones!

On this week’s Trail To Adventure! Gerry has dropped in on Jim McNamara, a taxidermist from Lima, Ohio. Jim shares about the business and how over the years taxidermy has changed, allowing people in his trade to create such life-like mounts of birds, fish and mammals. Jim also tells the story of how he almost died on a duck hunt and at one point he realized or accepted the fact that he wasn't going to make it. Jim had no fears because he realized that despite leaving his loved ones behind that God would take care of them and he was at peace at being with the Lord. However, God had other plans obviously as Jim survived the dangerous situation and is able to tell others and can give Praise to God!

This week’s Trail To Adventure! the interview is with Dan Ryks, a charter boat captain on the Mississippi River, in Minnesota. Dan tells the story of how he came to Christ in prison. He went in an angry man who was always fighting and came out totally opposite of how he went in. Gerry and Dan talk about how Dan, born in 1965, used to, along with about 12 other boys, carry their shotguns to school to shoot ducks on the way. These young men all left their guns in the principal’s office, took them out at lunch to hunt ducks, then again as they traveled home. The point Gerry reflects on is how they were allowed guns in school, had The Ten Commandments, and there were no school shootings back then. Today – can’t mention Jesus, no Ten Commandments or guns in schools and there are school shootings. Why?

On this week's Trail To Adventure! Gerry’s with Craig Johnson in Laramie, Wyoming. Craig tells how reading a copy of Gerry's book "Hunting Blunders and The One That Got Away!" was a part of the chain of events that led him to Christ. Craig shares how despite his difficult years growing up, including teenage alcoholism, everything was great in his later years. But then, Craig started to question why he was alive or even here? This subject so troubled him that he was seriously considering suicide if he didn't get the answer, so he asked God to make Himself known to him the way He wants to be known. This led to a series of events that brought Craig to Christ and he became incredibly active in sharing the Gospel through outdoor outreach as he grew in Christ. A program that will help you to be sure!

Part of this interview is a revisit with the Women’s Bassmaster Fishing Tournament Pro, Pam Martin Wells at a fishing retreat at Rushing Wind Retreat Center in Canada. Pam has accumulated 24 National Titles, 7 Angler of the Year Awards, won 3 Bassmaster Events and 1 Woman’s Bassmaster Tour since she started fishing in 1986. She is joined in Ontario, Canada by her husband Steven, as both were speakers at the fishing outreach they were attending in the far north. Pam tells how she came to Christ and is very shy in the public speaking arena, yet has answered the call as God has opened doors for her to do so. “Never Say No” is the title of the tract that she wrote to tell the story of how she came to Jesus, and Pam has seen firsthand how sharing what the Creator God did in her life has seen others come to Christ. One woman was killed in a car crash a month later, so Pam looks forward to seeing her there in Heaven!

On this Trail to Adventure! Gerry visits with Steve Chapman in Nashville, TN as the two reflect on Steve’s first book “A Look at Life From a Deer Stand”, released back in 1996, yet is still going off of bookstore shelves as it has been reprinted many times. Meeting a need of women who wanted something for their male loved ones actively involved in the outdoors, but which also had a 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. Steve hopes his book “A Look at Life From a River Bank” will also help more men become trophies of grace for the Creator God Jesus Christ.