God's Great Outdoors

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.

On this week's Trail To Adventure! Gerry’s with David Hale, one of the two founders of Knight and Hale game calls. Knight and Hale is probably one of the best-known game calling businesses in the outdoor industry. David shares on how the business got started because of an article written about the tube turkey call the two of them built in the back of Harold Knight’s barber shop. He reflects on the journey they have had as a game call company, and how incredibly blessed they are because of their Creator God. Gerry and David discuss how we are without excuse in God’s creation not to see that there is a great Creator God. Also looked at, is “The Great Commission”, and the ways outdoorsmen can reach others with the love of Jesus Christ, to keep them from the flames of Hell when they die!

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 week’s Trail To Adventure! Gerry is visiting with Jim Butler in the Pennsylvania’s scenic Appalachian Mountains. Jim & his wife Barbra own & operate Strath an De Farm, which in Celtic means “God’s Valley.” The beautiful forest setting is the location for annual summer father & son retreats. Also, a father & daughter event camp, that both are designed to make lasting memories in the lives of those who attend each year, plus draw them to the Creator God. Jim shares about the numerous activities these men & their children join in together with the goal of deepening the family bond & one’s personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. The farm sees over 500 total attend each year & is a “no cost” event, with a free will offering taken!

On this production of Trail To Adventure! program were at the National Religious Broadcasts Convention in Dallas, Texas. Gerry and his guest, Ken Davis will have you laughing as he interviews this well know and popular Christian comedian. The two of them discuss how humor can be used in friendship, to hurt others and to help share the Gospel. Ken also relates how he got involved in the outdoors, his love for hunting, archery, and how he now pursues big animals like elk with his bow and arrow. The point made here is that laughter is a gift from God, and can be used to tear down barriers unsaved people have in order to share the truth that Jesus Christ loves them very much!

On this Trail To Adventure! Gerry’s with the Len & Gail Marcott who are from the “Cheese Head State,” during a trip to Rushing Wind Retreat Center in Ontario, Canada. Len shares how God worked in his and two of his son’s lives seven years before this interview on their first trip to Rushing Wind. This is a fly in fishing an 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 camp is operated for sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ to all that visit this remote wilderness area. Gail had set up the first trip to allow her husband and two adult sons to have a reconnect, but God clearly did far more than she had hoped for! Why not check out what a Rushing Wind trip could do for you and your loved ones too!

This Trail To Adventure broadcast came about as Gerry walked into a restaurant after a day at the Archery Trade Association Show, in Nashville, TN. Going through the door to eat and at the same time, that today's guest Jason Koger was going in, so Gerry handed him a tract because he had a camouflage shirt on and invited him to join him for dinner. Jason lost both of his hands in an accident where he was electrocuted with high voltage while riding an ATV. It was clear after a few moments Jason had a relationship with Jesus Christ, and also emitted the joy of the Lord. He shares about his accident, the loss of his hands, his wife having to deal with a baby, a small child and him, even having to feed all three at dinner time which caused a decision that Jason had to make that will certainly challenge every listener. Jason also tells how he got back into the outdoors, plus where God took him after the accident.

On this week’s Trail To Adventure! Gerry is visiting with Dr. Richard Swenson in Wisconsin and the two are talking about Intelligent Design. The truth is there is more of a chance mathematically that your car happened by accident over hundreds of millions of years, then just your eyeballs having evolved and how they work with your entire body? This is just one of the things that Dr. Richard Swenson shares in the interview with Gerry as they discuss this topic and Dr. Swenson’s book, “More Than Meets the Eye”. Having taught surgery at the University of Madison, Wisconsin, and having minored in physics, this interview is jam-packed with information that declares that we have a Creator God. Perhaps the most listened to interview aired by GGO in the 20+ years we’ve been broadcasting.

On this week’s Trail To Adventure! Gerry visits with Keith & Lora Cline, discussing their trips to Rushing Wind Retreat Center. Located in Ontario, Canada they went the first time during the couple’s marriage event. Keith, a rural mail carrier in north central Nebraska, heard about it on God’s Great Outdoors while driving one day. He asked wife Lora if she’d want to go “up there” for their 35th wedding anniversary. “Yes!” was her answer. The couple also shares about the Special Youth Challenge deer & spring turkey hunts they are a part of in Nebraska and takes place in other locations across the nation. Put on for disabled and terminally ill youngsters, the ministry is seeing youth and adults come to Jesus Christ. Gerry had the blessing of speaking at a SYC in Spencer, Nebraska, a fund raiser event that was set up to also have him share about our Creator God on that night!

On this week’s Trail To Adventure! Gerry is at Lake Ellen Camp in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan with the camp’s program director, Nick Hucle. Gerry had been invited to come as the speaker for one of the week long summer children’s camps. Lake Ellen Camp in Crystal Falls has events going on all year, with the summertime being the most active. Nick Hucle tells the listeners about hunting adventures with his parents as a kid and more. Nick relates his and his wife, Cory Ann’s history in the area of being campers and then their moving to camping ministry itself. He relates what the campers, counselors and staff experience at the camp and how he’s seen attendees work up through the different stations over the years, by the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives. This would be an excellent place not only to sent children as campers, but also for those wanting to learn to do work in outdoor ministry, as a life career.