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I'm a strong believer in 'Outdoor Ministries' and feel inspired by the enthusiastic response from the youngsters that take part in this journey. I live in the Mojave Desert and have hunted, camped, and photographed wildlife and vegetation in this magnificent creation of God's for some years.
I'm hopeful that I may be of some assistance to anyone who wish's to pursue this venture in your own community. I can tell you up front that the biggest problem you'll encounter will be in recruiting volunteers, and volunteers with some knowledge of the Bible. And above all, a enthusiastic willingness to partake in 'Outdoor Ministries.' As a rule-of-thumb, you should have one volunteer per every 5 to 6 boys. This is what parents and the caretakers of these boys would like to see. The average group of boys for this venture that I'm associated with will vary between 12 to 15 boys. It could be and should be more, but again it's a struggle to get proper volunteers.
If you should offer your Outdoor Ministries through a church, then most church's would provide you with volunteers and may assist in transportation.

WHAT IS REALLY GRATIFYING?
Are the boys we get from the inner-cities. These are usually boys that reside and live in more of a poorer community. They can also be boys that are in foster care or foster homes due to abusive and dysfunctional parents. I generally explain to these kids that this is a Christian program and you will be expected to partake in some of the camp duties such as camp clean-up and one time you will be assigned to 'KP' Kitchen Patrol. Above all, you will actively be a part of prayer, sermons, and Bible study. After saying this, a few of the boys may decline this invitation to Outdoor Ministries. But the boys who want to go, and embrace Outdoor Ministries show a hunger and thirst for spiritual growth.

I have listed 'Outdoor Ministries' 1 thru 4 which are in their complete contex. I use these sermon's in the afternoon and usually alter the wording so it will always be fully understandable. Following dinner we will have Bible Studies. I generally concentrate on the Ten Commandments, and many times we don't  always complete all the Commandments due to questions and answers which is what we want to see. Participation and discussion in Bible studies are essential. I give each boy a copy of the Commandments. Other volunteers will be working exclusively out of the Bible as each boy will be given a Bible and will be given proper instruction on how to navigate through the Bible. For some of these boy's, this will be their first encounter with the Bible and their first encounter in learning more of our Christian faith.


We are fortunate in the United States to have a vast selection of State and National Parks to choose from for our camping purposes and we usually pay a nominal group rate fee for the campsite which will usually include toilets, tables and water.  I'm not famaliar as to what would be available for camping in other countries. Private parks will usually have a group rate fee. Maybe there would be some private land that the owner would let you use. I know camping is very popular in the UK as I've noticed many camping forums on the internet. And of course you must provide food for these kids, three meals a day. Food donations may come from a church or inner-city food bank. Also, another consideration will be that you will most likely have to provide a tent and sleeping bag for some of these boys.

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Words Of Jesus Devotionals - 1

But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed Him. (Matthew 3:15) (NKJV)

The first of the words of Jesus as is found in the Gospel of Matthew. Fulfilling all righteousness was the main agenda of the life of Jesus. Righteousness basically means doing the right thing and for Jesus, that meant doing the will of the Father in Heaven.

Matthew writes,

Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?" (Matthew 3:13, 14)

John knew that the One who asked to be baptized was greater than him, so he tried to stop him, but later he fufilled his duty when Jesus told him that it was fitting for them to fulfill all righteousness.

What about us? Are we eager to do the will of the Father? Ponder please for a moment.

The Bible says,

For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's. (1 Corinthians 6:20)

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Jesus said,
'Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.' (John 14:1)

'Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you:
not as the world giveth, give I unto you.
Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.' (John 14:27)  

Hi there,

I was reading the other night, on my journey through scripture, following Chaplain's procedure of four chapters a day; about the angels going in to Sodom and how they blinded the crowd who were storming Lot's house with evil intent,  so that they could not find the door of the house in which they were all sheltering Genesis 19).  

I remembered at the same time how our Lord walked away and simply disappeared among the crowd on times; although at one point angry men wanted to take him to the top of a hill and throw him down to his death.  With God all things are possible, and He is able to protect and keep as is necessary, that His perfect will be done for each one of us, isn't He?

This brings to mind a true story I read of a missionary who was in a very difficult situation in Africa; in a small house with marauding gangs bent of rape and violence approaching.  Who tells of that same band of savage men, to her amazement moving away, and later telling of seeing guards surrounding her home, so that they felt afraid and outnumbered and turned and fled away, leaving her safely in her home.  There were no guards there in reality, no earthly ones at least!  Which reminds me of 2 Kings 6:15-18  

'And when the servant of the man of God (Elisha) was risen early, and gone forth,
behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots.
And his servant said unto him,
"Alas, my master! how shall we do?"
 And he answered,
"Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them."
And Elisha prayed, and said,
"LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. "

And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw:
and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
 And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the LORD, and said,
"Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness."
And He smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.

Amazing! Miraculous! - But this is our God! So,
'let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid'

In Christ
Wings