SHEMA

LIFE CAN BE HARD

It can be especially hard with young children at home, with the demands of work, and raising a family in an often challenging and sometimes unforgiving world. We need other folks to lean on in these difficult times - people to encourage us, people to affirm us on our journey, people to challenge us when we may be so tired we're blind to what may be hurting us. In my experience I've noticed that women tend to be much better at seeking out and/or creating community to help each other in the struggles of their lives. I've also noticed that men are not so great at this. We men have a tendency to withdraw - from our wives, our families, our friends, our communities - when we are struggling. It is a rare man who has the confidence to reach out to his brothers to become vulnerable and reveal his struggles. Desert to Summit aims to target this problem. This ministry will take men into the wilderness where one must become vulnerable in the absence of comfort. In the wilderness, with an affirming group of men one may examine his faith, his relationship with his wife and children, and connect with other men while discussing how the Gospel intersects the challenges of being a strong, patient, and loving husband and father.

THE DESERT ENVIRONMENT 

Traditionally, in the Bible, the Desert is 1 of 2 things:

1) a place of isolation, of desolation, of death

2) a place of challenge, testing, and preparation

In my personal experience and through conversations with a lot of young dads, we find an epidemic problem: many young dads are living in the desert. They are isolated; they are pouring out at work, at home and have very little time to fill back up or be refreshed. They are slowly but constantly draining their energy and well-being, and living in a land of desolation and death. With few resources, limited time and access to friends and mentors, and constant calls for their help and energy, many young dads wake up and go through the motions, hoping that maybe someday soon there will be a break or that something life-giving will come along.

A BRIDGE BETWEEN PLACES

A husband who is supported, encouraged and empowered, supports encourages and empowers his wife. A couple that is strong, growing and loving builds a family that is strong, growing and loving. Healthy, growing families impact their neighborhoods and communities and are the aroma of Christ to those they interact with.

WE SEE

Dads being present and unified with their wives.

Dads engaging with their children, loving and discipling them.

Dads being trained, equipped and prepared to lead the church.

Dads working for the Lord and working from a place of strength and rest, impacting their workplace and coworkers, equipped with a platform for doing life with their coworkers and sharing Christ with them.

WHO WE ARE

Desert to Summit Ministry is a men’s ministry, under the support and guidance of Global Service Associates, lead by Chip and Claire Faulkner.

After 14 years on staff with Cru, serving in Spain, New Zealand, around the US with short term trips around the world, the Faulkners experienced the Lord leading them to leave Cru and pursue a ministry to impact dads, moms and families.

Before starting Desert to Summit, while working with Lifelines, the outdoor and experiential ministry of Cru, Chip helped create and lead Gospel-centered, outdoor experiences all over the US, Patagonia and Spain. Chip passed multiple trainings and guide schools and was recognized as a “senior backcountry guide” and as a “senior rock guide,” as well as being trained as a small group facilitator. Chip is certified as a Wilderness First Responder through NOLS-WMI, a Leave No Trace (LNT) Master Educator and Trainer, and is a Single Pitch Instructor certified through the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA).

WHAT WE DO

As a professional guide (of Desert to Summit Adventures, LLC), and having worked as a guide and using the outdoors for experiential learning, I’ve seen lives changed and countless  “aha” moments by pairing the outdoors, adventure and experiential learning. The power of life change comes when an experience is paired with a guided interpretation of the events that helps pull out lessons and points to how and where the Gospel intersects our lives.

Whether hiking, rock climbing, rappelling, exploring or other outdoor adventures, Desert to Summit creates experiences focused on helping fathers grow in being engaged as a husband, present as a dad, having a deeper and more vibrant faith, and being a man growing in depth of relationship with other men in his life.

A Note for Wives

WIVES - WE HEAR YOU

We understand the challenge and the wrestling with time so your husband can go rock climbing with his friends while you’re home, again, with the kids.

But we believe your sacrifice is worth it. Your husband is not just rock climbing, but being challenged and built up in his faith. Our focus, hope and prayer is that your husband truly is becoming a better man, husband and father, and your marriage is growing stronger and deeper.

Wives, we are asking for your help and for time.

• Please help to support him so that he can be present and a part of Desert to Summit.

• And allow for time. No one changes overnight, but by the end of this year, he WILL be. And you and your family will be better off for it.