Our Story
Meet Chip Faulkner: Founder of D2S Adventures and D2S Men’s Ministry
Being a part of ministry to college students for almost 20 years, on 3 continents and multiple states here in the US, I’ve seen the difference a father’s presence and interaction with his family (or lack thereof) has on children’s lives.
Over the last 6 years, in particular, I have heard countless life-stories from students and heard the same 2 themes: the dad was present and engaged and it made all the difference, the dad was not engaged and the kids figured life out on their own. Following this theme, students typically shared:
I went looking for love from a man and my dad wasn’t there, so I looked to boys at school and church and around. They treated me horribly, but I didn’t know what love was, or if what they were doing was ok or normal, so I just went along with it. At least they wanted me. - Female Student
I didn’t have anyone teaching me to be a man, so I looked to TV and movies, I watched a lot of porn and talked with my friends. We thought when a girl said no it meant try harder. I don’t see my dad having a relationship with my mom, so I don’t know how to do that with a girl. - Male Student
I can’t tell you how many stories I’ve heard of abuse, manipulation and rape. And I wonder, just how many of those wouldn’t have happened if the father had been present with his kids, engaged with his wife, growing spiritually, and had other men in his life to come alongside him and do it together?
As young dads, we’re in a stage where we’re pouring out all the time and we need the most help and support.
We’re supposed to be husbands and fathers, but in this new season, how do we do that?
We’re supposed to lead the church in 5-10 years, but who’s pouring into us now so we’re ready then?
We know we need friends, community and life giving experiences, but when am I supposed to do that?
We know we need something else, something different, but where do we find it? How do we do this?
Desert to Summit was created to step into this gap.
Using the tools, training and ministry experience we’ve received over the years, we built Desert to Summit as a platform to meet dads to: encourage them, build them up in their faith, empower them as husbands and fathers, and to provide an outlet of refreshment, fun and adventure that also leads to the building of deep, life-giving friendships with other young dads.