God had really checked my spirit about relocating the hunt this year from Lincoln where we had hunted in years past.  I felt a little like Abraham.  Well Lord where, why, how, etc.?  The decision, however was made to relocate.

I checked with Garrett Maxwell my good friend and b.i.c. here in Lancaster about what he thought.  He had a friend from his work in Gideon’s whose sister and family had a farm near Logan, KS and he would check to see if they would let us hunt some of their land.  We also found out there was an abundance of public land available in this part of the state so we decided that is where we would go.

Garrett set about getting in touch with Roy and Marlyss Voss and I set about finding a place to stay during early pheasant hunting season.  I found the nearest available rooms in Norton about 35 miles away.  Garrett reached and introduced himself via the telephone to the Voss’.  After more than an hour of “getting acquainted” as only Garrett could have done, Roy said they would be happy for us to hunt their land.

Garret and I left very early Wed. so we could make the 10 hour drive and meet Roy and Marlyss face to face.  We wanted a sunrise start Thursday so we needed to find out where exactly we would be able to hunt.  After about an hour of conversation in their front yard Roy decided we should stay for dinner.  So we of course did.  Marlyss apologetically “through together” left over steak, homemade bread, fresh salad and squash soup.  I know your thinking squash soup does not sound great, but you are wrong.  It was all wonderful.

After dinner Roy decided we shouldn’t drive the forty minutes to Norton, we should stay there.  We got in touch with the other guys who were on the way to hotel and got them re-routed to Logan.  We cancelled our rooms in Norton without charge. (They had hunters who wanted them.)  We stayed the entire time with the Voss’.   Marlyss kept homemade cookies, juice and cereal 24/7 and cooked a farmer’s breakfast for us Sunday am. before we left.  We sat with them in the evenings visiting and hearing of their family and life on the farm.  Roy was born and spent his entire life right there on the place.

Their youngest son Brent was living with them and we got to know and minister to him.  He is believer relatively new in the faith and had many questions.  He had recently experienced a tough break-up with a girlfriend and was a bit depressed over it.  He was very cordial in showing us around.  He hunted with us Thursday morning.  I will continue to be in touch with him.  Pray for Brent to find that woman of his dreams that he seeks.  He has two college degrees and is a very personable young man.  We reassured him he should have no problem.

By the way about the hunt.  We did not knock down a few pheasants and quail (4 and 2)  We saw many, but had a tough time getting shots and of course we shot crooked a number of times as well.  We were a little disappointed with the count, but it was a great, great trip for all of us.  There were beautiful sunrises and sunsets and many trophy deer crossing our paths and oh yes did I mention great folks in the “Heartland of America”.

To God Be The Glory!

At left the Voss’ / At right Jonathan Jordan and a couple that did not get away from him.

Click this link to see a slide show:  CLICK HERE  Thanks to Terry Fern for taking the pictures! 

Story is the language of the heart. It is how we make sense of things. We see Jesus using story over and over in the Bible.  NWA also uses story. If you have ever been to one of our events, set down at lunch with one of the missionaries or read any of our blogs, you will see the intricate work of Christ in our lives coming out in story.

NWA is very excited to feature some stories from men and women who have been impacted by this ministry. For a few of those stories, go to: http://www.newwildernessadventures.com/community/stories.htm If you would like to share your story of God’s rescue, please email Greg at: greg@newwildernessadventures.com

NWA is excited that Gary and Leigh are following their hearts into this calling. Gary has been an allies and friend of NWA for years and we know God is going to really bless the ministry God has initiated them into. He has began a ministry called The Noble Heart. Here is what it is about:

The Noble Heart is a ministry helping men and women find this life, the life of their heart, in God. Its purpose is to help us understand and walk in God’s process of restoring, revealing and releasing the heart. Each of us possesses a sacred destiny, an aspect of the glory of God, which is needed in the Larger Story we have been invited into. A Story in which there are no spectators, bystanders, benchwarmers, or civilians. We, through the work of Christ, are designed to have a powerful life. -Gary Barkalow

Below is an e-letter from Gary:

Paul asks, “do you show contempt for the riches of His kindness, tolerance and patience…?” (Rom. 2:4)
On July 1″”, the first day after leaving Ransomed Heart, God directed me to read the Parable of the
Sower in Luke 8. As I finish reading He said that this is what the ministry is to be about. I agreed and
went on with my day. The next morning I sensed God telling me to read that scripture again. Again, He
said this is what this ministry is to be about. I agreed and went on with my day. The third day, the same
thing and it was beginning to get a little old - like a CD on repeat play.

__
One of my big questions since leaving Ransomed Heart has been what to name this new ministry. This
question has confronted me repeatedly over the past month as I attempted to rent a PO box, establish a
new e-mail address, develop a web-site, incorporate, and as people asked me what we are doing now. I
was developing pages of name possibilities, many that accurately described this message on calling and
several that where intriguing, but none that seemed right. None that had a Divine yes.

__

While I was in my mini-monastery (my pop-up tent trailer) on August 4th asking God rather desperately
to give me the name of this new ministry so that I could put these things in place (and have an answer
for people) God took me back to Luke 4. As I finish reading the passage He asked me what kind of
person has that kind of a life - a life “yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown” (as Matt.
13:23 states it). Answer - the person with a noble heart. “The noble man makes noble plans, and by
noble deeds he stands.” (lsa. 32:8) A man can be “an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful
to the Master and prepared to do any good work.” (2 Tim. 2:21) Rightl Then God said that’s what you
are after and that’s the name of this ministry - The Noble Heart.

__
So, do I show contempt for the riches of God’s kindness, tolerance and patience? No. I hope not. I
depend on it. God is phenomenally kind and patient with us. May we be that way with our own heart
and with each other.
From one desiring to be noble hearted,
Gary

For resources on calling, desire and purpose as well as supporting Gary and Leigh’s ministry. Please go to: http://www.thenobleheart.com

I love traveling, I love meeting new people and I love experiencing new cultures; so heading to Africa for the first time was the perfect way to extend that desire in my heart. On June 7, 2008 nine of us met at Charlotte Douglas International Airport off to Atlanta first, then to Germany and finally on to Abuja, Nigeria.

In an effort not to bore you all with the details I’ll hit the high points of the trip. I was told the day that we arrived that one of us was going to the desert away from everyone else for two weeks. God gently spoke to me and said, “That’s you Darrell.” I was like, “Ok, that’ll work, but why am I going to the desert?” God eventually answered my question in an unbelievable way.

The first week I was there I was traveling around meeting every single Baptist pastor in Zaria, Nigeria. I bet I met probably 15 or so pastors that week. I’m not going to lie that wasn’t the highlight of my trip. It’s not to say that I don’t like meeting new people because I do, but when we traveled, we traveled all day and got back with no time for anything else that day. We were all exhausted and tired from traveling.

The next week was probably the most exciting week for me. There was an American family that attended the church that I stayed at. The father was a professor at the Ahmadu Bello University; which is the 2nd largest university in Nigeria. So needless to say I stayed on that campus as much as possible the second week. I met with students, I talked with leaders of the Baptist Student Union and really got a sense of how God was working on the campus. It was incredible. I even got to play some basketball with some really good players, even though my team lost, it was still an awesome, humbling experience.

Wednesday of the second week I spoke at a native Nigerian church. I spoke out of Colossians 2:2 which says, “My purpose is to encourage in heart, unite those in love so they can know the mystery that is God.” Remember back to the question I asked God when I arrived? This was the answer! I found my purpose! Unthinkable that I had to go to the desert in Africa to get my purpose; but as I think back on this, so did the Israelites. That night the pastor of the native church and I sat and talked about ministry, books, and other interesting things. He had recently wrote a book about healing and forgiveness, which sparked my heart. So I told him that I too was thinking about writing a book called, “The Abnormal Jesus: Practicalness of Ministry.” As I told him this he asked, “Have you started yet?” I said in response, “Nah, I’m waiting for …[insert excuse here]…” And as if God himself was speaking the pastor said, “What are you waiting on? If you never try you will always fail at it. Give it a try.” So I am. I’m writing a book!

Throughout the entire experience of being in Africa I learned a lot of things about ministry, how the African church does ministry; which at times is very boring, tired and efficient. I also learned that in Nigeria there was no divorce. Zero. Amazing! I went hiking one day to the tallest mountain in Zaria and experienced the presence of God.

St. Iraneous said, “The glory of God is man fully alive.” I came alive in Nigeria. I came alive talking with students. I came alive instructing the Pastor that he needed to take time for his heart, rest and experience God. I came alive experiencing the presence of God!

Be Blessed!
Darrell Humphrey

Admin Note: Darrell is a young man who is growing in the grace of God. He is a friend of NWA and participates regularly as a volunteer and partner not to mention as a co-leader of one of our Band of Brothers.

I want to express my appreciation to the staff of New Wilderness Adventures for a very productive internship.  It was a great experience getting to know and working with Mark, Greg, and Jamie.  I feel NWA has a vital role to play in ministry to men as well as families in the Cleveland County area.  It was interesting to see how the different gifts and perspectives of the staff meshed together, each working with his own unique abilities in order to keep things running and moving forward.

I want to thank Alfred and Brian for letting me ride with them to the Band of Brothers meetings on Green River.  Those meetings broadened my perspective of how the Holy Spirit works in different ways.

We had some good and memorable times this summer.  One that stands out in particular was the YMCA camp.  Stephen Stanford did a great job organizing and leading that.  It was obvious the kids really enjoyed everything.  It shocked me how strange an environment the woods was to some of those kids.  Growing up playing regularly in the woods, on the creek banks, and in the fields, I guess I just took for granted that all kids have that experience and would be as comfortable in that environment as I was at that age.  But, I guess I was just lucky to grow up in a farm environment, and had never thought how kids who never have that experience would see that environment as so strange.  That experience emphasized for me the importance of groups such as NWA, especially for kids who would not have the opportunity to get “out of town” any other way.

The experience with NWA made me realize how many tremendous opportunities for ministry are opening up.  The Guide Network promises to be very effective in filling a need in the lives of many men.  The building in Uptown Shelby offers a unique and very visible opportunity for ministry to men that would otherwise be unreached.  The trips that NWA organizes offer opportunities for Christian fellowship and just plain good times.

I sensed the working of the Holy Spirit in the staff members, and I am convinced that God will be able to use NWA in many ways in the future.  Mark and all the staff members have a great vision for the future of the ministry and continue to work to find ways to bring that vision to reality.  I pray that the ministry will continue to explore new ways of ministering in Christ’s name to the men and families of Cleveland County.

A Note From the Staff on Tim:

Tim was such a pleasure to work with.  His quick whit and non-discriminating ribbing was amazing.  As with many internships, they get a lot of grunt work.  Tim took each task on with vigor and confidence.  He was doing his work as if it were done for the Lord and not just for the NWA Missionary Staff.

Tim was able to help us as well.  His experience in accounting helped us tremendously in  ordering some things so we could get a clearer picture on several financial reports as well as donor relations.  He was also very quick to ask question.  His questions were always very poignant and some challenging.  This grew us up by allowing us to explain what God had revealed to us through His word and work in our lives.

Tim is a friend.  He is actually volunteering today with Stephen on another YMCA Adventure camp after his internship is over.  He is a man of God and dangerous for God’s kingdom!

Go to http://www.horseperspective.com/ 

Consider these statistics concerning what fatherless homes are producing:
63% of teenage suicides
75% of kids with addictions
85% of prison inmates
85% of children with behavior problems
90% of homeless and runaway children

(Statistics from Barana)

God intended for MAN to walk with Him and take part in His creation, rule, and reign over the earth (Gen. 1:26-29). Through Christ’s mighty work on the cross and our own intimate relationship with God, we have been given everything we need to take back all that the enemy has taken form us as heirs to the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus’ mission was the full restoration of our lives in relationship to God the Father, Creator, and Redeemer as originally intended.

The previous statistics do not show the MAN God intended. The missionaries and guides of NWA are on mission to change that all over the world by training leaders and guides to go into places like prisons and on mission in Nicaragua; on mission at home and in the work place; on mission in our church and on the city block.

Barry Strickland’s team has been making a difference. They were able to do a Wild at Heart Boot Camp in the E-Wing with awesome results. From healing and salvation to breakthrough and behavior alteration, the Beto team is making a lasting difference in the men of Beto Prison every Wednesday Night.
This past week, Mark and Greg went to Texas to support Barry and his efforts at Beto as well as visit with Walter Arnold and discuss plans for the NWA Building. An awesome time was had and the time in prison had a lasting effect on Mark and Greg. Go to Greg’s blog for the story at the prison and for the Wreck that happened on the way back.

We are very thankful for the opportunity we had and we look forward to going back again really soon. Please be praying for the men at Beto and Barry and all the work Barry does in Texas and around the world.

Dear Friends.  I wanted to ask your prayer as I leave tomorrow for Orlando Florida where I will be speaking to a group of men at the Proverbs 27:17 Golf Classic organized by Zack Fulmer a close friend and support of ours.  I will be speaking on Saturday night and Sunday morning.  Please cover Jody, Kate and Nick here in Charlotte while I am gone and for my time with the men.  Pray that they will see life in the context of a larger story, the story God is telling and inviting us to join Him in.  I will return home on Monday morning.  As God lays this on your heart your intersession is so vital.  Thank you for the part you play in this, God is on the move!

Tom

Robert Folk has passed away. He is the son of Aubrey and Patsy Folk and Mark, Chris and Elizabeth’s youngest brother. Please be in prayer for the folk family and if you would like to leave your prayers and support below, please feel free!

Sincerely,

NWA Missionary Staff

UPDATE:  In leu of flowers, the family request memorials sent to:

New Wilderness Adventures:  1050 Sam Lattimore Road, Shelby, NC 28152 or go here:  Donations