New Wilderness Adventures

The morning was still. It was a little chilly and the fog buffeted the mountains in the French Broad River valley in Hot Springs NC. In the distance is deep water bridge, a trussell where later we see people taking the deep plunge into the river from over 20 feet high. Across the river is the Appalachian Trail, where at night we see camp fires flickering, dotted all over the mountains. The scenery is amazing.

Later, during the day, the beauty and majesty of God’s creation surrounds us as we fish for Smallmouth Bass down the river from farms and old houses with long porches full of awesome stories I’m sure. These “Brown-Backs” are beautiful. They pull hard and are a lot of fun to catch, albeit a little difficult due to the heavy rains the region has recently had causing the water to be stained.

The people that surround the area are very friendly. From the awesome homey and character full staff and locals at Smokey Mountain Diner, to the precious lady at the CB Bait Shop…our crew were well fed, well treated, well informed and had an excellent time.

Aside from the adventure, our time was full of chats about wounds, identity, conversational walks with God as well as questions for God to speak to us about. Like, what do you think about us God? What do you love about me? God was dwelling with us in this adventure and my heart was forever strengthened.

We look forward to continued opportunities to mentor and train men through the beauty and wildness of God’s creation.

Enjoy some pictures from the trip below!

From left: Tom Allen, Darrell Humprey, Chris Cartee, Greg Sailors and Ken Downer

Tags: Fishing, Hot Springs, NWA Summer Adventure

God certainly has a sense of humor. July 25, 2008 will be a year from the day I last got drunk. I remember thinking after Heidi had kicked me out of my house that maybe I should just go down to Costa Rica with a wad of cash and self medicate myself to a slow death. After all I felt like I would never be able to quit drinking. On July 24th of 2007 Heidi had friends pick our two children up from daycare and had asked me to be at home to talk at 5pm. I was there early and waiting knowing she wasn’t happy with me. Heidi had it all planned out, she arrived right on time and informed me that I was no longer welcome in my own home and that two of my friends would be there to make sure I left. Two of my college roommates arrived a few minutes later and I was allowed to pack a few things and I left but not before Heidi told me that it was either I quit drinking which she doubted I could do or I couldn’t come back. Heidi knew despite herself that she needed to protect our children and she didn’t want to wait until something bad happened for me to reach my bottom. Heidi doing what she did brought my bottom roaring up to meet me but I didn’t know it at the time.
I left the house angry and in denial and my friends took me out and allowed me to get drunk. We went out on the river and then over to a greasy spoon type steak restaurant where I think I had steak, red wine and wild turkey. We turned in kind of early and I asked my buddy if he had some sleeping pills for me. He didn’t. I went to bed sad, lonely, drunk and scared. I was scared that I’d driven Heidi out of my life. I was afraid and I didn’t know what to do. I tried to sleep and I had a nightmare that I awoke from. I recall the nightmare quite well and see it as a gift from God. In my sleep I was basically wallowing in feces and having sex with an old woman. Heidi had often referred to alcohol as the other woman in our marriage. I like to say I never cheated on Heidi and I haven’t but I did isolate her and leave her many a night for alcohol. That night when I awoke from my nightmare I was driven to my knees. I begged God for help and turned my addiction over to God. I grew-up in a Baptist church and there was one near by so I showered and went to it. I told a young minister of my situation and he asked if I wanted to ask Jesus to save me. I did and while it hasn’t been easy every day since then I can say I’ve only had one white knuckle day in the last 11+ months.

I stared reading lots of Christian literature and of course the Bible. A few days after I turned everything over to God I flipped through the Bible and read of Daniel and the lions den and God delivering him, the next day I read about Peter being released from prison by Angels. I know God was saying he had done the same thing for me. Alcohol was just as much of a threat to me as the lions were to Daniel. Alcohol was a prison that I had willingly climbed into and that when I asked God to he willing rescued me from. I attend 12 step meetings but I knew I needed to surround myself with believers of Jesus so I kept reading books that God directed me to. I own my own staffing agency so I was pretty liberal with giving myself time off. I’d head to Barnes & Noble or Books a Million and look at the spiritual literature section which is often in the middle of the isle. One day I found Wild at Heart by John Eldredge. I’ve always liked to read and I devoured the book. I went online and found that www.newwildernessadventures.com was having a Book Camp so I signed up and brought my friend Daniel Ramsey.
We had a great retreat and God told me that I can and will be used to do good rather than evil. Dan got saved on the retreat. Just prior to the retreat I had shared an extra ticket to Promise Keepers with another fellow named Daniel who I’d met at a 12 step meeting only once before. Daniel turned out to be Jewish and was really studying The Message when I saw him and invited him to Promise Keepers. Daniel got saved. Before he did the man who walked us through a little booklet on how to get saved asked Daniel if there was any reason why he wouldn’t ask Jesus to be his personal Lord and Savior. Daniel replied, yes there is, I’m Jewish and I’d be condemning my parents to hell. I let the Promise Keepers councilor handle most of the response to that one but I did dive in and say, Daniel God doesn’t want you to feel that way and you’re giving yourself way too much credit for God’s work. Meaning it’s not for you to say that you’re condemning your parents to hell. Furthermore maybe your parents will see a change in you and accept Jesus one day as a result. Anyway, here I was only a few months removed from being a selfish drunk and God had used me to bring two men into His saving Grace.
Being used like that is an awesome feeling but if I’m not careful I can let the feeling fade. I’m doing my best not to let that happen. One morning a few months ago after Heidi had played rock and roll with her old band Treadmill Trackstar and I’d been sorely tempted only to be rescued by God with a way out of the situation and a realization that I wouldn’t trade a chemical high for the spiritual love that I’ve found I awoke to read that my church was planning a mission trip to Costa Rica. I cried tears of joy that morning and asked Heidi if she wanted to go. She didn’t but she was all for me going. Heidi said it further affirms that I’m sincere about my relationship with God. I concur and I’m real excited about the adventure.
We’ll be going to Costa Rica July 19th and returning on July 26th with a group called Medical Missions. So God’s giving me a chance to go to Costa Rica to do good and the reason I know God has a sense of humor is that I originally thought of going to Costa Rica to self medicate.

The following is information from their website….. http://www.medicalmissions.net/wwd.htm
(Medical Missions organizes trips every year for U.S. volunteers who want to visit our mission sites and interact with the local people. In this way each person can experience first hand the ministry that is being developed in these areas. No particular skills are necessary to participate. Volunteers typically are involved in construction, teaching, Bible School or medical care. If prescheduled trip dates are not convenient, then a group or church can request a “custom trip” any time during the year. Medical Missions handles all arrangements for these trips including flights, ground transport, meals, lodging, mission site translators and construction coordinators.
Innovative ministry work is an option we hope all missions groups will explore in planning their 2008 missions trips. The areas of ministry we would like for you to consider are: medical, the handicapped program, vocational/educational, and spiritual. Ideas include holding Bible School & planning recreational activities with children in local congregations; visiting rural village churches and pastors; and distributing medicines and supplies to local clinics. )

Editor’s note: We are very thankful for Ken’s continued support of New Wilderness Adventures, would you prayerfully consider partnering with us as well? Donate

Tags: Costa Rica, Medical Missions, New Wilderness Adventures

Located in Northeastern Minnesota, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCA) has a ~million acres of wilderness, with over 1,000 pristine lakes and streams, and over 1500 miles of canoe routes. It is considered by some as the most beautiful wilderness they have ever seen. National Geographic named it one of 50 Destinations of a Lifetime. In other words, an adventure you do not want to miss.

The BWCA is a true wilderness experience, without motors, no electricity, no telephone lines, and no roads to the inner lakes. It is a tradition with NWA; another irreversible change trip!
This year’s cast of adventurers include:

Group 1

Alfred Price Jr. (5th)
Alfred Price Sr. (3rd)
Jason Kester (1st)
Landon Reid (1st)
Terry Britt , son Will (3rd)
Greg Randall (2nd), son Houston (1st)

Group 2

Joel Fraser (6th)
Tim Calton (5th), son Hunter (1st)
Terry Fern (2nd), son Jeremy (1st), brother Gene (1st)
Dick Clatfelter (1st)
Mark Folk (1st)
Brian Hudson (4th)

Please be praying for each man, their families, businesses/work and health.  NWA longs to see each of these men come more alive. Each year we learn more and more about our own stories and this year we long to be more intentional. To seek communion with the Father in a deeper way. Join with us as we will be praying in that direction and for those at home also.

The guys will have a report on the trip when they get back!

Tags: Boundary Waters, Fishing, Trips

Art and music, drama and dance can all be used to celebrate the goodness of God’s world–and indeed, have been. ‘King David danced before the Lord with all his might’.(2 Sa.6:14)

The Ministry of NWA seeks to facilitate the ‘Celebration of the Goodness of God’s World’.

For years now, in ‘Father/Daughter Retreats’, ‘Dance’ has enriched and enhanced Father/Daughter relationships as Fathers practiced roles of loving and caring leadership through Ballroom Dance lessons.  Those lessons at Father/Daughter retreats have led to many invitations for me to teach Ballroom Dancing in Cleveland and Rutherford Counties.  It has been and is a wonderful opportunity to share God’s Truth related to ‘Relationships Between Man and Woman, Husband and Wife’.

One such Truth that God has shown me is that the relationship between a Man and a Woman in marriage is complementarity and it is so because they are willing to ’submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.’(Eph 5:21)

Illustration: ‘Man is willing to submit his strength to his wife, in dancing, by leading with his weaker foot–his left foot.   The wife,
follows his lead with her stronger foot–her right foot.   Thus, a complementary relationship is experienced and the ‘dance of life’ a celebration of God’s ‘Very Good Creation’–man and woman, Image Bearers of God’s Love!

~Aubrey Folk

Tags: Ballroom Dancing

New Wilderness Adventures is continuing our partnership with Dairy Queen with another fundraiser night.  June 2nd will be our 5th Spirit Night and we are so thankful to Dairy Queen and their team for hosting this fundraiser.

The fundraiser is from 5:30-7:30 in Shelby.  We hope to see you there for a time of community and fun.  Bring your kids and invite a neighbor.

Ted, Stephen Stanford and I will be traveling today to an important meeting today to make a proposal that could help NWA move forward tremendously in one of our major initiatives. A permanent base camp for NWA to have for remote retreats. We will be asking for a donation of a property with 24 acres a lodge two houses 1 small bunk house that sits on one of the most pristine lakes in the country. Please pray for boldness and God’s favor and authority.

Greg and Jamie will also traveling today to Greensboro to meet with a gathering of like hearted ministries to make connections and develop relationships for partnering in ministry for the future.

Continue to pray and ask without ceasing today for God to provide the finances for NWA to do ministry in all the initiatives he has called us into and for us to be obedient without hesitation even without knowing how he will provide. Pray also for me to connect with people specifically who can give into the NWA mission and ask without fear for what God has ordained.

I will also be traveling tomorrow to meet with a group men in Statesville.

Your Brother and servant in Christ,

Mark Folk

New Wilderness Adventures would like to give a hearty welcome to Tim Ware as 2008 Summer Intern.

Below is some information about Tim.

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I live in Cherryville with my wife Wanda.  I am enrolled in the Master of Divinity program at the Charlotte campus of Union Theological Seminary, preparing for ordained ministry within the Presbyterian Church (USA).  I first heard of New Wilderness Adventures when an article appeared in the Shelby paper about NWA’s plan for the former Hudson’s building in Shelby.  I immediately thought that was a great idea and was intrigued with what Mark said about men’s ministry.  My experience in seminary made me realize how desperately this kind of ministry is needed, so in January, I contacted Mark.  One thing led to another, and now I am doing an internship for elective credit at Union.

I really don’t know where this will lead.  I’m trying to be open to discern God’s call for direction for my future ministry, and it seems as though God may be calling me in some way in the NWA direction.  I am grateful for the opportunity to see the day-to-day operation of the ministry and have been impressed with the dedication with which Mark, Greg, and Jamie, along with the others without whom the ministry could not operate, approach their calling.

When I entered seminary I left a job with Conwood Tobacco but still maintain a little of my former second vocation working with horses.  I am the author of a book and two educational videos on horse care and maintain a limited private practice.

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For more information on Tim’s business, go to: http://www.horseperspective.com 

Last month was a great time of fellowship and reuniting at NWA night @DQ. Be sure to bring your family and friends to Dairy Queen in Shelby from 5:30-7:30 to help raise funds for New Wilderness and enjoy the fellowship with lots of great people. Questions? Call Chris Cartee at 704.692.1182

We are past security and waiting to board the plane. we will be having lunch in Miami with a good friend and ally, pray for our time together. We are planning a celebration event in about a month to show the compiled video/photos/testimonials as we celebrate the advancement of the Kingdom here in Nicaragua. We’ll let you know more about that in the near future.

As we leave it’s crucial to remember and pray for our interpreters: Rodrigo, Carlos, Junior, Karla, and Tanya.

Also remember the people we encountered and all of those who have made professions of faith / advancements in their spiritual growth.
God is releasing them to be key kingdom guys in this area. The enemy wants so strongly to come in and diminish the work of Christ that happened this past week.

Thank you for being an ally in this great mission and ministry of New Wilderness Adventures. It was a confirmation on the work that we’re doing each and every day in the states.

We finally arrived in Jinotega last night after a few delays in Miami and a long drive from Managua. You can view pictures and updates on our blogs. Thank you for being allies in this mission through prayer. We appreciate each and everyone of you, and in return are praying steadfastly for you. You are vital, don’t let up!