ABOUT
Birthed out of a desire to experience God, experience and care for His creation, and extend love and grace to ALL people. And to go outside. A lot.
Dwayne and Halona Stearns
My wife, Halona and I completed a through hike of the John Muir Trail in July of 2015. This was a three week adventure that took us well over 200 miles through some of the finest scenery in the world. As we spent time technologically and physically disconnected from the rest of the world wonderful things happened. We found a deeper connection with God and with each other. There was the humility of wayfaring through such a vast, unpredictable and magnificent landscape. There was surreal wonder in seeing the fingerprint of God on his creation. There was time, quiet, and plenty of contemplation in the uncomplicated existence of putting one foot in front of the other. There was rain, snow and lightning as well as plenty of fatigue and aching muscles. Connections were made with other hikers as we supported and encouraged each other. There were so many parallels with our greater journey through life and a new perspective on what is lost and missing in the “every day” world back at home.
With the epiphany that Jesus was also a through hiker, we looked to His example for a way to escape the four walls of a church building and head outside to be a ministering presence for those who are out there enjoying His great outdoors in their manifold ways; to be trail angels to those we encounter and love on them and build relationships with them whether they believe like we do or not. This is the example of Jesus. Going out, not going in. Being the church, not going to the church. Scattering as well as gathering. We are just broken and flawed people going out to be friends to broken flawed people. We’re still not sure what this experiment will look like in the end, but just like in July of 2015 we’re putting boots on the trail, heading for the next pass and taking it a day at a time. We invite you to join us on this grand adventure.
-Dwayne