By Tim Strickland, Director of Christ in the Smokies Our Passage to Manhood camp took place in June of 2024. It was a huge success. Every camp is unique and tailored by God to meet the needs of those who attend. This camp was no exception. For the first time, we had two pairs of international […]
By Tim Strickland, Director of Christ in the Smokies My dad’s stories were legendary. Growing up as his son, I experienced some of those with him personally. Others I had heard all my life. I relished in hearing them over and over again. Allen Strickland, Tim’s dad, front row on right end When I met and […]
Wes Potter and his son, Jake, a college student, were gifted the opportunity to attend Passage to Manhood camp by Wes’s wife at Christmas. Wes shares that both he and his son were at a difficult time in their lives, so the timing for the trip was perfect. Wes could see that he and his […]
Barry Peppers was able to bring his oldest son, Stephen, to Christ in the Smokies’ Passage to Manhood camp at a truly special time—just after Stephen graduated from high school. One of Barry’s lifelong friends, Jason Carr, gifted the camp to the two men through a Taylor Strickland Legacy Foundation scholarship. As they prepared to […]
When Paul and Thomas Metz joined us at Christ in the Smokies Passage to Manhood camp, Thomas had just graduated high school and would be heading off to college in the fall, and Paul had been in search of a unique one-on-one adventure with Thomas. Back at home, “he and I didn’t get much time […]
Both Greg and his son Mitch were in a season of change when they came to Christ in the Smokies Passage to Manhood Camp this past summer. Greg had been retired but was now rehired in educational leadership, and Mitch, while established in his career, was heading to graduate school soon. The opportunity to be […]
written by Tim Strickland, Director of Christ in the Smokies On a recent trip to Israel, we visited the Elah Valley to see where David, as a young shepherd boy, slew Goliath who mocked David—but more importantly, mocked David’s God. The short version is that the Philistines gathered their armies for battle and stood on […]
Meet Tim Strickland, CITS director and Passage to Manhood Camp Teaching Leader. Tim is well-loved, and his outgoing, friendly, and positive leadership style is appreciated by all who serve with him.
s a junior in high school when his dad Jeff signed the two of them up to attend Christ in the Smokies Passage to Manhood Camp. The father and son were going through a tough time in their relationship, so when one of Jeff’s friends told him about the camp, he signed them up…
Name: Mike Haddorff Christ in the Smokies and Christ in the Rockies Teaching Leader
Role(s): Director of Christ in the Rockies
Volunteer superpower: Memorizing everyone’s name before meeting them!
This gifted teacher is one of the many dedicated volunteers who make our Passage to Manhood Camp a success! See what others have to say about Mike.
Victor Matos shares the experience he had with his son Caleb at our Passage to Manhood Camp.
Name: Greg Dyson, CITS VolunteerRole(s): Hospitality, Team LeaderVolunteer superpower: “Coffee Beast”One of many shining moments: Keeping the coffee machines full and functional, helping everyone face the day… or into the night! What others are saying about Greg: Greg does just about anything that needs to be done. He is friendly, engaging, has loving demeanor, is wise with age, and […]
Pam Boyett gifted her brother and nephew the adventure of a lifetime—a trip together to grow in their relationship to each other and to the Lord.
Father and son Kenny and Barrett Caldwell share their experience at Christ in the Smokies Passage to Manhood Camp—and how it was just the beginning of the journey toward a deeper relationship.
Christ in the Smokies board member Mike Teston shares how God is meeting him in the mu, or the middle, especially in his recent cancer diagnosis.
Darrell Schoenig, Volunteer Extraordinaire!
Meet Tim Baker, Volunteer Extraordinaire!
Michael Brandes shares what he and his dad experienced at Christ in the Smokies Passage to Manhood Camp—and how their relationship is forever changed because of it.
written by Jim Forgan, Ph.D., Christ in the Rockies board member and alumnus Life is built on relationships, and the father-son relationship is a special one. Regardless of where a father and son are in their journey, it’s a process that is always in development. With intentionality, you can improve a strained father son relationship or increase […]
written by John Ellard, Christ in the Smokies committee member and alumnus Last fall, I listened to my voicemail from a friend and heard, “I’m in trouble. I have really messed up and need your help.” I received an email from a different friend on New Year’s Eve saying he was checking himself into rehab. One thing that […]
“I felt humbled, grateful and just eager to continue to get to know my boy—the way I envisioned when I held him as a baby.” Bill Gerdes shares how there is no price that can be placed on the gift that he and his son left with after their time at Christ in the Smokies.
written by Jason Carr, Christ in the Smokies volunteer I’ve had the honor of working with and investing in teenage guys for almost 25 years. In that time span, I’ve seen God do some incredible things in the lives of generations and I’ve also seen some frightening changes in our culture. As culture has moved […]
David and Preson Clarke started out their time at camp feeling a little hesitant to share their feelings and regrets, but they drove away from camp closer than ever and “seeing each other as men with a common purpose to lead as Jesus intended.” Read more about this experience that changed this father and son’s relationship.
CITS committee member Mike Tiemann shares why it pays off to embrace what God is calling us to do.
“This was a special time with Cameron that will leave me with no regrets, knowing that he was blessed and called into manhood by his Dad while honoring our Heavenly Father,” Trip Campbell reflects on his time with his son at Passage to Manhood Camp in 2020.
written by Mike Teston, Christ in the Smokies committee member and alumnus My father was a good man. He was kind, a hard worker, and he loved to laugh and have a good time. He grew up very poor on a farm in north Florida, where he learned about working on engines. Being mostly self-taught, he […]
Brandon Smith reflects upon the liberating experience he and his son Shannon had at Passage to Manhood Camp that brought the two men closer as father and son and helped them heal wounds of the past.
Greg Routt had such an amazing experience at our inaugural Passage to Manhood Camp with his oldest son that he brought his middle son the next year, and plans to bring his youngest son too!
Adult son Sebastián Muñoz was thrilled to attend our Passage to Manhood Camp with his father John. The two men had an incredible experience and grew in their relationship. Read Sebastián’s reflections on their experience.
Passage to Manhood Camp alumnus Scott DuBois shares how fathers can be life-givers to their sons by affirming them for who they are, not what they’ve done.
From time to time, we want to bring you the stories of some of the fathers and sons who have attended Christ in the Smokies’ Passage to Manhood Camp. In this post, read about Gavin and Tristan Philipps’ experience.
Christ in the Smokies committee member and alumnus Mike Teston shares why it’s worth the risk to attend Christ in the Smokies’ Passage to Manhood Camp.
From time to time, we want to bring you the stories of some of the fathers and sons who have attended Christ in the Smokies’ Passage to Manhood Camp. In this post, hear about Mike and Josiah Gross’ experience.
It has been a busy first few months preparing for the next Passage to Manhood camp. Let’s catch you up on what we’ve been up to, where the Lord has been leading this ministry, and how we are working on your behalf to serve you better. -Tim Strickland, Director of Christ in the Smokies Local […]
written by John Ellard, Christ in the Smokies committee member and alumnus Why is adventure such a critical component of life? Because life IS the adventure. At the center of every man is the desire to prove he has what it takes: to make the grade, to lead, to win, to be meaningful to those he loves. But as […]
From time to time, we want to bring you the stories of some of the fathers and sons who have attended Christ in the Smokies’ Passage to Manhood Camp. In this post, hear about Daniel and Andrew Watkins’ experience.
(and how my dad helped me find it) I grew up out West, with parents who took our family camping pretty regularly. It wasn’t until I grew up that I realized how special it was that we got to share those experiences together. Looking back, I can see that it was an intentional decision my […]
CITS visits the Eastern Caribbean on a fact-finding mission and finds something else! Guy, a taxi driver, picked us up at our hotel in St. Lucia for the hour and half drive to the airport. He began pointing out noteworthy places along the way, sharing his country’s history and culture. As our time together increased, […]
by Tim Strickland I recently attended the National Coalition of Ministries to Men Conference and got a chance to hear about what is happening across our nation in regard to men’s spirituality. One of the speakers was the President of Promise Keepers (PK), a Christ-centered organization dedicated to introducing men to Jesus so they will […]
We are excited to announce that the Christ in the Smokies 2020 Passage to Manhood camp dates are June 14-18. To read more about these game-changing camps that provide the father-son adventure of a lifetime, click here.
This past summer, several fathers and sons were sponsored at our Passage to Manhood camp. One of these was a father of nine who longed to share this time with his oldest son. Due to the size of his family, these types of events are a stretch for them, financially and time-wise. Through the generosity […]
