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…

Meet Scott DuBois, Volunteer Extraordinaire!

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.