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.