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.

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 […]