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 […]