Colorado Adventure ~ Gunnison, Colorado

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This is our outdoor backcountry event. We camped at Spring Creek Reservoir in the Rocky Mountains north of the town of Gunnison & Almont. This trip aims to build relationships between Christian men while growing our Christian walk, and grew our Bible knowledge while enjoying God's beautiful creation.

We had multiple campers provided by volunteers, which will serve as a base camp with cooking and bathroom facilities. The camping was off-grid with power supplied by generators on an as-needed basis during the day. We drew water from a nearby stream for showers and washing.  Dirt bikes, motorcycles, ATVs, and side-by-sides along with nearby for fishing and endless hiking trails to explored.

The weekend began at 7:30 pm on Friday with dinner and fellowship in Seadrift, Texas. Saturday, we started  with morning devotion and breakfast as we embarked on our fishing trip. The evening included a fish fry dinner and biblical discussions. Sunday began with breakfast, then a morning discussion, and a three-hour fishing trip (for those available) after small group time.

Relate Ministries' second year for this event included 36 attendees including multiple children. The trip included paddling 19 miles of the upper Brazos River. The group spent 2 nights of primitive camping along the river. Everyone learned to work together and be patient with others. They focused on being like Christ in all circumstances. 

We started the year with a great hunting trip to George West, Texas. This event provided an opportunity to dig into God’s Word while building relationships with new friends. Relate Ministries aims to provide a fun, comfortable, and safe environment for men to do what men do while having the opportunity and encouragement to talk about the One who gives us the ability to enjoy the activities we love.

We gathered on Friday the 17th and n at 7 pm with dinner. Friday night was a time to get to know the others in the group and talk about the hunts that began on Saturday morning. We had a designated stand for hunters to use and trasnported them to and from blinds. This was an all-hands-on-deck event. While it is not a fully guided hunt, there was lots of learning and knowledge sharing. One helpful area was some men who gave directions on processing deer, especially for those who have never done it. We shared the responsibility of cooking and cleaning the meals and snacks provided for us. 

This event is structured for guys to build relationships while serving and enjoying the outdoors, not being catered to like a client. All attendees are encouraged to stay for the full event; this is not a kill-and-run event. Departure was on Monday morning after camp clean-up. There were plenty of opportunities to harvest a deer on Saturday and Sunday.

This event had men ranging from 18-65 years young. Some dads had their younger children with them, and hunted with children younger than 17. We had designated times to gather as a group to have biblical conversations. This was not a church service or a bible study, but an opportunity for believers and non-believers to come together in a comfortable environment to discuss and share our beliefs and grow in understanding.  

Another first for Relate! Men and some children gathered at Blackwood Sporting Co in Conroe, Texas. During the event, a certified Hunter’s Safety Course and range time were offered for those who previously completed the course. The group then discussed basic gun safety and hunting stand etiquette, briefly introducing what to expect during and after a hunt. The event was especially helpful for those registered for the Deer Hunt later in January 2025.