| Email, Letters, & Testimonials |
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St Petersburg Times |
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"Outfits such as Garner's Going the Distance Adventure Ministry are creating weekend getaways that combine prayer and Fear Factor. Since 1996, Garner has been turning Christians into weekend bungee jumpers, rock climbers and skiers." |
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-Matt Nelson (Reporter) |
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Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine |
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"If Garner was going to have a slogan tattooed on his forehead, it might be something like "No Fear Through God". His enthusiasm for Christianity and adventure, two concepts that he refuses to separate, borders on obsessive, and he's quick to insert the phrase "God-awesome" in any manner of conversation. |
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-Graham Averill (Writer) |
Webmaster 
September 4, 2009
Past email from participant:
Good times!! Thanks so much for organizing and putting everything together. It stretched me, challenged me, and impacted me more than you'll ever know!
- Lindsy
Good times!! Thanks so much for organizing and putting everything together. It stretched me, challenged me, and impacted me more than you'll ever know!
- Lindsy
Webmaster
September 4, 2009
BLOG from Pastor Bobby Triplett:
We are home...and yes we are sore. Pretty much the Adventure Trip was nothing short of spectacular...and each person who went can atest that they will never be the same.
God showed up in ways I didn't see coming. The biggest surprise to me...nobody knew anyone on this trip...and by the time it was over...we had sweat together, bled together, jumped and climbed together...we smelled (really bad) together...we faced fears, we had fun, we each heard from God and the best part...it was together...the way life is meant to be.
- Bobby
We are home...and yes we are sore. Pretty much the Adventure Trip was nothing short of spectacular...and each person who went can atest that they will never be the same.
God showed up in ways I didn't see coming. The biggest surprise to me...nobody knew anyone on this trip...and by the time it was over...we had sweat together, bled together, jumped and climbed together...we smelled (really bad) together...we faced fears, we had fun, we each heard from God and the best part...it was together...the way life is meant to be.
- Bobby
Webmaster
September 4, 2009
Past email from participant:
The trip was so awesome, Doug. I had an amazing time, and God totally showed up. Thanks for all that you guys do! I know a lot of work goes into putting something on like that, and its totally appreciated. Let me know the next time you do a local activity, me and Rach will totally be there! God bless
- Courtney
The trip was so awesome, Doug. I had an amazing time, and God totally showed up. Thanks for all that you guys do! I know a lot of work goes into putting something on like that, and its totally appreciated. Let me know the next time you do a local activity, me and Rach will totally be there! God bless
- Courtney
Webmaster
September 4, 2009
BLOG from a participant:
The trip of a lifetime!
So I guess its my turn to blog about the adventure trip...
I dont even know where to start. The trip was an adventure to say the least. We were on the go from daylight till past dark every day. We did everything from mountain boarding (which I skipped out on cause I was afraid of breaking an ankle *cough.. MELINDA.. cough*), to rock climbing, to rapelling, to backpacking, to sleeping in cocoons, to cooking over an open fire, to pooping in the woods, to sliding down a waterfall, to cliff diving (which I also skipped out on, because by this point I managed to sprain my ankle. Guess I should of gone mountain boarding, eh?), to paintballing, to bathing in the river, to being totally swept away by the presence of God. There was never a dull moment. I was stretched in almost everyway possible. There were moments of physical exertion, emotional pain, mental exhaustion, and spiritual growth. I was totally challenged in my walk with God. I guess you could say that the adventure trip is the new beginning of no end. Looking back the whole trip almost seems surreal. I overcame so much, experienced God in such a manner that I cant find words to explain it, and bonded with 20 amazing people I never knew existed before last week. Ive never felt so alive before. For the first time in a long time I actually felt as though I was right where I was suppose to be!
- Lindsey
The trip of a lifetime!
So I guess its my turn to blog about the adventure trip...
I dont even know where to start. The trip was an adventure to say the least. We were on the go from daylight till past dark every day. We did everything from mountain boarding (which I skipped out on cause I was afraid of breaking an ankle *cough.. MELINDA.. cough*), to rock climbing, to rapelling, to backpacking, to sleeping in cocoons, to cooking over an open fire, to pooping in the woods, to sliding down a waterfall, to cliff diving (which I also skipped out on, because by this point I managed to sprain my ankle. Guess I should of gone mountain boarding, eh?), to paintballing, to bathing in the river, to being totally swept away by the presence of God. There was never a dull moment. I was stretched in almost everyway possible. There were moments of physical exertion, emotional pain, mental exhaustion, and spiritual growth. I was totally challenged in my walk with God. I guess you could say that the adventure trip is the new beginning of no end. Looking back the whole trip almost seems surreal. I overcame so much, experienced God in such a manner that I cant find words to explain it, and bonded with 20 amazing people I never knew existed before last week. Ive never felt so alive before. For the first time in a long time I actually felt as though I was right where I was suppose to be!
- Lindsey
Webmaster
September 4, 2009
Past email from participant:
I think the thing I took home from this trip besides 20-something new friends is that I need to trust the Lord and let him lead me where He wants me to go. I should not be afraid and I need to get out of my comfort zone and to push myself to "go the distance" because God will be there right beside me each step I take in my walk with Him.
As we got home Sunday night I watched everybody go their own ways as we all said our goodbyes. Then Monday night sevice rolled around and everybody was getting there and it was like the trip never really ended. We picked up right where we left off. And to watch that happen, God was telling it's ok to open up to new people and let them know your story.
So to everybody who was on the trip and to those who did not go on the trip keep trusting God and pushing though to go the distance.
-Aliena
I think the thing I took home from this trip besides 20-something new friends is that I need to trust the Lord and let him lead me where He wants me to go. I should not be afraid and I need to get out of my comfort zone and to push myself to "go the distance" because God will be there right beside me each step I take in my walk with Him.
As we got home Sunday night I watched everybody go their own ways as we all said our goodbyes. Then Monday night sevice rolled around and everybody was getting there and it was like the trip never really ended. We picked up right where we left off. And to watch that happen, God was telling it's ok to open up to new people and let them know your story.
So to everybody who was on the trip and to those who did not go on the trip keep trusting God and pushing though to go the distance.
-Aliena
Webmaster
September 4, 2009
Past email from participant:
Thanks for an awesome week! I can't wait to join you again ASAP! God was able to hit me with some cool stuff while I was away. I am stoked and prayin about some major life decisions. One thing is for sure, God is faithful!
- Chris
Thanks for an awesome week! I can't wait to join you again ASAP! God was able to hit me with some cool stuff while I was away. I am stoked and prayin about some major life decisions. One thing is for sure, God is faithful!
- Chris
Webmaster
September 4, 2009
Past email from participant:
Hey man, its Will. I just wanted to say that I had such a blast on the trip. I felt God's Hand on everything we did, and I can really see him in your ministry. I had so much fun, and discovered soo much about Him and myself. I made some lifelong friends with those others too. I pray that God will continue to work through your ministry and in your lives. I posted a blog about our trip on my myspace with some pics, feel free to read it or take any of the pics for GTD or your own use if you want.
God Bless,
Will Saunders
WILL'S BLOG:
So where to start? I just got back about 25 minutes ago and I am already on myspace haha. What an amazing trip. It was sooo much fun, and I know it's kind of cliche but I wish I never left. God really had his hand on this whole trip. The weather was perfect, no rain at all. It was cool and breezy the entire week. I only knew 2 of the 21 other people who were going, but everyone else was soo amazing, we all just bonded like Instantly and became really close and I met some really cool people who I think I will have a lasting friendship with. - Will
Hey man, its Will. I just wanted to say that I had such a blast on the trip. I felt God's Hand on everything we did, and I can really see him in your ministry. I had so much fun, and discovered soo much about Him and myself. I made some lifelong friends with those others too. I pray that God will continue to work through your ministry and in your lives. I posted a blog about our trip on my myspace with some pics, feel free to read it or take any of the pics for GTD or your own use if you want.
God Bless,
Will Saunders
WILL'S BLOG:
So where to start? I just got back about 25 minutes ago and I am already on myspace haha. What an amazing trip. It was sooo much fun, and I know it's kind of cliche but I wish I never left. God really had his hand on this whole trip. The weather was perfect, no rain at all. It was cool and breezy the entire week. I only knew 2 of the 21 other people who were going, but everyone else was soo amazing, we all just bonded like Instantly and became really close and I met some really cool people who I think I will have a lasting friendship with. - Will
Webmaster
September 4, 2009
Participant's blog about her GTD experience:
"SOOOO...I just got back from an Adventure Trip on Sunday and had an INCREDIBLE time, it was just amazing, from fun things we did to the awesome people that went and just God's presence in the mists of us all. Just a very fulling upfilting trip and I'm glad that I made it. There was one little downfall to the that I wasn't planning on...I got what we thought was a "sprained ankle" on the first day!!!! I knew I should have tried mountain boarding at the END of the trip. Turns out it's fractured and I gotta go get it taken care of, blah blah blah. Yes, it hurt, but I still got to repel, hike 7 miles, sleep in the woods in a caccoon, made it to Rainbow and Turtleback
falls, and have a great time regardless of the injury. I also took away a new look on God's creation and 20 new friends."
- Melinda
"SOOOO...I just got back from an Adventure Trip on Sunday and had an INCREDIBLE time, it was just amazing, from fun things we did to the awesome people that went and just God's presence in the mists of us all. Just a very fulling upfilting trip and I'm glad that I made it. There was one little downfall to the that I wasn't planning on...I got what we thought was a "sprained ankle" on the first day!!!! I knew I should have tried mountain boarding at the END of the trip. Turns out it's fractured and I gotta go get it taken care of, blah blah blah. Yes, it hurt, but I still got to repel, hike 7 miles, sleep in the woods in a caccoon, made it to Rainbow and Turtleback
falls, and have a great time regardless of the injury. I also took away a new look on God's creation and 20 new friends."
- Melinda
Webmaster
September 4, 2009
Past email from trip participant:
Thank you for all the words of encouragement that you have so greatly given. The staff at GTD really amazed me on this trip. I have been on missions trips and various outings w/different ministry teams and nothing compares to the wonderful/encouraging and God-like manner you all bestowed upon all of us!
In Him,
Melinda
Thank you for all the words of encouragement that you have so greatly given. The staff at GTD really amazed me on this trip. I have been on missions trips and various outings w/different ministry teams and nothing compares to the wonderful/encouraging and God-like manner you all bestowed upon all of us!
In Him,
Melinda
Webmaster
September 4, 2009
Past email received from participant Graham Menzies:
"Somewhere between the caving, canoeing, and the extreme team building, it hit me: this was not an ordinary weekend. With help from Jen, Erin, Ron, and the youth, I experienced some of the best 3 days of my life. It's hard to conceive how mentally and spiritually refreshing such a short time in the company of other Christians can be. On this amazing trip, I not only got a much needed break from the tediousness of everyday life, but a total and complete spiritual renewal as well. Being out away from the modern commodities, God's creations display their tendency to stand out. The intricate caves and serenity of the river left me in awe of God's brilliance. Going The Distance accommodated my necessity for a recess, where I could connect with God, one on one. I will never forget those 3 days, and I recommend something similar to all who are interested."
"Somewhere between the caving, canoeing, and the extreme team building, it hit me: this was not an ordinary weekend. With help from Jen, Erin, Ron, and the youth, I experienced some of the best 3 days of my life. It's hard to conceive how mentally and spiritually refreshing such a short time in the company of other Christians can be. On this amazing trip, I not only got a much needed break from the tediousness of everyday life, but a total and complete spiritual renewal as well. Being out away from the modern commodities, God's creations display their tendency to stand out. The intricate caves and serenity of the river left me in awe of God's brilliance. Going The Distance accommodated my necessity for a recess, where I could connect with God, one on one. I will never forget those 3 days, and I recommend something similar to all who are interested."