Ministry is the absolute focus of this trip.
"Solid Rock: Climbers For Christ" exists to encourage, equip, and empower climbers to reach climbers for Christ through personal witness and group outreach. When I (Andy) heard of the opportunity to spend a month on the road climbing in ministry, I began to recruit Rad to come along.
It didn't take much convincing.
And so, beginning July 7th, we will be traveling across the country to share the word of God with all who have ears to listen. We hope to accomplish two major tasks. The first is simply to spread the gospel. We will be on the road for a long time, and encountering many people from many walks of life. Our desire is to be a Christly presence in everything we do. The second goal is to encourage climbers in their local community to become active in sharing their own faith with fellow climbers. While we desire to make a lasting impression on those we meet, we hope and pray to be able to embolden Christian climbers to venture out in openly sharing their faith in their local climbing areas.
It is our combined experience that the best way to share the gospel is through personal relationships: meet people, get to know them, show them the love and kindness we’ve been shown, and prove to fellow climbers that we are normal people just like them. Be willing to listen to them, pray that the Lord would create an opportunity, and when he does, tell them about Christ and what He has done in our lives and do our best to answer their questions and concerns. In short, approach them, and however they react, act so as to give Christian climbers a good name.
Typically at most crags (climbing locations) mornings and evenings are spent around campfires, where people of all walks of life are simply hanging out, getting to know each other, and sharing stories of woe. We expect to put up a “Free Coffee SRCFC” sign every morning, and use their first question (what does SRCFC stand for?) as a conversation starter.
We will probably often look to partner up for a day of climbing with people we don’t know. When climbing, each person literally puts their life in the hands of the other – both learn to trust one another and respect one another. People talk and are willing to listen.
Finally, in the evenings we hope to invite people over to our campfire, meet up with local Solid Rockers, do a lot more talking, give out some materials about SRCFC (we will be carrying various booklets and pamphlets that are composed specifically with the climber in mind - see Solid Rock's Website for some samples), and be a bridge between them and local Christian Climbers. We will also try to engage in serious discussions, and will hold nightly bible studies which will be open to anyone who cares to sit in. Finally Andy will be lugging his guitar and his thick binder of Christians songs – so it will be an awesome time.
Though the ministry will begin in these ways, it is possible that we will find other methods of reaching the climbing community and we will integrate those into our days. Through it all, we seek to develop Godly relationships by showing kindness and showing that we care.
Whatever the final shape our ministry will take, we take heart in knowing we are not alone. Of course we are not alone because the Lord is with us, and ultimately what we accomplish depends upon his anointment which we pray for every day. But Christ’s body is with us as well. Pastor Calvin sent out a newsletter that went out to 700 Solid Rockers to let them know of our itinerary, and encouraging them to meet us and support us in prayer. Already we’ve been invited to stop by two Churches along the way!!! We expect to meet dozens of Christian climbers who will climb with us, worship with us, hold Bible studies with us, and most important of all, form the crucial link between local nonbelievers, and the Message of Christ.
We ask and thank you for your continuing prayer through this month of ministry.
If you would like to consider offering financial support, please email us.