Cedar Falls Bible Conference
I recently had the opportunity to speak at the 100-year anniversary of the Cedar Falls Bible Conference in Iowa. This 8-day conference had a separate youth track going on for students who wanted to learn about biblical and creation apologetics, as well as developing a solid walk with Christ. I was thrilled to speak alongside my friend Dave Glander. Dave and I first met on our Christian Leader’s Trip (CLT) through the Grand Canyon 10 years ago. He and I hit it off and have stayed in touch over
We March Forth!
God continues to do great things here at Canyon Ministries, and we continue to be amazed. Once again, we want to thank everyone who has stepped up in helping the ministry this past year. From prayers, to financial support, to notes and emails of encouragement, you have been the fuel that has helped enable us to remain a strong voice in the wilderness. We praise God for you being part of our Canyon Ministries family. We want to update you on this year so far and trust you’ll be encouraged.
2022 River Trips Coming Soon!
As we ramp things up here at Canyon Ministries in preparation for our busy spring and summer season for rim tours, walking tours, and hiking tours at the Grand Canyon, we also have river trips on our minds! Not only are we excited for this season's trips, but we will soon be publishing our 2022 river trip schedule here in a couple of weeks. We know many of you are waiting with anticipation for that. Because we experience exciting rapids, stellar night skies, and incredible hikes to see Native
Christmas at the Grand Canyon
As I child, one of my favorite nights of the entire year was Christmas Eve. It was one where my family would turn the lights and music down low, light some candles, and gather together to read the Christmas story from the Bible. After our family time reflecting on the meaning of Christmas, we would go to bed. I'd like to say we'd soon be asleep, but that was far from the truth. As a young boy lying in bed and staring at the small strand of Christmas lights
Don’t Forget To Look Up
Have you ever been so invested in observation of something that you failed to notice that which was happening all around you? Have you found yourself so intensely focused that you missed out on the “big picture” of your surroundings? This was exactly my scenario on my most recent river trip. Last month while guiding a 4-day trip through the Grand Canyon, we camped at a place I’d never been before. We decided the next morning we would hike up and explore a side canyon that had until that
Light Shines Best in the Darkness
This past week I led a sunset tour for two people who came to the canyon to see God’s amazing creation. This time of year is particularly fantastic, as we are in the middle of our monsoon season. During much of July and August, we have the best cloud formations over the canyon and near-daily afternoon rain showers which bring about the most stunning sunsets. While we were at Lipan Point (my favorite overlook on the South Rim), we watched as ever-advancing clouds covered the canyon below. As the
Blinded By My Sight
I recently performed a sunset tour with a family who came to visit the Grand Canyon. On their reservation, they made a note to let us know their young son was blind. When I saw the note I thought to myself, this could be interesting—even quite a fun challenge! Being a guide at the Grand Canyon, so much of what we do and teach is visual. There’s a lot of pointing to things and saying “Look at that!” In the 13 years I’ve been leading tours at the canyon,
Our Refuge and Strength
Struggle. We all face it. During this time of difficulty, we each have our own battles to face. No matter what comes our way, the beauty of struggle is we serve a Creator God who does not have to face the same struggles we do, yet has chosen to be a "very present help in time of need." God chooses to dwell in feeble human hearts. He desires to give us strength, endurance, and staying power. The picture above was taken on our last river trip of 2019 while
What Will You See? – Waterfalls
One thing people on river trips through the Grand Canyon are often surprised by are the number of waterfalls we encounter. In such a drastically dry desert environment, seeing water cascading from canyon crevices is an unexpected delight. The Grand Canyon is home to numerous waterfalls, both large and small. The most well-known waterfall in the Grand Canyon would have to be Havasu Falls. Standing at the base of this tumbling torrent of turquoise and travertine whisks you away to another world — seeming an island paradise, rather than
What Will You See? – Snow
One of the surprising things to many who come to Northern Arizona is the fact that we have snow. And when I say snow, I mean not just a little, but quite a lot! In fact, Flagstaff is often listed as one of the top 10 snowiest cities in America each year. While we see a fair amount of it on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon as well, it pales in comparison to the North Rim. Being roughly a thousand feet higher in elevation than the