Our Founding History

In 1980, Tom Vail took what would be a life-changing vacation – a rafting trip through the Grand Canyon.  Two years later, he left his corporate job managing the data center for a Fortune 500 Company to become a rafting guide.

For the next 15 years, Tom led trips through the Grand Canyon and taught natural (evolutionary) processes over millions of years were responsible for forming the exquisite and varied rock layers found in the Grand Canyon.

One day in July 1994, a lady went on a Grand Canyon rafting trip, and Tom was one of her guides.  Little did he know that she would be the one doing the guiding.

Tom & Paula Vail

On that second night of the trip, she started her ministry on his lost soul, planting seeds that would flourish into a “new birth.”  After the trip, she sent Tom a Bible that traveled with him to the Himalayas in Pakistan.  It was there, through reading God’s Word, that Tom accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior.  She led him to Christ, and the following year he led her down the aisle.  That lady became Mrs. Paula Vail.

A year later, while living in North Carolina, another seed was planted which germinated into Canyon Ministries, with its first trip through the canyon in 1997.  Since that time, Canyon Ministries has had the privilege of sharing the canyon with tens of thousands of people on river trips and rim tours.

Tom has also written two books on the Grand Canyon from a Biblical perspective.  His books have been carried in multiple national park bookstores, and are also currently available at places like the National Geographic Visitor Center just outside the park.

In 2013, Jon Albert was brought on as the Canyon Ministries Executive Director.  Jon, Kathleen, and their kids Miranda, Monte, and Melodie moved from Minnesota to the Flagstaff area to take the helm of the ministry.  Jon was the Senior Pastor of a church in Kimble, MN and operated an outdoor ministry called Gloryview.

Under Jon’s direction, while still providing river trips, the ministry expanded to include biblically-based tours of the Grand Canyon’s South Rim, expanding our annual reach in serving over 2,000 guests at the Grand Canyon each year.

Jon continued at the helm of the ministry until the end of 2020 as he and his family began work to develop a partnership ministry with us called Gloryview Ranch.

After serving on staff at Canyon Ministries for seven years, Nate Loper became the Executive Director at the end of 2020. Prior to working with Canyon Ministries, Nate was a pastor for twelve years and director of a creation science organization in Southern California.

During Nate’s time as Executive Director, Canyon Ministries expanded into multi-day backpacking trips, tours to four new parks, and additional Christ-centered adventures throughout the Southwest, serving more than 5,000 people annually.

As the ministry continued to grow, the Board created a new role—Director of Ministry Outreach—allowing Nate to focus more deeply on teaching, speaking, resource development, partnership building, and guiding the ministry’s expansion into new locations. In this role, Nate leads Canyon Ministries’ educational outreach, develops new tours and resources, and represents the ministry at churches, schools, and conferences around the country.

Adam Huff joined the Canyon Ministries team after 11 years of experience in organizational leadership and operations with Answers in Genesis. Before coming to the Grand Canyon, Adam served as the Director of Operations at the Creation Museum, overseeing staff, logistics, and guest services at one of the world’s most influential biblical creation ministries.

Adam brought that same strength in leadership and structure to Canyon Ministries, launching and directing our backpacking program and serving for years as our Director of Operations. His steady presence, people-oriented leadership, and deep commitment to the mission have played a vital role in the growth of the ministry.

As Canyon Ministries expanded, the Board created the new role of Chief Executive Officer, a position focused on organizational development, team leadership, long-range planning, and supporting overall ministry infrastructure. At the end of 2025, Adam stepped into this role to guide Canyon Ministries into its next season of growth, allowing the ministry to continue expanding while staying firmly grounded in its biblical mission.

As we focus on apologetics and strengthening believers, we also seek to share the love of Christ with everyone we meet at the Grand Canyon. Park rangers have remarked that our tours are among the most consistent they see, and they enjoy chatting with our extra-friendly guides. This is a beautiful testament to the incredible work God is doing in and through each person we encounter daily.

Starting with just 14 people on a river trip in 1997, Canyon Ministries has grown to serve over 4,000 people each year through our tours and trips. Over the years, tens of thousands have heard the good news of Jesus Christ at the Grand Canyon, and we look forward to sharing it with many more in the years to come.

All this, as a result of one woman’s faithfulness in sharing the Gospel with a lost river guide.