A.T. Servants Represented at the A.T.C. Conference

Trail Profile:  Red Wing and Hopeful

Craig and Suzy to Hike the Long Trail

Trail Angel Profile: Janae

Technology News: ATS on DVD

Meet the A.T. Servants Board of Directors

Click for a Printable Newsletter

Please pray for us!

Here are some specific needs:

************* 

As of September, Suzy will be leaving her corporate job to join Craig in full time ministry.  This means they will be depending solely on  full-time financial support of Christians like you.  Please support us financially as we take this step of faith.

************* Pray that thru- hikers will connect the beauty of the creation around them with the one, true Creator.

*************  Please pray for volunteers to commit to Trail Angeling.

When we started this ministry, we imagined that we would be working only with churches close to the Appalachian Trail and with thru-hikers.  We are still amazed at the magnitude of this undertaking.  14 states and 2,168 miles of trail is a lot of territory to cover.  Compounding the overwhelming tasks at hand, we recently realized that this ministry to the Appalachian Trail does more than impact just those two groups.  

There are so many different types of people who are involved with the Appalachian Trail that are not either hikers or from the church!  For example, in order to do ministry work, we have to talk to United States Forest Service Rangers, Law Enforcement Officers (LEOs), National Park Rangers, and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (formerly Appalachian Trail ‘Conference’).  It is important that we develop relationships with people in these organizations too.

On the weekend of July 4^th, the newly renamed Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) held their biannual conference Johnson City, Tennessee.  Realizing that we need to grow in partnership with this important organization, Craig and Suzy represented A.T. Servants at the conference.  They were struck by the enormity of the network of this 80-year-old organization.  People from all over the country filled the auditorium to hear what is happening on the A.T.  People from all walks of life piled into seminars where they learned about subjects like help save the hemlocks, how to maintain gear, Appalachian clogging, and how to identify and help get rid of “exotic invasive” plants.  One person at the meeting even went camping with First Lady, Laura Bush and her daughters! 

Trail Profile: Red Wing and Hopeful

Each day we are amazed to find how carefully orchestrated God’s plan is and how he puts people together as a network!  Just when we think that we are alone in an endeavor, we find that God has surrounded us with co-laborers to work alongside.  This past Trail Angel season we were amazed to find this to be true once again. 

We sent Vapor (Jonathan) as a Trail Chaplain this year, not fully knowing the great network of Christians that God had made Vapor and A.T. Servants a part of.  As we continued doing God’s work, we met no less than five other thru-hikers whose sole purpose in hiking this season is to be missionaries to the hiking community (Vapor, Red Wing/Hopeful, Circuit Rider/Sherlock).  Furthermore, God had spread them out on the trail so that more people would be reached!

Red Wing and Hopeful are a married couple who are currently thru-hiking as missionaries.  We corresponded with them over email prior to their hike and then we met them as we were Trail Angeling in North Carolina during their hike.  They are a very exciting and fun couple to be around!  Best of all, they proclaim Christ both in word and deed everywhere they go.  Like Vapor, they are keeping a daily journal of their activities while on the A.T. at http://www.trailjournals.com/redwing.  Read it; it will uplift your day!

Recently we received an email update from them that typifies how incredible God’s network is.  Below is an excerpt from their writings:

The night of March 31st was cold, rainy and all together miserable. We were fortunate enough to find a hostel in the area that had room for us in the basement. It was only our second night on the trail, so things still had that exciting and new feel about them. While at the hostel, Hopeful and I met a couple who are hiking the trail together. We didn't get to know much about them (with so many new faces, names and hometowns were all we hoped to remember) but we learned that they were very free spirits who seemed open to all that the trail may have to offer them. As our first week on the AT progressed, we lost track of them and began to meet new groups of hikers.

More than a month later, we once again ran into this couple, this time at the "Trail Days" festival in Damascus, VA. While staying at a local hostel, one morning the young man and I shared a pot of coffee while we read and watched the other hikers get up and start their days. I was reading from 1st Corinthians 8-where Paul says "knowledge puffs up, but love builds up." I felt the urge to share that verse as a thought for the day and read it for all in the room. My friend who was with me was intrigued by the verse and shared his issues with Christianity. He also shared that he wanted to read C.S. Lewis' "Mere Christianity" to give Christianity a fair chance to explain itself. Unfortunately, he was unable to find it anywhere. Later that morning, I wandered over to an area where I knew there was a Christian couple offering free showers for hikers (what a brilliant outreach, by the way). While I was talking with them, I noticed that they had a copy of "Mere Christianity" in their car. Later that day, I once again ran into my friend, walked with him to the showers, and was able to get the book in his hands. From there we once again lost track of them and were left praying that the book would impact him.

Fast forward another month, and to Bears Den hostel in Northern Virginia. Once again, we crossed paths with our friends and were able to pick up right from where we left off. I asked him what he thought of CS Lewis. He had two objections, one of which was simply tied to Lewis' old fashioned views on gender roles. By comparing it to scripture, I feel our friend could see logic if not beauty in the laws of order taught in scripture. His other objection was that there is no way that man can try to explain the complexity of God in words and therefore "Mere Christianity" cannot present all that it hopes to. He added that if he can't define thru-hiking for his friends at home then Lewis can't define Christianity. Our response was that, just because he can't define his thru-hiking experience doesn't mean that he isn't thru-hiking or that his experience is invalid. In the same way a relationship with Christ, as desirable as it is, does exist, is good, and can be experienced. From there the conversation trailed into other things.   The next morning our friends headed out ahead of us.

No doubt we'll meet them again. Until that time, we'll pray for them and when we do see them our conversation will pick up from where it left off.

That is one example and a fair picture of what trail ministry has been .  Please pray for us and those around us as we hope to continue engaging in open dialogue with those who are seeking spiritual answers along this trail.

-Redwing and Hopeful

Here are some specific requests for prayer that they have:

*For continued physical safety, and for extra perseverance and patience with the heat and the insects

*For safety and encouragement for other hikers to keep on going, many are struggling to stay on the trail-- be it injuries or financial problems or general discouragement

*For hiking friends who are reading the Bible or books on spirituality, that God would open their eyes to what is true

*For our own spiritual growth

*For discipline to pray often and effectively

*For the Holy Spirit to give us insight and sensitivity into others' lives, to lead us to encourage, listen, and ask good questions

*For God to lead us to be where He wants to use us... each day, each break, each night

*For God to use our online journal to encourage both those who know Christ and those who don't yet know Him

Craig and Suzy to Hike Vermont's 

Janae is currently attending Converse College in Spartanburg, SC. While planning her upcoming wedding, working several jobs, and planning for school, she found a few minutes to write of her experiences when her BCM came to Franklin, NC to volunteer with A.T. Servants as Trail Angels. She, along with her group, shined like the full moon reflecting the ‘Son’s’ rays.

Let me begin by explaining that I am not an outdoorsy girl, not in the least. I like my air conditioning and my comfy couch. I prefer a good book to a brisk walk any day. So spending my spring break on the Appalachian Trail was a giant leap out of my comfort zone. Little did I know how the experience would change me, and how God would use my group to minister to others... and others to minister to us.

Our first day on the trail was spent at Wayah Gap, where we sat for several hours without seeing a single hiker. We started packing our trail magic back into the truck, and I began to ask God why He had brought us here, if only to have wasted our time and not have helped or ministered to a single person. Ah, me of little faith. Just as we had packed up the last of our Little Debbies, a cluster of men came through the Gap. We frantically re-set our station and began to chat with the hikers. And as God would have it, the first two men, Sherlock and Circuit Rider, were legendary veteran thru-hikers who had been doing undercover trail ministry for years. It was amazing to see how God orchestrated the day. Many hikers who would have otherwise passed through the Gap without even a nod saw these two men they already knew and respected, so they stopped to talk with them and ended up talking to us as well. Even in the downtime when the stream of hikers dwindled, we had long talks with Sherlock and Circuit Rider, who gave us the encouragement and inspiration we needed to fuel our week on the trail.

Later in the week, God gave us the opportunity to house two hikers in the Association house where we were staying. They participated in our evening worship service and spent time talking, fellowshipping, and just having fun with our group. The situation was further proof that God had brought us there that week to bend us and shape us, to make us open and flexible to His moving and His plan. It was a week of learning to throw our hands in the air and say, "Okay, God, we're on Your schedule now. You show us what we need to do and where we need to be."

I didn't want to leave the AT at the end of that week. When I got back to the city, I immediately missed the incredible sense of community that permeates the trail. I missed the mountain breezes, the scent of trees, and the excitement of meeting and talking with new people. I actually ended up in tears because I missed the trail and wanted to go back. God not only used this experience to open me up spiritually, but He also broke my couch-potato tendencies! I recommend the Trail Angel experience to anyone and everyone who's waiting for God to do something amazing in their lives. Everything about it is a tremendous blessing.

A.T. Servants Gets a DVD Recorder

Often times, people don't realize the amount of behind the scenes work that it takes for A.T. Servants to be able do the ministry that God has called us to do.  We are blessed to have an incredible group on our board of directors that are dedicated to serving Christ and seeing hikers come to know Him as their personal savior.  We wanted to take the time to introduce and spotlight each of these individuals here.

Craig and Suzy Miles

Since the outset of Craig and Suzy Miles' marriage, they have been praying that God would use their time and talents for ministry. One morning prior to going to work, Craig went to church to pray. While praying, an article entitled "X-treme Hikers in China", in a missions magazine called The Commission, caught Craig's eye. This article was literally an answer to their prayers. Similar to the hiker missionaries in this article, they believe that they are called to be full-time missionaries on the Appalachian Trail.

Since that day, they have diligently worked on molding the vision that God gave to them--a ministry called A.T. Servants.

Rich Tuttle- Vice President

Rich Tuttle grew up in Chicago, Illinois.  He grew up in a Christian home.  At the age of 17, he committed his life to whatever God would have for him.  The following summer, he spent the summer involved in missions in Central America.  He then attended Moody Bible Institute and after graduation he went to Trinity College.  During this time he worked part time with Chicagoland Youth for Christ and then as a youth pastor at his home church.  After school, he went into career ministry as a youth pastor in the western suburbs of Chicago. As youth pastor, he led missions trips, Canadian boundary waters canoe trips, and many camping trips.  He remained minister at that church for 14 years.  In 1989, was called to serve as a Co-pastor at a church outside Atlanta.  In 1995, started Mountain East Community Church (MECC).  MECC is committed to reaching those who generally have more questions than answers about spiritual matters and life matters.  MECC is involved both globally through missions, and locally working with the Lilburn Cooperative Ministry which helps people in the city of Lilburn who need food and financial assistance and other organizations like Habitat for Humanity.  Rich brings years of pastoral experience to A.T. Servants.

Ford Ash—Secretary

Ford Ash Jr. has been in ministry for 9 years. He has pastored churches in Newnan and Dahlonega, Georgia.  He received his AA in Christian ministry from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and his Bachelor of Christian Ministry from International Seminary. Pastor Ash has been involved with addiction counseling for several years at New Hope in Gainesville Georgia, helping people to break the destructive patterns that control their lives. He is married to his wife Chris for 25 years with two children ages 19 and 17. He is involved in most sports including hiking, hunting, fishing, motorcycles, long-distance running and skydiving.  Ford brings his years of counseling experience to A.T. Servants.

Chris Ferraro—Treasurer

Chris Ferraro is a native of Gwinnett County Georgia and went to high school with Craig. He worked in the corporate environment for 15 years at Ceridian.  The LORD Jesus Christ called Chris to His saving Grace in the year 2000. Chris was baptized into His Kingdom on August 13 of that same year. Allowing God to continually mold him, Chris has continued to grow in my Faith and walk, through church associations and Godly men and women.

When Craig asked him to be involved in the vision that God had given him with A.T. Servants, Chris immediately stepped up to the challenged. He and his wife Lisa faithfully moved closer to the Appalachian Trail in the winter of 2005. He is currently working at Truett-McConnell College as the Director of Information Technology.  Chris brings business experience, dedication, and technological know-how to A.T. Servants.

Bill Miles

William D. Miles is a native of Baxley, Georgia.  He started his working life at the ripe age of 8 wiring houses for electricity.  For him, working with electricity or electronics was much better than working in the tobacco fields.  He was one of the few people in town that was able to work on televisions.  So, he started his own television repair business at the age of 13 and he bought his first car the same year!    During high school, Bill made enough money from his television repair business to pay for both college and another car.  He attended the University of Georgia and graduated with BBA in accounting.  He began his sales career in 1964 in Marietta, GA with Sears, Roebuck and Co. and then he moved to Panasonic Company in 1976 where he worked for 21 years in sales.  He retired from Panasonic in 1997.  Bill began his present career in real estate sales in the fall of 1997 with Coldwell Banker.  After having lived in the metro Atlanta area for over 20 years, he  moved back to his hometown of Baxley in 1999 where he has continued in real estate sales.   He has been married to Janice Miles since 1964.  They have two children and three grandchildren.  He brings wisdom and business experience to A.T. Servants.