PRESS RELEASE – July 2011

A CHAPTER ENDS

The nonprofit ministry of Wilderness Trek Christian Camp, Inc. (‘Trek’) has provided an opportunity for people to experience a deeper relationship with Christ and with one another in God’s marvelous creation for over thirty years, but our ability to provide such an opportunity will soon end unless we all come together and take immediate action. Trek, as a nonprofit ministry, has also provided many with the opportunity to take ownership in its work through service to others in roles such as a crew leader, friend on the trail, group coordinator, volunteer, financial contributor, staff member, or guide. Trek’s ministry has been the passion and love of countless caring people through the years, and Trek’s future depends on the willingness of those individuals to offer their time and resources to chart Trek’s future.

In 2006, Trek’s Board of Trustees petitioned the input of many who hold dear the ministry of Trek (‘Trek Stakeholders’) as a part of a vision-planning process. The message was clear, work towards establishing a sustainable outdoor ministry with the proper oversight and accountability that is not dependent on any one organization or person. Over the past five years, the Trustees have worked and individually contributed resources to accomplish this vision for Trek, and although the framework is firmly in place, the necessary resources (volunteer support and financial support) have not become available to fully achieve this vision. The Board has been faced with many tough decisions through these past few years but none more difficult than those faced recently.

The nonprofit ministry of Trek has utilized private contractors to conduct its ministry throughout Trek’s history. This ‘contractor model’ has served Trek well through the years but recent developments and legal concerns have revealed fundamental problems with this approach to operating a nonprofit ministry. Accordingly, after much prayer and contemplation, the Trek Board has come to the decision that Trek’s current organizational structure is fundamentally flawed and has prohibited Trek from fully achieving the vision that has been clearly communicated by Trek Stakeholders through the years. As such, the Board has determined that in 2012 Trek will cease providing its ministry through its current contractor and valued partner of over twenty years, Wilderness Expeditions, Inc.

Additionally, without U.S. Forest Service permits and the necessary resources to conduct the traditional six-day Trek program, the Board has determined that in 2012, Trek will not be offering the six-day ‘Trek’ or any other types of outdoor ministry programs. The Board is fully confident that Wilderness Expeditions is capable of meeting the need for an outdoor ministry experience and, if you would like to plan a ‘Trek’ in 2012, the Board would encourage you to directly contact Wilderness Expeditions to plan your trip independently with them.

Regretfully, without the offering of Trek’s traditional program in 2012 and without significant fundraising, Trek will not have sufficient funding to maintain a full time salaried position after July of this year. To be very clear, Trek is not insolvent nor is it going bankrupt, but after fulfilling its commitments for the 2011 season, funds will be limited. Recognizing that financial resources may not become available the Board has encouraged and instructed its Executive Director, Shawn Ballard, to seek other employment during this time of uncertainty. Shawn and his family have made great sacrifices and have gone above and beyond what the Board has asked of them during their years of service to Trek. The Board in no way desires to see Shawn step down, but the Board cannot and will not ask him to continue his service during such uncertain times. Shawn will continue to facilitate Trek operations this summer, as in the past, but will be actively seeking new employment over the coming months, and the Board fully blesses and supports his efforts in doing so.

A NEW CHAPTER?

‘…watch- and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.’ Habakkuk 1:5

Vision (‘Objectives’):

As a result of countless conversations over the years with Trek Stakeholders and based on the Board’s vision planning through the years, we are confident that the Lord has a great vision for Trek that can be summed up by the following six objectives:

1) Independent Nonprofit Ministry - Create an independent and self supported outdoor ministry with proper oversight and accountability. This would require:

a) a full time executive director and support staff;

b) office space or facilities; and

c) land or access to land to provide outdoor programs.

2) Wilderness Trek Program - Continue to provide a Christian-based outdoor program, which provides an opportunity for teens to develop a closer relationship with Christ and one another, through a challenging experience in God’s creation.

3) Scholarship Trek Programs - Provide Christian outdoor programs, geared towards less fortunate teens, with the goal of Trek providing full scholarships for at least 50% of the teens participating in such programs. This would require the development of strong partnerships with after school programs, urban development programs and other ministries geared towards the less fortunate.

4) Right of Passage Program - Provide a series of Christian outdoor programs for fathers and sons or mentors and young men focused on teaching what it means to be God’s man in relationships, service to the Church, play, and work.

5) Mission and Service Training - Provide Christian outdoor programs geared towards building character, leadership development and team building to prepare participants for service to God locally, nationally and globally.

6) A Place to Serve - Provide an opportunity for those passionate about the work of Trek a place to serve and participate in the work by creating an organizational culture that would allow ‘Trekkers’ for generations to come together and serve together in God’s creation.

This vision for Trek has been discussed for many years around many campfires, Board meetings and informal conversations among the Trek Stakeholders. However, in reality the resources have never become available to allow Trek to achieve such a vision, and the Board is now faced with questioning the need for the nonprofit ministry, Wilderness Trek Christian Camp, Inc., and the Board may soon consider the dissolution of the organization and elimination of the Board unless certain ‘Milestones’ can be accomplished.

Milestones:

1) By December 31, 2011:

a) Have in place passionate volunteers to serve as Trek’s ‘Volunteer Staff’ on committees established to address the following four areas: (1) Operations; (2) Finance; (3) Fund-raising; and (4) Stakeholder Relations.

b) Recruit and orient five new Trustees who are passionate about Trek and itsvision to provide stewardship and leadership in charting Trek’s future.

c) Raise $100,000 in financial support to provide for the salary of an executive director, administrative expenses and other expenses necessary for the executive director to begin work towards accomplishing Trek’s vision.

2) By December 31, 2012 raise an additional $200,000 in financial support to provide for the salary of an executive director, a staff position, a support staff position, and other expenses necessary to operate at least one outdoor program in the summer of 2013 that is consistent with Trek’s vision.

3) On June 1, 2013, launch a $ 1 million, two-year campaign to establish an endowment for outdoor program scholarships.

4) By December 31, 2013, raise an additional $275,000 in financial support to provide for the salary of an executive director, a staff position, a support staff position, adequate office space, other expenses necessary to operate at least two outdoor programs in the summer of 2014 and other expenses necessary to carry out the vision of Trek.

5) By June 30, 2015, have $1 million endowment funded for outdoor program scholarships.

6) By July 1, 2015, launch a three-year fundraising campaign, based on determined needs, to provide access to or the land and facility resources necessary to carry out Trek programs and accomplish Trek’s vision.

God has blessed many of us through Trek and has allowed many of us the honor of serving in this work. However, if the resources do not become available, the Board believes such would affirm the need to dissolve the nonprofit ministry of Wilderness Trek Christian Camp Inc. Such a decision will not be easy, but the Board is certain that God’s plan for ‘Trek’ is bigger than any single organization, with this knowledge there is peace and the Board is prepared to make such a decision.

With all of that said, Trek is in need of your unique talents and gifts to achieve the Objectives and Milestones outlined above; regardless of your financial ability, you need only have a passion for the work! Trek is in need of people who can tell the Trek story and who can be advocates for Trek’s vision when talking to potential donors or when developing new partnerships or programs as ‘Volunteer Staff’ for Trek. If you are passionate about Trek and would like to volunteer, the Board would welcome your help and would greatly encourage you to take ownership in this work. If you have any questions or would like to know how you can take ownership in Trek, please contact any of the following Trustees:

MIKE AVERY, Cell 713-823-5807, mavery@mcoc.org

JOHN DECECCO, Cell 512-970-0102, jdappraisal@gmail.com

DEWANNA FAULKNER, Cell 817-366-7685, dewfaulkner@yahoo.com

JAY MAHLE, Cell 832-797-5319, jaymahle@gmail.com

KALUM TUGGLE, Cell 281-309-8399, kalumtuggle@hotmail.com

RICH VAN EATON, Cell 719-216-6059, vaneaton@mac.com

JOHN T. WRIGHT, Cell 512-619-0221, johntwright@gmail.com