I want to share a chapter in my life that has truly been a turning point and why the ministry of New Wilderness Adventures has played a crucial role in this new chapter.

I begin with a time about 6 years ago. I had been in a big argument with my wife on my way out to work. I felt as though my life was spinning out of control and I drove away from the house that morning and I just wanted to die, I almost crashed my van into the bridge over the Broad river. As my van reached 90 or better headed toward the bridge something stopped me and I began to cry out to God. I cried out “Father I need you to show up in my life, where are you?” I went on to my first visit as a home health nurse to a home in Forest City. I thought to myself, why am I doing this. I will not be able to help these people in the state I am in. I did not know these people at all and yet toward the end of the visit I felt something urging me to ask these people for help. The pt,s daughter said she had a friend that counseled with couples. I called this person and she said she would be glad to talk with my wife and put me in touch with a man named Mark Folk.

When Mark and I met one of the first things he asked me was how did I think God saw me. I always assumed that I was only a sinner, always asking for God’s forgiveness and feeling as though I was always letting him down and that I was just a bad little boy. I was not in a actual prison cell with bars and guards that I could see but something much worse. I was a prisoner to fear, doubt, confusion and hopelessness, condemnation and guilt. Mark ask me to come to a meeting called “a band of brothers’”. I agreed to come, I was desperately wanting someone to tell me I was not a bad boy. Those men did more that just pat me on the back and tell me they would pray for me, no one said that if I had more faith I would be alright.No one condemned me or even tried to fix things by giving me a list of tips or techniques.

What they did do was come along side and fought for me. They walked through the battles and struggles that laid before me and more than that they help me to hear from the father in ways I never had. Mark sat and listened to me one day as I described the pain I was going through. He walked back in time with me to when I was 8 yrs old, a incident with my father had left me very hurt and wounded. I remember being punched in the stomach as he made his was down the hall to my room. My room was a mess and he was so mad that he broke everything in my room. I sat in the floor crying and I wet my pants I was so scared, I thought I was next. I was left sitting their for sometime , no one came and said I’m sorry, this was not your fault or help me clean up my room and fix the things that were broken, we never talked about it, I was left to come to my on conclusions about what had happened that day. Then Mark ask me” now what did that 8yr old boy conclude.” I concluded that I was a bad little boy and I deserved this because I was so bad. What makes this wound all the more deadly is that is was delivered by the most important person in a little boys life his father. I did not really realize it then but from then on I saw a father as someone to be afraid of , someone who would only punish you or scream at you. This agreement I had made about myself colored and clouded every aspect of my life from then on including my thoughts about God( my Heavenly father). Mark help me to see that it was all a lie by the enemy Satan to destroy my heart and crush my spirit at a young age. He knew that if I hated who I was I would never be who God had called me to be. Jesus told us to love the Lord thy God with all thy soul and all thy might and to love others as yourself. Satan had covered the bases their. I not only was afraid of God as a father but I hated myself and therefore could not love others.

It has been a long journey to this point but I have forgiven my dad and God had healed that wound in my life by showing me the truth. The truth that I am a dearly beloved son, and my heart was a treasure and that is why he sent his son was to ransom restore and heal my heart. I am not that bad little boy anymore. I am a man, a man loved and treasured by God my true Heavenly Father.

I never knew that was how God truly saw me and that through the death of his Son he was actually pursuing me (my heart). Isaiah 61 vs. 1-5. Jesus tells us why he came, It was so much more than I came to get you in line and save you, he said I came to set you free and heal your broken heart and give you the good news that through is death, resurrection and ascension what was lost has now been restored.

This is why I am so very passionate about the work of New Wilderness Adventures, Mark will tell you it is not about the ministry at all, but about stories just like mine of men having their hearts healed and restored by God so they might really live. Live in their strength given to them by God to fight for the hearts of others as Jesus did. To fight for their wives and children and be the spiritual leader of his home.

This is one of the main ways God has used New Wilderness adventures to reach men for Christ through stories and the outdoors. Remember we all have a story to tell and our stories continue on today. We would love to here your story.

The core values of the ministry is to pray about everything, walk with the thirsty, consensus through a community of leaders that are committed to irreversible change. We craw, walk and them run. Humility, Love and forgiveness.

May God bless you and may my story bring glory and honor to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

Chris Cartee (Wallace)