October 10-12, 2003 at Red River Gorge, KY
Our God
is awesome! Let’s give glory to Him for
orchestrating things in an amazing way.
As previously reported, we discovered the Red River Gorge Climbing
Coalition was hosting a big event (Rocktoberfest) the same
weekend. God provided favor by giving
us an opportunity to be on the event’s agenda.
Over
the weekend, sixteen Solid Rockers gathered together. On Saturday, we had a brief teaching time by Doug Englekirk and
then headed out to get to know each other by climbing at the Long Wall. After sending a few routes, we went to the
evening program of Rocktoberfest. Solid
Rock was able to have a vendor’s booth at the program. We did a Gear Giveaway and used the Climbing Community Religious Survey Entry
Form. Nearly 80 entered the drawing with over 50
giving us their contact information for sending them the Tobin Sorenson
Tract. Almost everyone from Solid Rock
collected entries. They did a great job
of interacting with the climbers. Also, they donated enough funds over the
weekend to cover the costs of the rope, shoes, draws, chalk bag, and locking
biner that were given away! Wow! But
God wasn’t finished yet!
Later that night, just before the showing of
the bouldering film, Pilgrimage, the MC announced to the 200+
attending that we were doing a climber’s breakfast in the morning and thanked
us for our part in the event. Great
witness to all attending the movie!
Sunday morning, we began the day very early with a devotional on the “beautiful feet” (Romans 10:13-15) we have as we bring the gospel to the needy. Then we got ready to feed the masses camping at Miguel’s Pizza/Climber’s Campground. As the climbers went through the line, they heard Solid Rock was paying for the supplies and that their donation was going to the Red River Gorge Climbing Coalition’s land purchase. Eyes came wide open as they saw us as Christians giving back to the climbing community. Thanks to all who have donated to Solid Rock this year; we were able to buy the supplies for $150 and raise $420 for the RRGCC. Thanks to the Lord for a very tangible way to show his love! But God wasn’t finished yet!
Sunday afternoon, some of us who weren’t leaving yet had an opportunity to climb together. I was wearing my Solid Rock T-shirt, and Doug was climbing hard. Four local hardman soon become very interested in why we were there and what we believed. In the following couple of hours, we had many great witnessing opportunities as the conversion naturally flowed. At times, we had to bite our tongues because of the outright hedonistic attitudes expressed. But the Lord was gracious, and I believe we sowed some seeds of the gospel into them! Praises to the Lord, but He isn’t finished yet!
On my
first day there, I ran into a climbing acquaintance from Bend, my
hometown. I knew he was on an extended
road trip. He is a better climber than
I, and I had never spent much time with him.
For several years now, I have been praying for him. Then, in a very long story that could only
be explained by God’s sovereign hand at work, we ended up climbing together after
the weekend. He is going through a
tough season of his life, and he suddenly wanted to talk about Christianity and
if it really works. We had a wonderful
day of climbing together. But more
importantly, I was able to share the gospel with him. At the end of the day, it was time for me to head to the
Christian Wilderness Leadership Coalition Conference (they paid for my airline
ticket because I was the speaker for their event). I shared with my friend (now he was) that I have and will be
praying for him. Also, I was able to
give him the Tobin and Grade VII tracts.
Please pray him into the Kingdom because God isn't finished yet.
Wow! Our God is awesome!!!!
Calvin Landrus,
National Director