The Trail Hike Ministry is a dynamic and Holy Spirit filled encounter between men and their Lord. Read these testimonies of individual men who have been transformed during a trail hike into a Band of Brothers on a mission where no man is left behind.
Testimony from "D"
The trail hike stirred up a bit of nostalgia for me . Not since college days (37 years ago) had I felt such a sense of camaraderie and shared purpose with a group of men. There is, however, a sharp contrast between the games that young men play and our recent hike. Unlike an athletic competition where the goals are to post stellar individual performances in hopes of a team "win", a challenging hike like ours focuses more on making sure that every team member "finishes”. No time for "posing”.
Conspicuously absent for 4 days on the trail were ego and that pervasive sense of urgency that can sometimes steal a man's soul, regardless of his age or station in life. Time in the woods provides an uninterrupted opportunity to connect with other men and, more importantly, to God. It was a time to relax. A time to meditate. and a time for 20+ year-olds and 50+year-olds to celebrate their strengths and weaknesses tempered with an understanding that, just as God's love is eternal, our "search" for answers also never ends. And that's okay!
The anxiousness of youth and the cynicism of age were temporarily suspended as the hike progressed. "They" became confident and relaxed. "We" were young and hopeful again. God is good.
Testimony from "H"
The day before our trip I severely injured my hand and considered dropping our of the hike. But, I thought of the warning from our hike leaders about the enemy not wanting us to go on this trip and that he would try different tactics to take us out. I had invested my heart and mind in this weekend so much that my first words after injuring my hand were prayer that my hand wasn’t broken so that I could still go. Was I nuts? My prayer was answered and I went on the trip unafraid of physical limitations and danger. During the hike I began to feel that this setback was really an asset because it prepped me to be in a receiving mode not just for my hike brothers' kindness, but also for the Holy Spirit to step into my life in a way that got my attention.
On Friday night all three hike teams rendezvoused and camped together. Sixty eight brothers coming together in the middle of the 
mountains in fellowship and brotherhood – it was incredible. That night during our praise and worship time I took the opportunity to receive prayer for a spirit of fear that I carried as a burden. My fear has been that I could die before I ever truly serve the Lord as he wants me to do for Him. Prior to this weekend, I had only been physically prayed over once before at the Men’s Retreat earlier this year. At the Retreat, perhaps my thoughts were more in my head than my heart because I felt nothing when prayed for. This second time with my hike brothers my heart was now completely open to the Lord and I witnessed the power of the Holy Spirit working through me. I was surrounded by men praying over me from all sides. I closed my eyes, and opened my heart to receive an incredible encounter with my Lord.
I am so thankful to step out of the fear that paralyzed me with the enemy’s hold over my mind and heart telling me I am a weak, insubstantial person that could not make a difference in someone else’s life. I feel that now I am ready to be a conduit for the Holy Spirit in ministering to other men just like my hike brothers who had the courage and love in their hearts to step forward on my behalf in prayer to connect me with my Heavenly Father.
Testimony from "S"
Leading up to this trip, I felt it was something that I needed much more than I actually wanted. I never went to college. I never bonded very tightly with the guys in school in any permanent way. I felt I was better off keeping a distance. And then along came Kurtz bearing the message he was called to deliver. I fought it for a couple of years saying "It just wasn't for me". I finally put my name on the dotted line a couple of months ago because I felt that I couldn't keep saying "No, I'm just too busy". I rationalized my choice by telling myself "The exercise will do me good".
My perspective quickly changed early Thursday morning. As we embarked on a journey of change and self-exploration, I began to realize just how much what we were about to do was very possibly the missing link in my life. I truly did not realize what was in store. What was in store felt like the equivalent of mainlining God straight into my veins. What was in store was the discovery of a camaraderie that I had only faked before. What was in store was an incredible relationship with a band of hike brothers, with our leaders at the helm and God whispering in their ears. This hike has changed my life.
Seeing men stripped of the emotional trappings of modern American society and bearing their very hearts and souls before me was a powerful experience. . It was real. Very real. My hike brothers actually mean something to me now. I was there at their awakening and their revelation. And they were there at mine. I am a changed man and pray that my brothers all feel what I feel. I feel taller, braver, wiser, empowered, called, and much closer to God. And much closer to my hike brothers in Christ. Let us be the men we were born to be. The ones God himself built us to become. Let us be those men from this point on
Testimony from "B"
This was my first hike. I've been asked numerous times to go but always had the right excuse at the right time. I knew that the excuses were hollow, conveniently placed with the right emphasis on job and responsibilities so nobody would suspect me of what the real issue was - FEAR. I now know and admit that I am/was the classic 'poser', posing as if I have it all together but dying on the inside. I was afraid of failing physically since I heard stories about how difficult the hikes are. I was afraid of the fellowship they talked about since I've never had any close guy friends and did'nt think myself worthy of developing those relationships now. And I was afraid of opening my heart up to not only a group of guys I don't really know but also opening it up for me to look at since I knew I wouldn't like what I'd see.
For me my epiphany came Saturday morning when we heard a teaching about being adopted sons of the Living God, our Abba Father. My relationship with my now deceased dad was always strained, never comfortable. We didn't have the close relationship I had always wanted and envied when I saw it in other fathers and their sons. We had five sets of fathers and sons on this hike which I thought was remarkable. We had two sets of fathers and sons on my team and watching them interact throughout the weekend was both a joy but also a reminder of what my dad and I never had.
After the teaching Saturday morning Kurtz had the five sets of fathers and their sons gather in the center and the full team gathered around them and prayed for them. During that prayer I felt the Lord touch my heart in a way I've never felt before. I felt Him telling me that He was there with me, my Heavenly Dad, and that the team was praying for the two of us as well as the other fathers and sons. Throughout that day I thought about my dad a lot. The Lord showed me places where my dad did affirm me, in his own way, and I was thankful for that. The Lord also showed me places in my heart where I needed to forgive me dad, and I did that too. Most important, the Lord made it very clear to me that I am His son, He loves me very much and He believes in me. He walked alongside of me on the trail that day, along with my hike brothers. We all have the same Father, and thanks to my new family of brothers I will never be the same again, Praise God, my Father!
Testimony from "J"
I came to the mountains searching for God to stir something in me, and to strengthen any weakness in my character. On our last day of full hiking we spent a thirty minute period of hiking in silence, each of us taking time to ask the Lord what He thought of us. I didn't get an answer before that time was finished, but I did not think much of it at the time. As we were sitting around the fire that night we were sharing stories about our lives and the fellowship with my hike brothers was strong. I walked away for a minute and while I was away I asked God if He was finally going to tell me what He thought of me. I wanted to actually have something change in me. Still no answer.
We finished off the night and went to bed. That night the temperature was freezing. I was miserable that night because I was so 
cold. I couldn't get my sleeping bag to stay closed, and our tent was partially opened so the cold wind kept me awake most of the night. I finally was so cold I decided to get up and try to build a fire. Since I didn’t have any matches I decided to try and build a fire just by using leftover embers from the now burned out fire from last night. The morning dew had fallen so the wood and leaves were damp. I started building a small tee pee with twigs and leaves and tried to blow the leftover embers into flames. I worked at it for about 25 minutes and finally I got the wood to catch. I had confidence that I could get it to work. Faith maybe? It was like a test to me, to see if I could do it without someone holding my hand.
Before long I had a huge roaring fire. God then answered me.
He showed me what he thought of me as a man by getting me to build a fire out of nothing. As I was building the fire, He told me that even though I sometimes feel like I’m only a tiny ember, He can build a fire with that. Sometimes I feel burnt out and barely hanging on, my resources depleted. The only things I have to burn are damp and difficult to ignite. However, God wants to make them into a fire again. Not only will he make the fire grow, but He will gather wood from places I have never gathered from before, and will even use branches I never thought to use as fire wood.
God gave me more than just a time of fellowship... He answered my question.