It’s official!
Seeds Wilderness Therapy has registered in the state of Colorado, received our IRS EIN, conducted our first board meeting, scheduled a wilderness encounter for this summer and opened a bank account with $38!
Wait, why only $38 you may ask? Let me tell you the story…
A few years ago a friend pulled me aside and told me that she felt God was leading her to give some money to starting Seeds.
I was really excited!
She handed me half an envelope marked “repairs.” Looking inside, I found a grand total of $38…
At first, I thought, “How can I start a major ministry with 38 bucks!?” Then it hit me; this is probably all the money my missionary friend had!
Nonetheless, I tucked it in a small pocket in my Bible for safe keeping.
It has now been six years since I began praying for Seeds! At different times over the years, I experienced doubts of whether I should still start Seeds Wilderness Therapy:
- Was God ever going to open the right doors for Seeds Wilderness Therapy?
- Would Seeds actually bring peace to our families?
- Am I a fool just wasting my time with pipe dreams?
When these thoughts of doubt came in I would always search my Bible for help. I would then find the $38 dollars that my friend gave me.
“If God led my friend to donate to a ministry that hasn’t formed yet, who am I to doubt starting it?”
I quickly found strength in the thought that if God was placing Seeds on the heart of my friend, who had no money, it is probable that this same God placed Seeds on my heart!
| It turns out that these six years of praying and dreaming are not fruitless! In the last six months, Seeds has gained so much traction and movement! In the last update I asked you to be praying with us for favor with the Forest Service in Montrose, Colorado. We have not been given a permit yet but it seems apparent to both our business director, Dwight, and I that God is doing significant work for Seeds in Montrose! During our prayer retreat, people were overjoyed and welcoming to a faith-based wilderness therapy program everywhere we went! “What can we do to help you get started?” one camp asked us, excitedly. There is still a long way to go, but God is on the move! |
Sights from the prayer retreat to the Uncompahgre National Forest in Montrose CO (Dean & Dwight)
IPrayer is not just opening doors in Montrose.
There have been so many blessings over the last six months!
- We just partnered with a Ph.D. level therapist who will serve as the clinical director for Seeds!!!
- We are currently working on our 501c3 status.
- We are only a couple of weeks away from launching our first website.
- We are currently accepting applications for our 11-day wilderness encounter for this summer.
When I think about our first $38, I love that the envelope says “repairs.”
I wonder how many teenagers will be “repaired” by a touch of the Holy Spirit as seeds of hope are planted in their hearts?
It's official! Seeds even has its own bank card!
God is on the move indeed!
All of this momentum pushes toward a “trial run” this June.
Seeds has partnered with another outfitter, Journey Quest, to launch “Seeds Wilderness Encounter.” Journey Quest will provide the backcountry guiding, permits, and logistics for an 11-day excursion culminating in a family rafting trip.
Seeds will donate the counseling and spiritual development to make this a transformational wilderness experience for eight families this summer!
As you can imagine our $38 is not going to last very long with this flurry of activity and start-up expenses.
Would you consider matching that first contribution of $38?
This year alone we will need:
- Truck rental in June – $500
- Facility rental as a base this summer – $2,000
- Student scholarships – $3,000
- Website development – $500
- A small stipend for our four field staff and clinical director in June – $4,000
Here are 3 options to partner with us financially:
- A one time gift of $38 – Yes I’d like to match
- A monthly gift of $38 – Yes I’d like to match
- Whatever the Lord puts on your heart – Donate
The love of my life once said,
“Nothing happens but by the Holy Spirit and by prayer!”
As we remember the families we will serve, we covet your prayers! Thank you so much for praying for all of us at Seeds Wilderness Therapy!
In Christ,
Dean