New kind of Trail Magic

[rickb]

Here is a new twist on Trail Magic....

The purpose of A.T. Servants is to reach both thru-hikers and short-term hikers for Christ. Miles’ organization consists of dozens of volunteer “Trail Angels,” who minister to hikers by distributing Bibles, snacks, bottled water and first-aid at designated points along the way, usually where trail gaps and roads intersect.

Separately, “Trail Chaplains” -- like the Mileses and others -- actually accompany hikers along the trail, sharing their faith and winning over hikers via personal witnessing and a strong Christian example. Last year, the couple supervised 122 A.T. Servant volunteers and assisted almost 700 hikers

Taken from full article here: http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=24270

[little bear]

I think it sounds great as a Christian and a hiker I love seeing it.

[Jack Tarlin]

As a Christian and a hiker, I think that one's faith and spirituality is an intensely personal matter.

Setting a good example in one's life and helping others is admirable. Actively preaching and proselytizing others while on the Trail is less so.

[Blissful]

As a Christian and a hiker, I think that one's faith and spirituality is an intensely personal matter.

Setting a good example in one's life and helping others is admirable. Actively preaching and proselytizing others while on the Trail is less so.

There is absolutely no sense preaching to anyone who doesn't have an ear to hear. Forget it. I know, I was one of them once. I told people to bug off. But when I was ready, I was glad someone preached. And not because they offered me food. They offered me the real food called truth. And it set me free.

Certainly there are those who are wandering souls as well as wandering on foot. To keep your lips shut when there is a listening ear to me is less than admirable.

[Boat Drinks]

As a Christian and a hiker, I think that one's faith and spirituality is an intensely personal matter.

Setting a good example in one's life and helping others is admirable. Actively preaching and proselytizing others while on the Trail is less so.

Absolutely. I can think of few other things that would sour my Spiritual Journey on the Trail than to have anyone of ANY religion try to preach to me without being ASKED first!!! And if this is a prerequisite to getting food or water or first aid from these folks, it should be said so up front.

When the Student is Ready, the Teacher will appear, not the other way around. It doesn't work the other way. Most born agains I am around daily, are all holier then thou types, less tolerant then most folks I know, and will tell you you're going to burn because you don't follow the Bible word for word!!! Anyone read Luke 19:27??? These people scare me to death!

[mweinstone]

as the resedent jesus freak, im against all prostelatizing and hate everybody who does it. they suck saten.

[Frosty]

... proselytizing ...

What an awesome word!

[Tinker]

As a Christian and a hiker, I think that one's faith and spirituality is an intensely personal matter.

Setting a good example in one's life and helping others is admirable. Actively preaching and proselytizing others while on the Trail is less so.

Jack, Jesus ticked off a lot of people, especially those who knew what they should be doing and weren't.

There is wisdom in every walk of life as to when too much is too much. When someone isn't interested in the Gospel, I can revert to being "just" a hiker, if they so desire, but, usually, once the subject of one's spirituality is opened, especially if the words "pure" and "holy" come up, I find myself alone more often than not. (Of course, I'm not ever alone, really ).

[Jack Tarlin]

Tinker:

I agree with you, but I think that bringing folks into your home, feeding them, and THEN starting to preach to them is rude. It smacks of "false pretenses."
Would these folks be bringing all these folks home and feeding them WITHOUT the religious lecture? I.e., would they be dispensing the same sort of magic and kindness to hikers if they did NOT have a hidden agenda as regards religion?

No, I don't think they would, which is why I think it's fair to say that there are "false pretenses" involved.

If you wanna preach to people, be a preacher.

If you wanna be a Trail Angel, be a Trail Angel.

If you wanna entertain and feed hikers in your home, by all means do so.

But to entice people into your living room and to turn them into a captive audience that has to hear your opinion on the state of their soul and their chances of eventual salvation.....well that's just rude.

[Blissful]

For me, I look at it this way...

WWJD...?

Jesus just told simple stories when He ate or did things with others. He left the spiritual "meat" of the stories to those who really wanted to know and were interested.

Sounds good to me.

[Jack Tarlin]

Put like that, it sounds good to me, too.

[Mags]

For me, I look at it this way...

WWJD...?

WWJDD?

http://www.redsoxdiehard.com/features/pics/wwjdd.jpg

(More like Judas now-a-days, though..sigh..)

[Flash Hand]

As a Christian and a hiker, I think that one's faith and spirituality is an intensely personal matter.

Setting a good example in one's life and helping others is admirable. Actively preaching and proselytizing others while on the Trail is less so.

well said.

I got enough religion groups knocking on my door here in Phoenix. I don't want any more door knocking on the trail.

I am christian and I have 100% belief in Creator and the problem is that, people have different understandings and perspectives.


Do's and Don'ts

Do...

Offer free meals and drinks at any places, including churches.
Offer free bible studies or gatherings at any places, including churches.
Tell them where they will be taken to.


Don't...

Bait and switch in purpose to preach
Preach to everyone on trail.
Leave bibles and your religion materials on trail or at trail shelters. *I believe in Christian but just it's turn off that you persuade others to believe in your group, not others* *Also, it violate leave no trace policy*


Other than that, preach friendly. Don't come over and knock on their doors.

Happy Hiking

Flash Hand

[MOWGLI]

Anyone hike with these folks this year?

[rickb]

Anyone hike with these folks this year?

You can visit here to learn more: http://www.atservants.org/trailchaplains.htm

[MOWGLI]

You can visit here to learn more: http://www.atservants.org/trailchaplains.htm

I read the article and have my opinions about prosthelyzing on the AT, but I'd be curious to hear from folks who met them in-person.

[rickb]

One of thier web pages I found intersting was this one:

Many hikers have expressed that they found a newfound faith in humanity due to gratuity that they received from Trail Angels while on the trail. While there is nothing wrong with this, with the assistance of churches as Trail Angels, maybe hikers would have a newfound faith in the church and possibly even Christ. This makes the task of the church on the AT extremely important.

Trail Angels serve the physical needs of hikers by creating kiosks where the road crosses the AT. They give hikers food, bottled water, books, and offer rides to town. Through a network of Trail Angels along the entire AT, we hope that hikers will begin to rely on the church more.

From: http://www.atservants.org/trailangels.htm

[eric_plano]

Is it magic when their are strings attached? Not trying to stir the hornet's nest here...but I have been accosted by agreesive 'witnessers' and it is not fun.

I have no problem with those who accept that I don't want to discuss it, but those individuals seem to be the minority in my experience.

[Lone Wolf]

I wonder how they would deal with being told to "get ***ed"? I loathe aholes, especially born-agains, who preach. Actually they just give a blank stare and a smile. Pathetic. Can JC really turn water into wine? I want that brotha to walk wit my azz!

[Nokia]

Anyone hike with these folks this year?

I hiked with them and they are great people. They help organize the medical services next to the church at trail days. I'm not christian, but enjoyed serveral good conversations (not sermons) with them. The only problem I have with handing literature to hikers is that they usually end up taking up space in the shelters.