Tips for Effective Winter Wilderness Ministry | Day Trips

by joel vermillion | Experiential Teaching & Facilitation, Facilitation, Outdoor Recreation, Planning, Snowboarding

This week’s post is from Joel Vermillion, Director of Wilderness Ministry Institute.

I love winter. I love snow and skiing, and so many of the unique attributes of God’s creation we can experience in winter. Sometimes it is overlooked as a context for ministry, or we think mainly in terms of ski-retreats. While renting a lodge and getting a group out skiing at a resort can be great, here are a few tips to help you take your winter-based wilderness ministry to the next level.

Winter? Start with a Day Trip

If you lack confidence in your winter wilderness backcountry skills, consider starting with a day trip. Many winter areas have snow-shoe or cross country ski rentals, which can be a great first step for experiencing God’s creation and sharing with youth in a winter setting.

Plan in Advance for Winter Day Trips

Know the weather forecast and be prepared.
Let others know your route, and expected return times.
Bring a stove, fuel, sleeping bag and pad, and other emergency gear in case something happens and your trip is extended or you have a medical emergency.
Read up on both hypothermia and frost-bite, and be pro-active in prevention.
Know your route, and consider doing a “practice” trip with a few good friends first so you are familiar with what the terrain looks like in winter conditions.
Prepare good questions, and potential “teachable moments” and have them ready!

Prepare for Smaller Windows of Opportunity

Because people in your group might be cold and out of their comfort zone, I’ve found it most effective to have short, concise teachable moments with a clear Biblical connection, and a question or two for further contemplation. Your window of opportunity for discussions and Biblical content in wintertime might be more condensed than other times of the year.

Take a look at Biblical passages that use winter themes. Snow is an obvious example, and there are several ways this biblical metaphor can become poignant lessons on your winter trips. A few of the passages include; Isaiah 1:18, Psalm 51:6-7, Mark 9:2-4 & Proverbs 25:11-13.

Don’t Pass Up on Any Opportunity

While this blog is focused more on backcountry pursuits, don’t shy away from ski days at resorts. I’ve often taken young people for ski days and found it to be a great way to build relationships and have meaningful conversations on the drive to and from the resort, and on the lifts between runs. Sometimes I’ve invited a few youth from our community to go skiing, and it has been a great way to build relationships with them and share the Gospel.

The main point here is to encourage you to be creative and explore ways you can use wilderness as a tool for ministry in the winter. This season is often overlooked due to lack of experience or ideas. It’s an amazing time to be in God’s creation, and presents a completely different landscape than summer, autumn or spring. So pack your thermos of hot chocolate and go for it!

Application

What other passages or themes from scripture do you think of that can become powerful teaching examples?
What teachable moments have you used before in wintertime?

Please share in the comments below.