FISHERS OF MEN RETREAT 2005

The plane’s engine began to roar as the pilot pushed the throttle forward. With only a slight breeze there was very little chop to the water in the Ontario Canada lake system. Thus the Beaver’s pontoons easily glided to the surface and then went from skimming the ripples to only casting its shadows, as the aircraft picked up speed. The plane climbed and banked through the channel between the islands. As the pilot straightened the air taxi to a level path heading toward the coves end, the lodge, cabins and docks came into view. Standing on the dock waving to the pilot and myself were a group of people I both love and respect very much. The reason, because of their commitment to serve Jesus Christ and that was happening right there at Rushing Wind Retreat Center.

  In fact two lives had changed that morning as it was my time to speak before I had to rush off to hop on the Beaver which had arrived to fly me back to civilization. A grandfather from Milwaukee, Wisconsin had sold his fishing boat to pay for his two grandsons and himself to attend a The Fishers Of Men Retreat. I learned the news that night in my hotel room at International Falls, Minnesota during a phone conversation with Arnie Wolf who together with his wife. Dee own Rushing Wind. Both those young men had prayed to receive Christ as Savior and publicly confessed their decisions as well. I could only praise God as what we had been praying for had occurred. This is why Rushing Wind Retreat Center exists, to reconcile people to the Creator. It is outdoor ministry in action, which is combining Romans 1:20 “what has been made” and Ephesians 2:10 “God’s workmanship” together, thus giving a double dose of God’s presence.

  That Phone call caused reflection back to that morning and viewing those standing and waving as the float plane I was in sailed past. It drew my memory to what I’d been told occurred twenty years before on the Canadian chain of lakes, at that very location. Back then however, it was a very different looking place. Arnie Wolf had been sent by his pastor to the far northern water way with a group of men from his church. He had been commissioned to head the men’s fishing retreat. But Arnie was sure after he stepped off the aircraft that God’s voice spoke to his heart, telling him, “one day you will own this place.” After ten years the Wolf’s were offered part ownership in the retreat center which, they believed was a “God Thing.” Change was happening to the facilities appearance as well. The nickel mine built in the fifties started a transformation from a work camp to a modern-day outfitting camp. Remodeling from the docks, cabins, lodge and walkways was making the Rushing Wind an up to date destination in the wilds of Canada. In fact despite the remote location on Lake Populus, the idea and goal was to make the center handicapped accessible.

At the end of the second ten years, the Creator’s message to Arnie Wolf there on the dock of the retreat center came true when the other partner asked if he could give up his half of the facility. Did Arnie and Dee want to be the sole owners of Rushing Wind? “You betcha!” was the couples answer, PRAISE GOD!

  Years passed and more changes happened in the lives of those who came to the events taking place each summer. “Can you combine fishing with a marriage retreat?” I was asked several times as my wife Cyndi and I prepared to head to Rushing Wind Retreat Center for the first time. Well, I learned that it not only was possible, but was being used effectively by our Lord and Savior to do just that. I was so impressed with the center and the Wolf’s as I came to know them more, I asked God’s Great Outdoors Board of Directors to have our springs/summer meeting at the retreat center. I wanted them to meet Arnie and Dee plus see the Rushing Winds potential for Fishers Of Men Retreats. And so the next year GGO’s Board of Directors did just that. During that August 2004 meeting, GGO voted to partner with Rushing Wind and model the outdoor outreaches after those done years ago by Al and Ron Lindner, who then owned The In-Fishermen. An interesting side note is that two of GGO’s board members had seen these events at work. Walleye fishing Pro’s, Mark Dorn directed the logistics of a number of the outreaches and Daryl Christensen prayed to receive Christ at one of the early Fishers Of Men Retreats.

  The Fishers Of Men events are outreaches where those Christian men who attend are asked not to come unless they bring a friend or relative who needs Jesus Christ as Savior. The idea of challenging the attendees who know the Lord to bring spiritual seekers was what made these early fishermen evangelizing events and for that matter all such sportsmen activity based outreaches so effective. The Lindners found that if you can get a group at the three day events consisting of a fifty/fifty mix, over ninety percent of the spiritual seekers would pray to receive Christ as Lord and Savior. Knowing all this is why GGO’s director’s board voted to join the Wolf’s in doing Fishers Of Men, stating with the first one in June of 2005.

  The process of putting together a list of guest speakers was a little later moving, which is never a good idea. We share in our Trail To Adventure! teaching seminars that many speakers are booked one to two years in advance, so it is never practical to wait till the last minute. But God is so good and considering how late of a start, we put together a list that was very effective as I shared earlier. Additionally; a number of those who we contacted already had commitments and ask to be on 2006’s speaker’s team, which is an added blessing.

  One of the Pro outdoorsmen, who spoke in 2005, was the ice fishing expert and founder of H.T. Enterprises, Paul Grahl. Also making up the list was walleye fishing Pro, Reggie Thiel, GGO Internet E-Zine Editor, Tracy Breen, Master Scuba Diver, Greg Peterson, Ex-Minnesota Viking, Wally Hilgenberg, Realtree’s, David Blanton, Dr. Tom Rakow, from the Christian Deer Hunters Assn. television program producer of, Silver Thread’s, People Who Fish, Mike Simpson, Ken Beck, Black Widow Bows, Tim Mahoney of Mahoney Media Group video production studios, GGO Field Team Founder, Craig Johnson, Rushing Wind’s, Arnie Wolf and myself. In 2006 the number of Fishers Of Men’s Retreats, taking placewill be expanded to six, plus we’ll add one Fishers Of Women Retreat too! If you are interested, call Rushing Wind Retreat Center at 1-888-683-2530 as soon as possible. Space is limited and if you wait until the 2006 speakers list is announced the slots may all be gone. Pray which unsaved sportsmen God would have you invite and be sure to pay his or her way. What a great project for a ministry group or Sunday school class to take on. Remember, Proverbs 11:30, “he who wins souls is wise.” See you on the Trail To Adventure!, in God’s Great Outdoors!

Psalm 57:5                                                                                                    Proverbs 11:30

“A grandfather from Milwaukee, Wisconsin had sold his fishing boat to pay for his two grandsons and himself to attend a The Fishers Of Men Retreat.”