We invite believers to discover the adventurous life in Christ
​experienced in the midst of adversity and at the end of the trial.

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OUR CORE VALUES (WHO WE ARE)

• COMMANDED BY CHRIST

DM is a ministry of Christ’s church and an outpost in the Kingdom of God. We believe it all belongs to Him. He       provides for it. He sustains it. He leads in how we use it. “And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.” Ephesians 1:22-23

• CALLED TO ADVERSITY

We create intentional challenge because we believe that spiritual awakening best happens when our patterns are disrupted by risk, discomfort and ambiguity. Through adversity, our weaknesses and sin can be identified and dealt with, replacing them with deeper trust and surrender. “That your faith, when tested, may be proved genuine and result in praise” 1 Peter 1:7

• COMMITTED TO THE PROCESS OF WILDERNESS

We intend to take the risk of waiting for the Lord to bring spiritual insight to individuals and groups through our circumstances because we believe that this process creates a greater residual effect through waiting, wandering, wondering and winning. “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you face trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4

• CRAFTED BY FACILITATION

Facilitation is our primary teaching tool to pull learning from the experience. By structuring diverse opportunities for interaction, we invite participants into spiritual growth by crafting real-life pressures and stake as a means of transformation. We believe this style of teaching promotes greater personal transference from learning to practical Christian living. “Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.  By the Holy Spirit who dwells within
us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.” 2 Tim 1:13-14

• CONNECTED THROUGH SMALL GROUPS

We work in groups of 5-20 because we believe that the greater relational impact achieved in small groups promotes Christian living as a body of believers. “Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, ‘”Explain to us the parable….”’ Matthew 13:36

• CONSTRUCTED WITH OUR STAFF

Each staff member is a Christ-follower first carrying the spirit of DM and its mission. We are professional as instructors and passionate as ministers. Our staff fit into these constructs:
- Christ followers/ministers
- Skills Competency
- Situational Discernment
- Sacrificial Service
“You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 2:5​

HISTORY

BELIEFS

Since its founding by Gary Colvin in 1983, Discovery Ministries has undergone the transformation from a bare-bones campground facility to a fully functioning retreat center.  With three lodges, a cabin, a large open-air pavilion and multiple challenge elements, we’ve come a long way, providing the best Christian adventure retreat options in the region.  Through the journey the camp has been guided by four different directors, scores of Godly staff and many interns, all with the mission of using DM to glorify God through our challenge activities.  Though we’ve expanded our demographic from working with youth and young adults to also ministering to missionaries, men’s groups, and academic institutions, our mission remains the same: We seek to glorify God through challenge-based ministry.

We believe...

• The Old and New Testaments are the very Word of God, the only fully inspired and inerrant Scriptures. 
• The eternal, triune God-Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
• The deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, and His substitutionary death in atonement for sin, His bodily resurrection, and His personal visible return to reign in righteousness and glory. 
• Jesus is the only way, truth, and life, and no one can come to the Father except through Him. (Jn 14:6)
• The person of the Holy Spirit and His work of conviction, regeneration, and sanctification; and His indwelling of every believer.
• The necessity of the new birth, in God's gift of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ alone, repentance of sins, obedient baptism, and the importance of a life committed to the will of God.