Joel BatesEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Upon graduating from Ozark Christian College in 2001, Joel and his wife Julie spent five years doing mission work with Team Expansion in India and Ireland. They both felt called to return to the states to pursue experiential wilderness ministry at Discovery Ministries. Joel is drawn to the deep commitment at DM of challenging people spiritually through the unknown of the wilderness. Joel enjoys running, backpacking, and teaming up with his wife Julie to tackle the adventure of raising their four children in the heart of the Ozark wilderness. Contact Joel directly at joel@dmchallenge.org.
CERTIFICATIONS
-WMA Wilderness First Responder -NCRC Cave Rescue -NASAR SAR-tech 3 -ACA Level 4 Swift-water Rescue Instructor -ACA Level 4 Whitewater Canoeing Instructor |
Leah FullerASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
After graduating college in 2005, Leah was blown from the flat lands of Kansas by a mighty wind into the beautiful tree-filled Ozark Mountains. Leah spent 5 refining years working with troubled teenagers at Doulos Ministries in Branson and Kansas City, MO after college. During that time she took a group of students to DM for a weekend retreat and was impacted by DM's intentional use of the wilderness and adventure to teach the deeply rooted truths of Scripture and how God transforms us. Leah’s heart for wilderness ministry never faded and six years later she packed her bags and joined the DM team. Leah tenaciously seeks to apply the principals she has learned and teaches in the wilderness to her own life as she continues to be transformed and refined by God's faithful hand. Contact Leah directly at leah@dmchallenge.org.
CERTIFICATIONS
-WMA Wilderness First Responder -ACA Level 4 Swift-water Rescue Instructor -ACA Level 4 Whitewater Canoeing Instructor |