Discovery Ministries
  • Home
  • Retreats
    • Retreat Center
    • Adventure Activities
  • Expeditions
    • Challenge
    • Recreation
  • Training
    • Internships
    • Outdoor Education
    • Missions
  • DONATE
  • Events
    • WFR
    • Blast! Hike-a-thon
    • Endeavor Wilderness
    • Endeavor Adventure
    • White Water Seminar
  • Blog
  • Pricing
  • Staff
  • Resources
  • About
  • Contact
Picture

Joel Bates

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
Picture

Leah Fuller

ASSOCIATE 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
Picture

Ronnie Beller

WILDERNESS INSTRUCTOR
After graduating from Kentucky Christian University, Ronnie and his wife Debbie spent four years doing full-time youth ministry. Following a youth retreat with Discovery Expeditions in Bunker, MO in 1983, Ronnie and Debbie joined Discovery Expeditions. They appreciated the way they had seen Christian camping change lives. They have enjoyed raising their 2 kids and now their 3 grandsons in God's beautiful playground here in the Ozarks. Contact Ronnie directly at  ronnie@dmchallenge.org.
CERTIFICATIONS
-WMA Wilderness First Responder 
-NCRC Cave Rescue 
-NASAR SAR-tech 3
-ACA Swift-water Rescue Certified    
-ACA Level 3 Canoeing Instructor
-NPS High-Angle Rescue Certified
Picture

Robert Halbach

OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR
Robert has been enjoying the outdoors since his childhood, spending summers exploring the woods across from his house in rural Iowa.  A few years after a backpacking trip with a small group (including two former DM interns), Robert applied for an internship at DM and enrolled in the OCC Wilderness Challenge trip.  In all he spent three summers (2009-11) interning with DM, the last of which had an office focus.  After returning to Joplin to finish school (graduating in 2012) and getting married in 2014, Robert has returned to DM to manage the office. Contact Robert directly at robert@dmchallenge.org.
CERTIFICATIONS
-WMA Wilderness First Responder
​-NCRC Cave Rescue 
-ACA Swift-water Rescue Certified    
Picture

Logan Nicholson

PHYSICAL PLANT MANAGER/WILDERNESS INSTRUCTOR
Logan grew up roaming the Ozark hills and enjoying God’s character displayed in creation. Logan came to several Discovery Ministries functions as a child and never forgot the impact they had on his life. Two years after graduating from Southwest Baptist University, he joined the Discovery Ministries community as an intern; staying through two summers and an off-season (2014-2015). After leaving Discovery Ministries, he finished a bachelors degree in Biblical studies from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Logan, his wife Katie, and son Brodie moved to Discovery Ministries in 2018 to join the full-time staff. He uses his love for God and the outdoors along with varied gifts and abilities to further the mission of the camp in leading others closer to Christ through challenge. Contact Logan directly at logan@dmchallenge.org.
CERTIFICATIONS
-WMA Wilderness First Responder

Meet our Part-Time & Seasonal Staff

Contact Us

Email
contact@DMchallenge.org
Address
17043 State Route E
Eminence, MO 65466
Phone
573.226.3213
​866.307.1947
Picture
Picture
  • Home
  • Retreats
    • Retreat Center
    • Adventure Activities
  • Expeditions
    • Challenge
    • Recreation
  • Training
    • Internships
    • Outdoor Education
    • Missions
  • DONATE
  • Events
    • WFR
    • Blast! Hike-a-thon
    • Endeavor Wilderness
    • Endeavor Adventure
    • White Water Seminar
  • Blog
  • Pricing
  • Staff
  • Resources
  • About
  • Contact