Challenger II Staff Plans Wind River Expedition for Next Summer

Plans are being made for a program next summer for young adults in the Wind River area of Wyoming.

by Paul Luecke

Plans for future Challenger II sessions were mapped out during meetings at the home office on Oct. 25. United Youth Camps coordinator Larry Greider conducted the meetings with Challenger II team members James Capo, Randy Schreiber, Randy Stiver and Paul Luecke, who was appointed as Challenger II program coordinator.

Challenger II is a leadership training opportunity for young adults in the Church (high school graduates to 30-something, single or married). This program is based in wilderness or other adventure settings and is designed to be both physically and spiritually challenging. It is intended to take a small, select group (approximately 12 to 15 per session) of young adults, who are already firmly committed to God's truth and Church, and who desire to move to the next level of spiritual growth and service to others.

The next Challenger II session is the rock-climbing program this December, at Mt. Lemmon, Arizona. (This session is already filled.) In the summer of 2008 will be a new opportunity—an expedition in the Wind River wilderness of northwestern Wyoming. Wind River is a vast Rocky Mountain wilderness that includes 48 mountain peaks exceeding 12,500 feet, and over 2,000 lakes and ponds. This Challenger II experience will include backpacking, orienteering, camping, rock climbing and fishing in a majestic high-mountain setting.

All Challenger II program venues center around a close mentoring dynamic with a small group of ministers and other mature staff members. Participants are expected to implement lessons from the program in their lives and local congregations after they return home from the program. Stay tuned for details on next summer's Challenger II—Wind River Expedition! UN

Paul Luecke is pastor of the Bethlehem, Philadelphia and York, Pennsylvania, congregations.