WOW
We are nearly at the halfway mark of the 2019 river season. Our time at the bottom of Grand Canyon is always super sweet. Great friendships, scenery, and adventure combine in the most perfect blend of sights, sounds, and emotions. As always, the most common word spoken is, WOW! I have always attributed this to the flood of beauty overwhelming the eyes and brain. I still believe this to be true, but I have come to learn that there is more going on with every WOW moment. The word
Master Books Comes to the Grand Canyon
Recently I had the amazing opportunity to spend the day giving a tour to 21 members of the Pratt family. If you don’t know Randy and Kristen Pratt, you should. They and most of their family are involved in various ways in the publishing company Master Books, which published the books our founder, Tom Vail, helped put together. These include Grand Canyon, A Different View, and the True North Series guide books for Grand Canyon, Zion and Bryce Canyons, and Yellowstone and Grand Tetons. All four of these books are
Lessons From The Trail
“Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I be will exalted in the earth!” Psalm 46:10 (ESV) Hiking in the Grand Canyon can be intimidating. It has often been said about hiking Grand Canyon, “Down is optional, but up is mandatory.” This is so true. Like reverse mountain climbing, the adventurer descends into the earth taking in the extreme beauty. The traveling offers smooth sailing as gravity assists the journey and thrusts the wanderer deeper into the earth. However, the time comes
Called and Equipped
God faithfully calls people to join the Canyon Ministries team and brings people who radiate joy and a desire to serve. As executive director of Canyon Ministries, I am blessed to help equip and celebrate others in doing meaningful kingdom work. I appreciate the words the Apostle Paul spoke to Timothy: “You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others
SHARE IT in Sedona
We love seeing the various ways God works. A few days ago, I received an encouraging "SHARE IT" message from a couple of young ladies. After being on the Grand Canyon Sunset Tour with me one day, they took a jeep tour with a different company the next day in Sedona. While driving around Sedona, exploring the red rocks and learning about the history of the area, the guide began sharing about the geology. After pointing out marine and sea life fossils in the rocks, he mentioned that
SHARE IT! : Get Ready
With great excitement, we announce the launch of the first phase of the SHARE IT program. SHARE IT stands for, Speak – Help – Awaken – Restore – Equip. Phase 1 is a call to “Get Ready.” Let’s look at what God’s word has to say about being ready. “but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear” 1 Peter 3:15 (NKJV) God’s Word clearly calls
Integrity and Skill
We recently took our guide team on a hike in Sedona. It was a remarkable day of adventure, strengthened relationships, and learning. The Canyon Ministries team loves these times together. We serve and grow as a family. We are dedicated to each other, our mission, and - most importantly - the gospel. Our ambition is to lead and serve with integrity and skill. Healthy relationships foster integrity. As we develop the relational strength of Canyon Ministries, we bolster the natural accountability that comes from doing life with others. Integrity
The Great Unconformity in the Grand Canyon
The Great Unconformity, then, becomes a powerful visual representation of the type of geological event one would expect to see if there had been a worldwide flood as described in the Bible. One of the places we often explore on our Grand Canyon river trips is a fascinating little side canyon found at river mile 120 called Blacktail Canyon. Blacktail is a very narrow slot canyon, carved predominantly into the golden-brown latticed ledges of the Tapeats Sandstone, a formation known for its striking visual characteristics and its importance in
White As Snow
If you’ve seen some of our pictures from around here lately, you’ll undoubtedly know we were recently graced with a beautiful white veil of snow, which covered the landscape and transformed the desert into a western winter wonderland. Snow at the Grand Canyon is a sight to behold, and although you would never think it possible, somehow transforms this wonder of the world into even greater magnificence, like the glazed frosting on top of a giant layered cake. The beauty and majesty of our Creator never fails to amaze
Why Do We Wear Gold Shirts?
For over a decade, we have been doing tours at the south rim of the Grand Canyon. Park employees as well as the other tour companies notice our presence. We’ve been told by park rangers how much they enjoy seeing our groups and guides out there on our various tours. We are excited to know how we conduct ourselves and the way we treat our guests is standing out in good ways within the greater Grand Canyon community. However, there is another feature spotlighting our presence—the gold shirts. The gold stands
