Reems Creek
Outdoor ministry fuses two passions
Earl Tilton, an outdoor lover for much of his life, said of the outdoors ministry, “I figured I would take the skills I have and put them to use.”
By Matt Tate Earl Tilton has created a holy
place as big as the outdoors. GPS Outdoors is a unique out-
doors ministry he began in late 2009. Te format is simple: Get out-
side, connect to nature and in the process, make a spiritual connec- tion as well. Te Reems Creek resident orga-
nized eight trips last year, taking people up to groups of about four or so out for a day trip or an overnight excursion into the Western North Carolina mountains, from blue- berry picking at Graveyard Fields to tours of waterfalls. An outdoor enthusiast originally
from northern New Hampshire, Tilton relocated to the Asheville area about five years ago. He joined Land of the Sky Cow-
boy Church, another unique min- istry that began in 2008 in Weav- erville. After discussions with its pastor
Gene Blankenship, Tilton decided to meld the two passions in his life. “You hear that big voice in your
www.leicesterleader.com
head. It’s not a little voice. It’s a big voice and it’s kind of hard to ig- nore,” he said. Te GPS acronym in Tilton’s
ministry stands for “God Provides Salvation.” He described GPS Outdoors as
a “maverick outdoors ministry” where denomination is unimport- ant. “You don’t have to be Christian
to come out,” he remarked. He has communicated and
shared ideas with a similar outdoor ministry, Athleas Outdoor Min- istry based in Montana, but to his knowledge, the concept has few replications across the country. Tilton said the trips range from
backpacking to sight-seeing to fly fishing. He works in conjunction with Together Video out of Hen- dersonville to provide participants video and pictures of the trip if de- sired. Te trips are for anyone, no mat-
ter the experience. Necessary cloth- ing and shoes are required, but Tilton will provide lunch and trail food. “I like to find the people who
haven’t experienced Western North Carolina,” he said. For more on GPS Outdoors, go to
gpsoutdoors.net.
Where We Worship Church Directory
First Presbyterian Church of Weaverville PCA
30 Alabama Avenue - Weaverville 828-645-7344
Sunday School ~ 9:45 am Worship Service ~ 11:00 am
Wednesday Prayer meeting/ Bible study ~ 6:30 pm
REV. SKIP GILLIKIN
www.fpcweaverville.org
Locust Grove Baptist Church
305 Locust Grove Rd. Weaverville 828-645-4977
9:50 am Sunday School 11:00 am Morning Worship 7:00 pm Evening Worship
Sunday Pastor:
7:00 pm Prayer & Bible Study Youth Worship Service
Wednesday Ben Whitmire
locustgrovebaptist.com
Church of the Redeemer Traditional Episcopal
1201 Riverside Drive, Woodfin, NC 28804 A warm, historical, welcoming, inclusive, family oriented church
Holy Eucharist Sunday • 8:15 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.
www.church-of-the-redeemer-episcopal.org
828-253-3588
Christ UMC 81 Garrison Br. Rd. #2 Weaverville, NC 28787 828-645-5785
www.cumcweaverville.org Worship 11:00 AM Pastor Naomi King
Emmanuel
Lutheran Church 51 Wilburn Place ~ Asheville
828-252-1795
www.emmanuellutheran.info 8:30 am & 11:00 am
Praise and Worship: 11:00 am (Gym)
Salem United
Methodist Church 9 Salem Church Rd. Weaverville ~ 828.645.6014 Pastor - Rev. Darrel Bowles
Worship Hours: Sunday School 9:45 AM Worship 11:00 AM Wednesday
Evening 6:30 PM (Prayer and Bible Study)
Celebration Baptist Church 2 Boyds Chapel Road, Weaverville
Sunday School 9:30 Worship 10:30
Wednesday Prayer/ Bible Study 6:30
Pastor: Rev. Dolph Robinson January 13 - January 19, 2011 - THE TRIBUNE/LEADER 5
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