The retreat was more than an outdoor getaway for Durgan Maxey.
"It made me realize all the things my dad has done to prepare me for life," the 22-year-old said. "I learned a lot about how my dad has intentionally taken steps to help me grow, become an adult and make mature decisions. Dads need to do that."
At A Glance
Rugged Faith
Rugged Faith Ministries offers boot camps for church groups. The one-, two- or three-day events include worship and praise, Biblical teaching and outdoors activities, such as four-wheeler riding, canoeing and skeet shooting.
The ministry will bring the national men’s conference Iron Sharpens Iron to Rogers on Sept. 6 at First Baptist Church in Rogers. Rugged Faith has been host to the conference for the last five years.
Information: Jack Ward, 870-404-8586, ruggedfaith.net
Fast Facts
Rugged Faith Mission Statement
GPS
• To Guide men to a deeper understanding of their purpose in life
• To Prepare men to be godly leaders in their homes, their churches and their communities.
• To Support the local church in its efforts to reach and equip men for Christian service.
Source: ruggedfaith.net
Maxey, along with his father Jerry and brother Brice, 18, spent the first weekend in June at Rugged Faith Ranch. They and other members of First Baptist Church in Rogers attended the third-annual father and son retreat.
The 180-acre Rugged Faith Ranch sits on the banks of Big Sugar Creek, just north of Pea Ridge in McDonald County, Mo. A 2-acre, spring-fed pond provides ample space for fishing, canoeing and kayaking. Seven miles of trails wind through the property for riding four-wheelers.
The property is surrounded by other large parcels of woods, and seeing wildlife -- such as turkeys and deer -- is common, said Jack Ward, founder and chief executive officer of Rugged Faith Ministries, a faith-based ministry that provides outdoor adventures, biblical teaching and fellowship for men.
The ranch -- which Rugged Faith Ministries purchased last fall -- also has a skeet-shooting range and a hand gun range, where men and boys can learn how to shoot and experienced shooters can participate in friendly competition, Ward said.
Durgan Maxey has attended Rugged Faith Boot Camp retreats before as worship leader, but this was his first retreat in which he participated as well. He said he enjoyed connecting with his father and observing his father -- and other fathers -- interact.
"It was fun to see my dad being a father figure toward other boys," Durgan Maxey said of his father teaching archery at the retreat.
Jerry Maxey said he's seen a lot of growth in Durgan over the years, but seeing him lead worship during the retreat was a fun experience.
"It's neat seeing him grow up to be a leader," he said.
The 50-year-old father of four -- two boys and two girls -- said, over the years, he's been intentional about creating activities for his sons, such as changing the oil in the car, where he can talk with them without distractions, such as cellphones and televisions.
The retreat is just another way he can spend intentional time with his sons without distractions, he said.
Jerry Maxey said he enjoyed a quiet, early morning hike to the pond, while Durgan Maxey said his favorite part of the weekend was listening to the speakers.
"We would listen to the speakers teaching on different passages of the Bible, but also have crazy-fun stuff, like the warrior cry," Durgan Maxey said. "All the dads would yell their warrior cries, then the sons."
Durgan said he enjoyed "talking about what it means to be men and learning about people who have come before us who are warriors and are courageous."
All messages are Bible-based -- this year's theme is "The Hard Corps: David's Mighty Men -- Combat Training for the Man of God" -- and geared toward men, Ward said. Four teaching sessions were scheduled throughout the two-day retreat. Topic titles were "Warrior of Courage," "The Prodigal Son," "Bringing Up Boys" and "Leaving a Godly Legacy."
Marlo Lackey said her son, Ethan, 14, couldn't stop talking about the retreat after he returned home with his father, Matt.
"It's a boy's dream come true out there," Lackey said of the ranch. "Those are things we don't have at our house here in the city. They get to go out, have boy time, not worry about life and just focus on each other and on God."
The father and son spend a lot of time together, but Lackey said having intentional time together is good for their relationship.
"On the way there, my husband texted and said, 'We had a really great talk on the way up here,'" she said. "That thrilled my heart to already see fruit from this time together."
Lackey said her son benefited from not only being with his dad, but seeing his friends interact with their dads.
"It's important in this day and age for dads to spend time with their sons," she said. "These are memories my son will always have. As parents, we don't want to have any regrets. ... We want there to be solid memories where they experience time with their earthly father and their heavenly Father."
Ward said the ministry and its programs were created to enhance what the churches already are doing for their members.
"We feel like they will be more effective in their local church, in their family and in their community as they grow closer to God in these outdoor adventures boot camp," he said. "Men need to get out in the outdoors, out in the wilderness. We need that quiet time with God that you can't get in the busyness in daily life."
The fathers at the retreat -- which was held the weekend before Father's Day -- received a devotional book that talked about the importance of being a father, Ward said.
"Courage and character are contagious," he said. "As we model that, the way King David did to his mighty men, our boys will catch the vision for what godly leadership is all about in the home, the church and the community."
NAN Religion on 06/14/2014