MISSIONOUR MISSION IS TO LEAD PEOPLE TO CHRIST THROUGH EXPLORATION AND ADVENTURE IN THE WILDERNESS.
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VisionTO BE THE PREMIER WILDERNESS MINISTRY IN THE FOUR CORNERS REGION BY ENSURING THAT GOD AND HIS PLAN OF REDEMPTION ARE CENTRAL TO ALL THAT WE DO.
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the story of TRUE ELEVATION
For many years, Thomas (T) had a dream of starting a wilderness camp that focused on Jesus Christ and outdoor adventure. “I was one of those kids that would have met Christ in a wilderness setting but it wasn’t available to me growing up. Later on when I became a youth leader, I was blessed to be around a group of young people that inspired me to pursue this purpose.” In the fall of 2011, T finally listened to the calling and began to assemble the True Elevation leadership team. As members of First Baptist Church, T and Trey had become close friends. The two shared a common love of the outdoors and T saw in Trey a wilderness Pastor in the making. T asked Trey to help him realize the dream. “Having Trey come along side of me in this endeavor gave me confidence that this camp could really happen. Still, I knew that True Elevation needed that one person who could take this ministry to another level. That person was Taylor.” At the time, Taylor was a Younglife leader and was about to graduate college. “He had the youth and drive necessary to help get this ministry off the ground. God put it on my heart and I went to his work one day and briefly shared the vision of True Elevation.” Taylor embraced the challenge and the development of the ministry started to take shape. Today, after mentorship from Thomas, and being a part of True Elevation, Shanelle and Finn Foster are the current directors.
VALUES
Bringing people to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ (discipleship).
Serving and challenging people with love and purpose (leadership).
Providing the highest quality wilderness experience.
Educating and promoting the values of wilderness.
Serving and challenging people with love and purpose (leadership).
Providing the highest quality wilderness experience.
Educating and promoting the values of wilderness.
True Elevation’s belief in wilderness ministry has been shaped by the following truth:
“Throughout history, God has used the wilderness as a special place for transformation. God’s strategy for developing His people often involves transformative wilderness experiences; yet, today, in our increasingly urbanized world, young people are less able to experience the wilderness. Clearly, Jesus modeled for His disciples a rhythm of engaging people in missions and then retreating for rest and reflection in the wilderness. We must reemphasize this ancient apprenticing method that produced leaders such as Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Moses, Ruth, Jacob, David, Peter, James, John, and Paul. Each of them was profoundly called and shaped by God in the wilderness.” -Ashley Denton, Christian Outdoor Leadership: Theology, Theory, and Practice
“Throughout history, God has used the wilderness as a special place for transformation. God’s strategy for developing His people often involves transformative wilderness experiences; yet, today, in our increasingly urbanized world, young people are less able to experience the wilderness. Clearly, Jesus modeled for His disciples a rhythm of engaging people in missions and then retreating for rest and reflection in the wilderness. We must reemphasize this ancient apprenticing method that produced leaders such as Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Moses, Ruth, Jacob, David, Peter, James, John, and Paul. Each of them was profoundly called and shaped by God in the wilderness.” -Ashley Denton, Christian Outdoor Leadership: Theology, Theory, and Practice
What we believe
I. The Word of God
We accept the Bible, including the 39 books of the Old Testament and the 27 books of the New Testament, as the written Word of God. The Scriptures are the authoritative and normative rule and guide of all Christian life, practice and doctrine. II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:20, 21
II. The Trinity
In the unity of the godhead, there are three Persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, co-existent, coequal, and co-eternal. Genesis 1:1, 26; John 1:1, 3
III. God the Father
God the Father is the Creator of heaven and earth. He rules over all and, together with the Son and the Spirit, is the only Sovereign. His plans and purposes cannot be thwarted. Deuteronomy 6:4; Psalm 145: 8-9; I Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 1:1-14
IV. Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is the eternal Word made flesh, supernaturally conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary. He is fully God and is fully man. John 1:1-4, Philippians 2:5-8
V. The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life, convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. The Holy Spirit empowers believers for Christian witness and service. This promise of the Father is freely available to all who believe in Jesus Christ. John 14:16-17; John 16: 7-9, 13
VI. Man
We believe that man was created by God in His own image; that he sinned and thereby incurred physical, spiritual and eternal death, which is separation from God; that as a consequence, all human beings are born with a sinful nature and are sinners by choice and therefore under condemnation. We believe that those who repent and forsake sin and trust Jesus Christ as Savior are regenerated by the Holy Spirit and become new creatures, delivered from condemnation and receive eternal life. Genesis 1:26; John 3:16; II Cor. 5:17
VII. The Gospel
Jesus Christ is the gospel. Christ’s crucifixion is the heart of the gospel; His resurrection is the power of the gospel and His ascension is the glory of the gospel. The proper response to the gospel is faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ, a faith that is naturally accompanied by repentance from sin. Ephesians 2:8-10
VIII. Sanctification
The Holy Spirit is the active agent in our sanctification and seeks to produce His fruit in us as our minds are renewed and we are conformed to the image of Christ. Romans 6:1-22; Galatians 5:16-25
IX. The Church
The church is not a religious institution or denomination. Rather, the Church universal is made up of those who have become genuine followers of Jesus Christ and have personally appropriated the gospel. The Church exists to worship and glorify God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Acts 2:42-47; Ephesians 2:19-22
X. The Ordinances
Water baptism is only intended for the individual who has received the saving benefits of Christ’s atoning work and become His disciple. Therefore, in obedience to Christ’s command and as a testimony to God, the church, oneself and the world, a believer should be immersed in water in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Lord’s Supper is to be observed only by those who have become genuine followers of Christ. This ordinance symbolizes the breaking of Christ’s body and the shedding of His blood on our behalf, and is to be observed repeatedly throughout the Christian life as a sign of continued participation in the atoning benefits of Christ’s death. Matthew 28:18-20; I Corinthians 11:23-26
XI. The Last Things
The consummation of all things includes the future, physical, visible, personal and glorious return of Jesus Christ, the resurrection of the dead and the translation of those alive in Christ, the judgment of the just and the unjust, and the fulfillment of Christ’s kingdom in the new heavens and the new earth. I Corinthians 15; Revelation 20:4-6; 11-15
We accept the Bible, including the 39 books of the Old Testament and the 27 books of the New Testament, as the written Word of God. The Scriptures are the authoritative and normative rule and guide of all Christian life, practice and doctrine. II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:20, 21
II. The Trinity
In the unity of the godhead, there are three Persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, co-existent, coequal, and co-eternal. Genesis 1:1, 26; John 1:1, 3
III. God the Father
God the Father is the Creator of heaven and earth. He rules over all and, together with the Son and the Spirit, is the only Sovereign. His plans and purposes cannot be thwarted. Deuteronomy 6:4; Psalm 145: 8-9; I Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 1:1-14
IV. Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is the eternal Word made flesh, supernaturally conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary. He is fully God and is fully man. John 1:1-4, Philippians 2:5-8
V. The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life, convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. The Holy Spirit empowers believers for Christian witness and service. This promise of the Father is freely available to all who believe in Jesus Christ. John 14:16-17; John 16: 7-9, 13
VI. Man
We believe that man was created by God in His own image; that he sinned and thereby incurred physical, spiritual and eternal death, which is separation from God; that as a consequence, all human beings are born with a sinful nature and are sinners by choice and therefore under condemnation. We believe that those who repent and forsake sin and trust Jesus Christ as Savior are regenerated by the Holy Spirit and become new creatures, delivered from condemnation and receive eternal life. Genesis 1:26; John 3:16; II Cor. 5:17
VII. The Gospel
Jesus Christ is the gospel. Christ’s crucifixion is the heart of the gospel; His resurrection is the power of the gospel and His ascension is the glory of the gospel. The proper response to the gospel is faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ, a faith that is naturally accompanied by repentance from sin. Ephesians 2:8-10
VIII. Sanctification
The Holy Spirit is the active agent in our sanctification and seeks to produce His fruit in us as our minds are renewed and we are conformed to the image of Christ. Romans 6:1-22; Galatians 5:16-25
IX. The Church
The church is not a religious institution or denomination. Rather, the Church universal is made up of those who have become genuine followers of Jesus Christ and have personally appropriated the gospel. The Church exists to worship and glorify God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Acts 2:42-47; Ephesians 2:19-22
X. The Ordinances
Water baptism is only intended for the individual who has received the saving benefits of Christ’s atoning work and become His disciple. Therefore, in obedience to Christ’s command and as a testimony to God, the church, oneself and the world, a believer should be immersed in water in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Lord’s Supper is to be observed only by those who have become genuine followers of Christ. This ordinance symbolizes the breaking of Christ’s body and the shedding of His blood on our behalf, and is to be observed repeatedly throughout the Christian life as a sign of continued participation in the atoning benefits of Christ’s death. Matthew 28:18-20; I Corinthians 11:23-26
XI. The Last Things
The consummation of all things includes the future, physical, visible, personal and glorious return of Jesus Christ, the resurrection of the dead and the translation of those alive in Christ, the judgment of the just and the unjust, and the fulfillment of Christ’s kingdom in the new heavens and the new earth. I Corinthians 15; Revelation 20:4-6; 11-15
"Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted."
Luke 4:1
Luke 4:1
