It’s early. We’re tired. But it’s worth every ounce of effort.
As we pull into the Denton Bible Church parking lot, bright eyes full of excitement and anticipation greet us. We gather around, share a few parting details, pray, and then we’re wheels up!
On November 16, 2022, 18 GAP students and a host of leaders set off to the heart of Texas (Brady, TX) to enter into one of humanity’s age-old customs. Each GAP student has been trained to appropriately identify, accurately target, and safely shoot a whitetail deer. The only expectation on the students is that they steward the animal all the way through processing the meat if they decide to harvest one this weekend. The choice is theirs and they all have been prepared to make that decision when the time comes and the animal steps out of the woods into view.
After we arrive and have one more group greeting and one more target practice, then head off in search of game—the thrill of the hunt undergirding each conversation and side chat. Anticipation is palpable as we designate guides and prepare for departure.
Upon settling in and beginning to scan the landscape, I was again reminded why we take these 18-19-year-olds hunting—recognizing that this experience has the potential to make an impression that will pass down from generation to generation.
The GAP discipleship experience includes as part of its discipleship process an annual hunting trip for many reasons, but three I want to highlight here:
- Understanding the distinct responsibility of humanity’s dominion mandate to subdue and cultivate.
- “God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Genesis 1:29
- Experiencing the stewardship and honor of life created to sustain humanity.
- “Every moving thing that is alive shall be food for you; I give all to you, as I gave the green plant.” Genesis 9:3
- Connection to our food from field to table.
- “The lazy do not roast any game, but the diligent feed on the riches of the hunt.” Proverbs 12:27 (NIV)
God help us. Amen.
