A desire to spend more time outside inspired Rev. Phil Boender to start the Water & Woods group at Rolling Acres Christian Reformed Church, in Mason City, Iowa. North-central Iowa is bursting with outdoor opportunities, with fields, woods, rivers, and lakes all within close driving distance. So it made sense to start this men’s outreach ministry.
On February 5, the Water & Woods group went ice fishing for a few hours. A lunch of hot cocoa, hot dogs, and chips was provided, along with the opportunity to warm up in a nearby cabin and sit and visit.
Boender hopes that people take away “connections and relationships” from participating in the Water & Woods events. “At this early point, assimilation of new and interested individuals has been our best result,” he said. “The gathering of men to talk about evangelism is amazing. Our team meetings are in themselves intentional. Equipping leaders and using spiritual gifts that otherwise might not get used this way is a blessing.”
About the Author
Kyle Hoogendoorn is a freelance news correspondent for The Banner. He lives in Rock Valley, Iowa.