Rugged Faith: Fellowship targets outdoor enthusiasts

"There are four kinds of bears in the world: black bears, brown bears, polar bears and grizzly bears," said Clay Newcomb, founder of the Arkansas Black Bear Association, a hunting conservation and preservation group. "And not all black bears are black."

Newcomb also publishes the Bear Hunting Magazine, with a national readership, and the Arkansas Bear and Buck Journal.

Newcomb spoke last month to members of the Rugged Faith Sportsman's Fellowship in Springdale. Geared toward outdoorsmen, the church features a guest speaker each week to present a 15-minute "seminar" about an outdoor topic.

Newcomb clicked through slides of his hunting adventures -- including hunting bears in many parts of North America. He displayed one of his bear skins on the floor, and many of the pictures included his kids dressed in camouflage.

"All my kids hunt," he said. "Hunting is a powerful community tool for teaching faith. You teach them your values and ethics. Even without saying a word about God, it shows who you are.

"I really want to bring it home to them. It's not just about animals, it's about people."

Newcomb said he has always been passionate about hunting, but he never set out to be in the hunting industry.

"Boiled down, I'd be a bear hunter no matter what," he said, "but I never trained in graphics and design. I'm not 'techy.'

"As an entrepreneur, though, we've had to scrape by on faith, prayer and some long nights. It's God's direction and divine providence, and I give him all thanks."

CAMO SPIRIT

The Rugged Faith Sportsman's Fellowship is a possible church plant under the auspices of First Baptist Church in Rogers, explained the Rev. Jim Shaw, the guiding church's associate pastor of discipleship.

"A number on our staff enjoy the outdoors and nature," he said, himself included. "We want to pass our interest on and identify with others who have similar interests. We want to reach people with the gospel where they are. We're probably speaking to some people who would not be in a regular church."

Rugged Faith meets Thursday nights to allow sportsmen to follow their passion on the weekend days. "Hunters like to be in the woods," Shaw said.

"We felt like we would reach men who wouldn't come to a traditional service," said Jack Ward, the campus pastor of Rugged Faith. He is the founder of the Rugged Faith Ministries in Pea Ridge and a member of First Baptist. "Northwest Arkansas is permeated with outdoor sports of all kinds -- hikers, bikers, kayakers ... There's a lot of tradition, and many people grew up hunting."

The fellowship begins each Thursday by opening its indoor archery range from 4 to 6 p.m. in the west Springdale storefronts occupied by the church. In addition to hunters practicing bow draws, they teach children about archery and safety.

The targets are put away, tables set down and dinner is served at 6 p.m. -- it might range from a fish fry to a wild game potluck -- and the seminar speaker begins at 6:30 p.m., followed by music, a short message by Shaw and table discussions called "Huddles." The archery range comes alive again after the service.

During Huddles, worshipers participate in round-table discussions about the sermon, said Brian Center, associate pastor of Rugged Faith. "In the Huddles, men talk abut what they heard in the lessons from Scripture," he said. "Humans are meant for community. It's how men bonded, and they know the others are praying for them."

Shaw found Scripture for that service that included bears and related his message to the night's seminar topic: The Second Book of Kings tells of God choosing Elisha to replace the Prophet Elijah. Elisha received promises the Lord would be with him, yet the new prophet was unsure. But when some youths jeered at him ...

(Elisha) turned around, looked at them and called down a curse on them in the name of the Lord. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled 42 of the youth.

-- 2 Kings 2:24

A Huddle question for discussion: "Has the enemy, the devil, ever attempted to prevent or discourage you from ministering to others?"

"Sportsmen have a persistent, never-quit attitude," Center said.

"We are calling men out to step up, keep the faith. Family life is tough, and we want to teach them to stand tough," Shaw said.

"We see fathers growing closer to God," Center said.

But not only men are "sportsmen" -- in fact, young girls were the first to step up for archery lessons. Many young fathers attended with their children, who enjoyed cotton candy made on the spot. "Women like for the men to leave and take the kids," Shaw said.

"All kinds of people are shooters," he continued. Organizers plan the services intentionally as family nights, and in January, members of First Baptist will join Rugged Faith as families. Before hunting season started, about 40 percent of the worshipers at Rugged Faith also attended First Baptist on Sunday, Shaw estimated.

"Families, dads and kids, hunting together is great," Ward said.

"It's great to be able to spend time with those you love and appreciate and enjoy the outdoors with the Creator who made it," Shaw said.

NAN Religion on 11/07/2015