What an amazing God we serve, to allow the relationships that only HE can design, to come together where kids can hunt and fish, get outdoors, and harvest a piece of God's creation!

We had 14 girls the first week of camp and 16 boys the second week at the JHA Ranch in George West, Texas. Thirty kids that were able to hunt hogs, exotics animals, freshwater fish, bowfish, learn archery and shooting skills, all while learning about the Gospel of Jesus Christ! While some awesome animal and fish harvests were made, 8 of these kids gave their lives to Christ, making the Spiritual harvest more important.

We talked about Faith, Courage and standing with Christ when we are faced with adversity. The promises that God makes to us (his people) as we stand ready to face the World! IN CHRIST, No one can take our Salvation, No one can take our Faith, No one can take our Freedom, God's Love, His Promises, His Grace away from us!

We would like to thank all of our volunteers and staff that make up our awesome CTO Texas Team. We also want to thank our JHA Ranch hosts, the Anderson family, for opening their gate to allow CTO campers to be blessed. Again, without God ordained relationships, these kids and this ministry would not be a success. Please pray for upcoming camps and the kids that will be attending, as this was just a start... we have 3 more to go!

Many of the kids participating in our summer camps are able to cover their entire camp cost through the CTO Thomas Krejci Camp Scholarship Raffle, since 100% of what kid's raise goes directly towards their camp balance. Tickets are $10 each or purchasers can buy 10 tickets and get 1 free, so that’s 11 tickets for $100. Purchasers can choose from 3 prizes—a Weatherby Vanguard.257 w/ Leupold Scope, an IPad Air or a $500 Visa gift card. You need not be present at the time of the drawing on August 15, 2017 to win. Purchase tickets online here.

Thanks to a grant from the NRA Foundation, Cross Trail Outfitters of Texas received new shotguns  and rifles to teach shooting sports and marksmanship at our CTO Texas Summer Camps. The NRA Foundation recently approved $3,162 for 4 rifles and 2 shotguns for shooting sport instruction and in the field hunting activities. We appreciate the NRA Foundation in providing these funds to help us preserve our hunting heritage and get more kids into shooting sports and hunting.

The NRA Foundation provides financial support to eligible projects, programs and organizations through its Grant Program. Since its establishment in 1990, the NRA Foundation has provided more than $335 million in funding through more than 42,000 grants in support of the shooting sports. 

Congratulations to the Winners in our 25 Gun Raffle. We drew the winners at the CTO Texas 8th Annual Banquet on March 25, 2017. Winners were notified by phone. Thanks for supporting Cross Trail Outfitters.

1. Weatherby Vanguard H-Bar.308 RC – Wade Rhodes

2. Remington R15 VTR Predator .223 Camo – Brian Stone

3. Henry “Silver Eagle” Lever Action .22 – Buddy Jung

4. CZ-USA Redhead Premier 12 ga O/U – Catherine Carr

5. Weatherby Accuguard SS .257 Mag – Eddie Morris

6. Remington 1911 R-1 Carry Comm. .45 – Jeremy Grandazzo

7. Henry .30/30 Golden Boy – Kevin Mattke

8. CZ-USA Drake 12 ga O/U – David Lowry

9. Weatherby Vanguard/Leupold .270 - Chad Clark

10. Weatherby Wilderness .25-06 – Sharon Garcia

11. Glock .9mm – Pat Leadford

12. Henry Golden Boy .22 Lever Action – Landon Wolf

13. Remington 7600 Pump Action .308 – Don Brammer

14. CZ-USA 12 ga Semi Auto Camo – Tracy Kensing

15. CVA APEX SS .50 cal Muzzleloader – Brett Rhodes

16. Henry Frontier “Evil Roy” .22 Lever Action – Jeff Neeb

17. Vanguard Volt 7mm-08 – Dennis Copeland

18. CZ-USA 512 American .22 mag Semi Auto – Dee Tiller

19. Remington RM .380 Micro – Chuck Hemby

20. CVA Scout SS .35 Whelen – Alan Calaway

21. Weatherby Vanguard/Leupold .243 – Chris Maxwell

22. CZ-USA 517 20 ga Semi Auto – Bill Cotter

23. Remington 597.22 Semi Auto w/Scope – Colton Krejci

24. Henry Classic RC Lever Action.22 – Alex McAllister

25. CVA Optima V2 SS .50 cal Muzzleloader – Irma Gonzales

What a great year it's been for Cross Trail Outfitters of Texas as we've witnessed God work in the lives of many young people and their families as we continue our mission of guiding the next generation to Christ through the outdoors.

During 2016, we provided over 1,100 opportunities for kids to participate in activities such as hunting/fishing outings, camps, sportsmen’s skills nights, community service, leadership development, outreach and bible studies. Currently, there are over 200 members in 5 chapters with new chapters and new relationships being developed. This summer, we hosted 57 kids from across Texas at 5 week-long hunting and fishing summer camps—four camps for boys plus our first CTO girls camp.

The kids involved in CTO come from a variety of backgrounds, and our policy is to never turn a child away due to financial limitations. This year CTO Texas provided over $19,000 in program scholarships that allowed kids to participate in our camps and weekend hunting and fishing outings. We are expecting our scholarships for programs will need to expand as CTO grows.

We could not do this without your generous support. These outings and camps help kids unplug and connect with nature and God! Without a doubt, we’ve found these kids open up while sitting around the campfire, sharing stories of their day then tying it to a devotion to help them apply God’s Word in their daily lives. 

This is an exciting time as we develop more chapters in Texas, which will open the doors for more kids to be mentored through this unique ministry.  CTO's vision for 2017 is "Stepping it up" and we need your help in order to serve more kids.

If you’re looking for a charity to support financially, consider donating to CTO Texas. You can give online at www.teamcto.org/texas or mail a donation to CTO Texas, PO Box 1165, Helotes, TX 78023. To get a tax-deductible receipt for 2016, donations must be received or postmarked by Dec. 31, 2016.

Thank you for partnering with us to change the lives of kids. You are a blessing to CTO and a blessing to so many kids!

Have a  wonderful and blessed New Year!

Donate

A Note from our National Director Mike Johnson:

Dear friends, 

Awesome, blessed beyond measure, and holiday greetings from the desk of the National Director at Cross Trail Outfitters (CTO). The other night my phone rings and the caller ID said that it was Chase. Naturally, I answer it since Chase is a very good friend of mine. “Hey Mr. Mike, are you going hunting tomorrow?” asked Chase. “Yes I am,” I replied. “How about you?” I asked. He replied “yes” he was hunting also. “Where are you going?” I asked. “I’m thinking about going to Juniper Bay,” answered Chase. “What about your blinds at Gull Shoal?” he asked. I replied, “I haven’t been there to look, but you’re welcome to use them.” 

This is a regular conversation that good friends might have during any hunting season. I would like to take a moment to tell you how Chase and I became such close friends. In June 2010, I hosted our very first ever CTO summer camp in North Carolina, and Chase was one of the boys at that camp. Like most of the 13 boys there, Chase was junior high school age. Chase loves to fish, and I love to fish too, and God used that common interest between Chase and myself to start a lifelong relationship. That summer, as the week progressed God also used our common interest of fishing and hunting to cause Chase to trust my spoken words. We had Questions of the Day every morning and spiritually deep campfire discussions every night all centered on a common theme of Jesus Christ. Before the week was over, Chase asked Jesus Christ to be the Lord of his life. We now had something else more permanent in common. Oh and by the way, throughout the week 10 more of the 13 boys asked Jesus into their lives as well.   

Chase is now a freshman at East Carolina University. Chase volunteers as a guide at our North Carolina summer camps. He is an amazing Christian man now and a dear friend of mine. The relationship that we have is even as strong as that relationship between my own son and myself.   There are a lot of Chases in my life now thanks to CTO. There are a lot of Chases in the lives of all the outfitters and guides at CTO across the country. 

As you read this letter, relationships like this one are being formed all over the country in many CTO chapters nationwide. This year CTO conducted 16 week‐long summer camps, more than 200 youth hunting/fishing outings, more than 130 sportsmen’s nights, 41 family events, and over 100 bible studies that all contributed to leading the next‐generation to Christ through the outdoors. As God worked through those events, we witnessed 108 kids and 24 adults accept Christ, as true discipleship starts with a relationship and ends with victory.  

I want to thank every outfitter, guide, prayer warrior, volunteer, root partner, sponsor, donor, landowner and friend of Cross Trail outfitters. All of you are part of building “Chases” all over the country, and we cannot do it without you. Before we move into 2017, please prayerfully seek where you might fit in to our team. If you are already part of our team consider “Stepping It Up,” as this is our 2017 team vision for the Cross Trail Outfitters. We are looking for more chapters, more outings, more donors, more financial support all adding up to more salvations and an army of strong Christian young men. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact me or any of the leaders at CTO. 

Oh and by the way as I was sitting home typing this letter, Chase called to tell me how his hunt went yesterday.   

In his service,   

Mike Johnson  
National Director Cross Trail Outfitters
252‐473‐8262
mjohnson@teamcto.org
www.teamcto.org

We had an amazing CTO Parent/Child First Hunt weekend, where 4 young men and 2 young ladies, from ages 9 to 11 years old, were able to harvest their very first deer. All one shot, one kill harvests, using the CTO Shot Placement method.

The rain and cold didn't keep these kids away and God definitely blessed us with seeing lots of deer. We prayed for breaks in the rain, to be successful, to take straight shots and for safety, and man did HE answer! Smiles from ear to ear, and memories that will never be forgotten.

Our campfire theme for the weekend was identifying our struggles, and what the outcome looks like in our own strength. And then identifying what our struggles look like through Christ.

Fear, shame, guilt, these are substances of the enemy, and not of the Lord.
Our Lord gives us the power and authority to overcome, conquer, all things through Him. James said, consider it pure joy when we face trials and temptations because this builds or Faith and perseverance. 

We are all going to face struggles in life that can sometimes make us feel small. But when we put God first and ask for His help, our struggles begin to look small, and allow us to walk in His power and authority, Walking Like GIANTS!

Thank you Lord for this blessing, allowing these kids and their parents to experience your creation and your word!

This past Saturday, we shared an incredible experience at our season first parent/child, duck-n-quail hunt! While the ducks didn't cooperate as much as we would of liked em too, the fellowship was amazing and the quail hunt was incredible.

Watching the dogs work and these kids patiently waiting their turn, seeing their smiles grow, was priceless.

Faithful and Trusting of their master, Listening and Denying themselves, these dogs demonstrating obedience, finding lost birds and bringing them to their master. Throughout the day, this was a lesson that we were all a part of.

Jesus said: deny yourself, take up your cross daily and follow me (Luke 9:23), go and make disciples of all nations, teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you (Matthew 28:19-20).

These smiles and stories will be remembered and talked about forever. Life-long relationships and memories made.

Where does your obedience stand?
Our Heavenly Father is patiently waiting for you~

Special thanks to Fred Simmons and his dog Sam of "Kingdom Dog Ministries" for joining us for the outing and sharing the devotion.

As I shared with many friends, I spent my birthday morning with 2 young men, ages 9 and 10, sitting on my knee, and guiding them on their deer hunt. The 9 year old Nathaniel harvested his first deer and the 10 year old, Frank harvested his 2nd deer. These are adventures and experiences of a lifetime that will never be forgotten.

And being able to share God's Love for them, and how He desires a relationship with us is such a bonus.

Helping Guide these kids to Christ or a closer relationship with HIM is our mission... Our CTO Vision Statement reads: we are building lifelong friendships with these kids through the outdoors. What a way to honor relationship, and I wouldn't have it any other way on my birthday!

What do you value the most about relationships? Trust, Sacrifice, Honesty, Respect, Love?
God so LOVED the world HE gave is only son! (John 3:16)
This is how we know what LOVE is: Jesus Christ laid down HIS life for us (1 John 3:16). The disciples asked Jesus, "What is the most important commandment?" "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind, and strength." "The second is Love your neighbor as you Love yourself." (Matt 22:36-40)

We just visited Mike & Tamara Scotch, owners of the M&T Ranch in Rocksprings for the 10th season.This is our longest standing, landowner relationship in CTO. Love, Trust, Respect, Sacrifice, it's all in order, that represents their love and commitment to these boys, and an opportunity to give back. 

Thank you for your service and supporting our ministry! If we LOVE one another, God lives in us and His LOVE is made complete in us! (1 John 4:12)

What a great weekend harvest in God's great outdoors!

We were hosted by the Geronimo Creek Ranch for the first time and man was it fun! Every young man was able to cull some deer, helping their harvest numbers, and a couple of boys harvested some hogs.

We set the bar with a total of 14 animals harvested and some memories that will never be forgotten! The ranch was also full of 10 different exotic species that made the hunt experience exciting along with some bass fishing ponds.

Our campfire theme was discovering our "Identity in Christ", sharing why it's important to fully embrace and walk in our God given identity as empowered sons of the King.

Thank you Brian Edwards, Joe Sulivan and the Winship family for hosting our group. We were honored to share and play a role in helping steward your beautiful place.

What an amazing weekend in God's great outdoors! For the 3rd season straight, we visited the Plomero Ranch for a youth deer hunt. The fog was thick in the mornings, the weather was warm and the deer didn't seem to cooperate as well as we would of liked em too, but God was present, the fellowship was amazing and we were able to share in the joy of many first experiences. 4 first deer, 1 first coyote, and 4 boys and 3 adult guides experiencing their first outing with CTO.

Thank you so much to all of the guys on our Texas Team that made this outing click and thank you to the Ashley family for making this possible.

So who are you and how do you identify yourself? If you believe in Christ, you have to believe in His word, and Genesis 1:26 God says He created us "in His image", meaning we look alike, and He also says in His "likeness" which means we are eternal beings... and goes on to say He gives us "rulership," which is dominion and reign, stewarding what He has created. Not owning, but stewarding, just as we do with landowners. 

The Bible tells us that in so many scriptures that we are a "Child of God", we will "Reign with God" sharing our true identity in Christ in so many verses. 
The enemy stole our identity from Adam & Eve, but Christ took it back at the cross and has planted that seed of the Kingdom in everyone who believes in Him.

The question now remains in this, "What are you going to do with your seed?"

Jesus said, "The knowledge of the secrets of the Kingdom of heaven have been given to you." (Matthew 13:11) "When anyone hears the message about the Kingdom and does not understand, the enemy comes in and snatches away what was sown in his heart." ( Matthew 13:18). Read the full chapter of the "Parable of the Sower", Matthew chapter 13 and ask yourself, "where does my identity lie?"

Are you letting others identify who you are, stealing your God given identity? "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:32) Stay tuned for more outings and devotions to come, along with experiences of a lifetime!

What a great time we had on our first 2016 Cross Trail Outfitters-Texas youth deer hunt at the T9E Ranch. God allowed us to have some awesome memories and build lasting relationships. We had the honor to have a wounded warrior there to share his story and offer his time to guide and teach the boys about gun safety and what it means to make sacrifices for our country.  In our campfire time we discussed "Wasted Opportunities" and how we miss opportunities to share the gospel and share our Faith in Jesus. 

We had one young man dedicate his life to Jesus Christ in the blind on the first morning hunt. Throughout the weekend, the kids harvested 3 does and 2 hogs. Lots of fun had by all, and great knowledge and understanding was imparted by our guides. We are looking forward to the rest of the 2016-17 hunting season.

Thank you so much to Steven & Sally Grinnell, Talbert White, Wes Spaid, Dave Kahil, Jason Dickens, and Flyn Williams. Thank you all for sharing your time, your talent and your treasure, allowing these kids to experience a hunt & memory of a lifetime!

Check out our calendar of events to sign your child up for an upcoming hunt. In order to allow as many kids to participate as possible, we ask that kids who have gone on an outing to wait 30 days to register for another one. We open registration for outings two weeks out. Once registered, you will receive an email confirmation of registration, then we will send out a packing list and paperwork the week of the outing.