A Backseat Confession

The car was quiet on the long drive home from a Trail Life meeting when Jason’s 12 year old son suddenly spoke from the back seat: “Dad, I want to be a Christian.”

Jason gripped the steering wheel, tears welling in his eyes. “I don’t even remember what we did in the meeting that night,” he admits with a laugh.

“My son had been asking questions for weeks, but it still took me by surprise. I was just a puddle of tears in the front seat, trying to keep it together as we talked through it all on the long drive home.”

That confession didn’t come out of nowhere. It was the fruit of years spent walking together through faith and adventure in Trail Life.

A Ministry He Didn’t Expect

When Jason and his son joined Troop NC-0834 at First Baptist Church in Rocky Mount in 2020, it was just a way to spend meaningful time together. A friend had invited them, and they said yes.

What he didn’t expect was to be “roped into” becoming a Ranger Advisor almost immediately. “I have a background in youth ministry and that’s where I’d always felt called, but life had taken me into IT,” Jason explains. “Trail Life gave me the chance to do youth ministry after all. I got to pour into boys’ lives—including my own son’s—in a real, tangible way.”

Trail Life also gave Jason something else he hadn’t realized he was missing: deep male friendships. “That’s the missing piece for a lot of dads,” he says. “Once you’re working and raising kids, you often lose those friendships you need as a man. Trail Life restored that for me.”

“There’s something about heading out into the woods for a weekend that just brings men together,” Jason reflects. “Sitting around the fire after a day of hiking or canoeing, joking around and talking without filters. That trust and honesty grew into friendships I’ll never lose. These are men I could call anytime, and they’d show up.”

A Call to Plant

Over time, Jason grew as a leader under the mentorship of his Troop. Inspired by a “Train the Trainer” event, he noticed a gap: eastern North Carolina had no Troops nearby. His family had been driving 45 minutes one way to meetings. Surely there were other families who would join if it were closer.

At the same time, moms in his community began approaching him. The local Scouts Troop was led by a woman, and they longed for a program where boys were mentored by men. “That felt like a sign,” Jason says.

He brought the idea to his leaders in Rocky Mount. Rather than hold him back, they championed him. “They saw themselves like a mother church sending out a church plant,” Jason explains. “They wanted us to succeed, so they shared their systems, their encouragement, even a couple of their leaders.”

When Jason held his first interest meeting, 30 people showed up. His sending Troop was right there beside him, investing in the launch. A first backpacking trip sealed the deal. The boys loved it, the parents caught the vision, and what began as one man’s stirring had become a movement and Troop NC-0068 at Williamston Memorial Baptist was born.

More Than Adventure

Trail Life is not just outdoor fun—it’s a ministry that multiplies men and impacts souls. Jason has seen it firsthand.

“One of our leaders said he’s seen more boys come to Christ through Trail Life than through traditional youth ministry. That’s the focus. My son’s decision to follow Jesus is living proof.”

But the ministry isn’t only for boys. Trail Life has reshaped Jason too. “Before Trail Life, I felt something missing as a dad and a man,” he admits. “Here, I’ve grown in faith, learned to lead with purpose, and built friendships that strengthen me. The accountability, encouragement, and shared mission—it’s transformed how I parent, how I serve, and how I show up in church and community.”

Multiplying the Mission

Today, Troop NC-0068 is thriving. It’s a living testimony of Trail Life’s multiplying model: boys becoming men, men becoming leaders, Troops planting Troops, and churches strengthened in the process. 

From the quiet moment in the car with his son to the growing ministry now taking root in eastern North Carolina, Jason’s story is a reminder:

When men step forward in faith, the Kingdom grows.
One Troop, one family, one boy at a time.

Find a Troop near you or Learn how to bring Trail Life to your community at TrailLifeUSA.com