Congratulations to Ben Nelson, who won the 12 Gauge CZ Auto Shotgun! Thanks to everyone who supported our CTO kids summer camp raffle.

What a summer!!! 48 Campers and 22 volunteers came together over 4 weeks to put together 4 different weeks of CTO Missouri Ultimate Summer Camps. They chased wild hogs, exotic rams and caught over 300+ fish but more importantly, each camper learned to pursue God in a new and real way. They learned and practiced how to be men of integrity, love, joy, peace, patience,kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. (Galatians 5) We are needing men who are willing to make a stand against the "giants" of this world and I am so proud of each camper and how they made steps to conquer those "giants" they face in life by pursuing God and His creation.

To view pictures of camps just click the links below:

Session 1- Hog Camp

 
Session 2- Ram Camp

Session 3 - Young Bucks

 
Session 4- Fly Fishing Camp

Thanks the many volunteers, donors and sponsors for making this summer possible. A special thank you to Whitetail Properties, Lew's Fishing, Hodgdon Powder, NRA, Redneck Blinds, SCI, Bass Pro,Rafter F Hunts, RS Hunts, Strike King, Jared Enterprises, Turner family, and the Bouse family for their continual year around support of the kids of CTO Missouri. You and many other companies and families are truly investing into the next generation. CTO moments would not be possible without you! 

Thank you and God bless! If you are interested in joining the Team of CTO Missouri to help "Build Men, Preserve our Heritage and Share our Faith, please contact Kirk Bouse at Kbouse@teamcto.org or check us out at www.TeamCTO.org.

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

P.S. This year we had over 6,000 opportunities to make an impact on kids involved in CTO through our programs. But we need your help today so we can step it up in 2017 and disciple more kids. You can give online here. To receive a tax‐ deductible receipt for 2016, donations must be received or postmarked by December 31, 2016.

Cross Trail Outfitters of Missouri would like to thank Safari Club International (SCI) Gateway Chapter of St. Louis Missouri for their annual grant to the kids of Cross Trail Outfitters of Missouri. The majority of the grant went toward purchasing new Primos Hunting Blinds to put more kids into the the great outdoors. The remaining portion went to purchase a Redneck Blind for kids to use on outings.

Thanks again SCI Gateway Chapter for helping CTO Missouri preserve our hunting heritage and get more kids into the sport of hunting.

Where do I even begin to talk about all the amazing things God did this summer at CTO Missouri Ultimate Summer Camps. We had almost 50 kids and 24+ volunteers that where "Following the Blood Trail" this summer. We studied the life of Jesus Christ and how He followed the blood trail straight to the cross for you and me. Each boy realized that we all tend to get on the wrong trail at times, but with the help of God in our lives, we all can get back to "Following the Blood Trail" that leads straight to Jesus Christ. God is so good! 

I haven't even mentioned the 11 hogs and 10 rams that where harvested or the countless fish that where caught and the thousands of rounds of ammo that were shot while target practicing. I could go on and on of all the fun things each camper got to experience this summer. But more that anything, each camper and volunteer grew into an deeper relationship with Jesus Christ and was asked the simple but deep question of: "Are you following the Blood Trail?"

Click this you tube link below to watch some of our campers committing to "Following the Blood Tail" through believers baptism.   

A special thanks to Rafter F Hunts, RS Hunts, Buffalo River Lodging, Duane Hada Fly Fishing Guiding Service, Bouse Family Farm and all the volunteers and financial supporters that made 2016 CTO Missouri Ultimate Summer Camps a true success. Thanks for helping "Guide the Next Generation to Christ through the Outdoors!"

Congratulations to the winner of this year's CTO Missouri Summer Camp Raffle. Rodney Evans from Lamar, Mo., won the Savage Axis 243 at this years drawing. Thanks to everyone who supported the CTO youth through this raffle!

Cross Trail Outfitters of Missouri would like to thank Safari Club International (SCI) Gateway Chapter of St. Louis Missouri for their annual grant to the kids of Cross Trail Outfitters of Missouri. The entire grant went toward purchasing new Primos Hunting Blinds to put more kids into the the great outdoors. Thanks again SCI Gateway Chapter for helping CTO Missouri preserve our hunting heritage and get more kids into the sport of hunting.