Frequently Asked Questions

Why are there prerequisites for the participants to attend?
The Outdoor Family Challenges are limited to only five pairs. The staff desires all who attend to be ready for the challenge to get the most out of their experience. The purpose of the biographies is to assist Randy, the family therapist, to know you better before you come, and the staff to have prayed specifically and intelligently for you. Also, if there are pairs who need even more one-on-one help with life issues before attending an Outdoor Family Challenge, an honest response to the application needs to be given the the family pair can make an informed decision whether they really want to attend. For example: a father who has sexually violated his daughter will need to go thru much more than what the Challenge offers; therefore that particular application would be discouraged and referred for long-term family therapy.

You make it sound like we are going to make a 180 degree turn around after attending a 5-day Family Challenge.
Randy is considered by many he has worked with to be the Hound of Heaven, he is untiring. He will be relentless in coaching each pair about the broken bridges in their relationship; he is very intense, though gentle. Randy has worked with family's since 1977. He has worked intensively, over many extended hours, with parents and their children to coach them through the blocks that prohibit a fulfilling relationship. Hang on to your hat, for you are in for a fundamentaly changing experience of a lifetime. Certainly, there can be no promise of outcome, in such a limited time frame, nor can there be a promise of outcome in any relationship focused effort. However, when families have completed intensive therapy, they typically respond with joy about the movement they've made and have no regrets.

Alot of churches and christians believe that you don't need therapy - just Jesus
Essentially this is absolutely true. (I Bet you didn't think you would ever hear that from a therapist.) The problem that many of us have is the wounds in our life run to the core of our identity, and we have to learn to break the patterns we have developed over a lifetime! The "old man" must die. Just as the Holy Spirit moves through medical physicians to heal the disorders of the physical body, God uses therapists, pastors, the family patriarch or matriarch of yester-year as a tool to, at times, do His work of healing the disorders of the heart and soul.

Is there a case inwhich a father or husband should not consider attending a challenge?
Yes. If fathers and/or husbands CAN NOT listen to the heart of the one who would be joining them, we suggest, you consider other options. The challenges are for those fathers and husbands who deeply want to do all they can to repair their relationships.

Why camping - especially with four other pairs?
First OFC is not about talking "about" an adventure; we're about living the adventure! Yes, you will find many adventures done out of dude ranches and retreat centers with fireplaces, pools, and HBO. There is a definite place for those type of retreats and they can be very effective for their purpose. Outdoor Family Challenges isn't your normal family "retreat". We don't seek to experience healing from the outside - in, but from the inside - out. So, our method is not an intellectual one, but a passionate heart experiential method. Our goal is for you and your son or daughter's heart to be reached by Jesus Christ and re-constructed by His Holy Spirit! We use the outdoors as a provocative tool only, not as the end experience.

Why is the Challenge more expensive than camps or other wilderness programs?
We do recognize the challenges are not inexpensive, there are many Colorado hunting and ourdoor adventures that cost $5,000 or more for a week or so. Our costs are the lowest we can offer because OFC uses well established professionals in their respective fields. To get private lessons from our fly fisherman or climbing guides would cost much more. To get four days of therapy for a single family would cost more than double the cost of OFC. Considering the education, training, and experience of those you will be getting training from, we believe the cost is appropriate.