Just recently, I was invited by the ministry of Master Plan of Mesa State College to a retreat with 33 college students at a beautiful mountain lodge in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. I was able to teach on several subjects (Age of the Earth, and the Hand of God) to a crowd of believers and non-believers of Biblical Creation. I was also able to share the Gospel message with the entire group. The teaching time was followed by a period of question and answers. I pray that the faith of those that do believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior was increased, and a seed was planted in the hearts and minds of those who doubt.
Cascade Lodge, where the retreat was held, is about 30 miles north of Durango, Colorado, close to the Purgatory Ski Resort. The lodge was built during the late 1920’s and early 30’s. The construction (on National Forest Service property) was a community effort, spearheaded by a local pastor and a banker. The lodge was created for the positive moral and spiritual enrichment of the youth in the Durango area.
In the mid 30’s, the lodge was transferred to non-local private families. It remained this way for the next 50 years. During this time many of the original purposes of the lodge were lost to the Durango community. The lodge was donated to Master Plan Ministries in 1986. The Forest Service informed Master Plan that they had to tear down and remove Cascade Lodge. After a battle that eventually went to Washington D.C., the lodge was declared a historic building and was saved from destruction. In 1987 the long process of restoring and repairing the historic building began. Through Master Plan Ministries, the original purpose has been restored.
Master Plan Ministries’ goal is “preparing others to reach and influence the world for Christ through spiritual multiplication.” They have ministries on 2 campuses on the western slope of Colorado. If you know of students attending Fort Lewis State College in Durango have them go to http://eternityimpact.com for more information. For students attending Mesa State College, go to http://mytnl.com . These ministries will help the students meet their spiritual needs.
Lanny Johnson