Discovery Ministries — Organization Profile
Discovery Ministries is a Christian adventure retreat and wilderness ministry that uses outdoor challenge experiences for spiritual formation. The ministry states that it invites believers to discover greater depths in the adventurous life in Christ through intentional adversity and imminent victory. Its programs are designed to help participants encounter God, grow in Christian maturity, and learn through facilitated experiences in wilderness and retreat settings.
Discovery Ministries is based in Eminence, Missouri, in the Ozark region near outdoor recreation areas in southern Missouri. The ministry serves youth groups, adult groups, homeschool students, missionaries, churches, leadership teams, academic groups, and other retreat participants. Since its founding by Gary Colvin in 1983, Discovery Ministries has grown from a bare-bones campground into a retreat center with lodges, a cabin, an open-air pavilion, and multiple challenge elements.
The organization’s stated mission is to glorify God through challenge-based ministry. Discovery Ministries emphasizes wilderness expeditions, adventure retreats, experiential discipleship, small-group facilitation, and outdoor skills training. Its core values include being commanded by Christ, called to adversity, committed to the process of wilderness, crafted by facilitation, connected through small groups, and constructed with staff who are Christ-followers first.
Discovery Ministries operates through retreats, expeditions, training programs, events, internships, and seasonal experiences. Retreat options include youth group retreats, adult group retreats, homeschool Endeavor programs, Midwest Bible Campout, and adventure activities. Expedition options include Challenge Expeditions, which are intensive learning experiences for physical, emotional, and spiritual testing, and Recreation Expeditions, which combine outdoor adventure with rest, reflection, and group connection.
Training is another major part of the ministry. Discovery Ministries offers or facilitates hands-on outdoor technical skills, practical spiritual formation, rescue medicine, backcountry instruction, interpersonal skills training, and college-credit opportunities through partner institutions such as Ozark Christian College. Training areas include swift-water rescue, whitewater canoeing, wilderness first responder courses, rock climbing skills, conflict management, group processing, facilitation, listening techniques, and pre-field missionary preparation.
People can engage with Discovery Ministries by booking a retreat, joining an expedition, registering for training, participating in Endeavor programs, attending Midwest Bible Campout, applying for internships or staff openings, giving financially, subscribing to updates, or contacting the ministry about scheduling. The ministry works with groups seeking structured challenge, spiritual reflection, leadership growth, and outdoor learning in a Christian environment.
Key Links
- Website: https://www.dmchallenge.org/
- About: https://www.dmchallenge.org/about.html
- Retreats: https://www.dmchallenge.org/retreats.html
- Retreat Center: https://www.dmchallenge.org/retreat-center.html
- Adventure Activities: https://www.dmchallenge.org/adventure-activities.html
- Expeditions: https://www.dmchallenge.org/expeditions.html
- Training: https://www.dmchallenge.org/training.html
- Events: https://www.dmchallenge.org/events.html
- Staff: https://www.dmchallenge.org/staff.html
- Donate: https://form.jotform.com/220794705720153
Contact Information
- Email: co*****@*********ge.org
- Phone: 573-226-3213
- Phone: 866-307-1947
- Mailing address: 17043 State Route E, Eminence, MO 65466
Socials
- Not publicly listed.
Leadership
- Joel Bates — Executive Director
- Briar Dale — Wilderness Instructor
- Jared Johnston — Wilderness Instructor
- Emma Bates — Office Manager / Wilderness Instructor
- Jan Kerley — Receptionist / Finance Manager
- Julie Bates — Food Service Director
