ADVENTURE THEOLOGY

MICRO CONFERENCE

June 28–30, 2026  |  Truckee, California

Sunday evening through Tuesday noon

Tahoe Church  •  Truckee River  •  Truckee National Forest
10315 Hirschdale Rd, Truckee, CA

Getting people OUTSIDE so God can speak to their INSIDE.

The Invitation

Why are men drawn to wild, unknown places? Because something in the masculine soul knows that the wilderness will tell us the truth about ourselves in ways the indoor life never will.

You can hide behind a pulpit, a title, a packed schedule — but standing on the banks of the Truckee River with nothing but current and pine and sky, there is no one to perform for and nowhere left to hide.

God has always sent men outside when He wants their full attention. Not to the temple — to the desert. Not to the palace — to the mountain. Not to the city — beside the brook. The pattern is so consistent in Scripture it should stop us in our tracks.

The Adventure Theology Micro Conference is a three-day gathering for pastors, ministry leaders, and outdoor-minded disciples who believe God still meets people in wild places. Set in the beauty of Truckee and the Tahoe region, this intimate experience will explore how the outdoors can become a living classroom for spiritual formation, healing, mission, and community.

This is not a large conference with crowded hallways, heavy schedules or church growth techniques. This is something smaller, more honest, and more alive. Intimate, experiential, relational, and rooted in place.

Come ready to listen, learn,  walk, reflect, all while being outside.

What We’ll Explore

The conference is built around four interconnected themes, each led by a different voice, each grounded in both theology and lived practice.

Adventure Theology

How movement, risk, beauty, wilderness, and wonder shape our understanding of God. Why the outdoors matter in the life of faith. Why Jesus consistently withdrew to wild places — and what that means for how we follow Him.

Outdoor Church

Rethinking church beyond buildings. What makes a gathering truly “church”? How do we build liturgy, conversation, and spiritual rhythm in outdoor spaces — around campfires, on riverbanks, along trails? What does place-based, creation-rooted ministry look like in practice?

Wilderness Liturgy

The restorative power of wild places for the pastoral soul. Learn how wilderness places can serve as a companion and mentor in the ancient ways of stillness and listening, helping leaders pause, metabolize pain, and find their way into greater depth with God. Why being lost in the wild may be exactly how you find your way home.

Trailhead Mission

Meeting people where they already are. Ministry in trailhead towns, mountain communities, and recreation hubs where many people may never enter a church but are deeply open to authentic connection. Presence before platform. Hospitality, service, and trust-building through shared adventure.

The Rhythm

Three days. Four sessions. Self-sustained camping under the pines of the Truckee National Forest. Teaching, conversation, and time outdoors woven together in an unhurried rhythm that leaves room for God to speak.

Each session includes a main teaching followed by small group discussion. Groups are assigned intentionally — before the conference, every participant answers two questions in 250 words each: Who are you? and Why are you drawn to the wild? Your answers shape your group. You will be placed with men whose stories and longings have something to say to yours.

Each day includes an experiential element in the surrounding landscape. Options include hiking through the Truckee National Forest, running the river together, self guided reflection beside the water, journaling and prayer under the pines. This is not filler between sessions. It is the session. The trail and the river are the classroom, listen closely.

SUNDAY EVENING  •  JUNE 28 6:00 PM dinner

Session 1: Theology on the Trail

Steve Lummer Director of Outdoor Nations Network

Setting the vision. Why the outdoors matter in the life of faith. God’s voice in creation, Jesus’ pattern of retreat and wilderness ministry, and why outdoor culture matters for the future of mission.

Evening: Welcome dinner, opening teaching, campfire introductions, guided reflection — Where have you most clearly encountered God outdoors?

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MONDAY MORNING  •  JUNE 29

Session 2: Outdoor Church — Reimagining Sacred Gathering

Terrance Sutton - Pastor Tahoe Church

What makes a gathering truly church? Exploring what it means to build meaningful spiritual community outside traditional settings — trail gatherings, campfire worship, riverbank teaching, prayer walks, outdoor communion, and small discipleship communities in public spaces.

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MONDAY AFTERNOON  •  JUNE 29 - Truckee River Float Trip (2/3 hours)

Session 3: When You Find Yourself Lost

Bryon White

How being lost in the wilderness helps you find your way home. This session explores the restorative power of wild places for the pastoral soul — why the masculine heart is drawn to unknown landscapes, how silence and solitude strip away the false self, and why you cannot return home until you are carrying a gift for your community.

Experiential: Time to listen to the wild with along the  Truckee River, silent reflection, journaling and prayer.

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TUESDAY MORNING  •  JUNE 30

Session 4: Trailhead Mission — Evangelism in Outdoor Culture

Jayme Montera Reel Faith Ministries

Meeting people where they already are. Understanding outdoor culture, building trust through presence and hospitality, and discovering practical ways to share the Gospel naturally in outdoor relationships — through fly fishing, trail support, campground conversations, taco drops, aid stations, and long-term engagement in mountain bike, hiking, climbing, paddling, and ski communities.

Closing: How do we become the kind of leaders who help people hear God’s voice outside so He can reshape their inside?

The conference closes after this session.

Who This Is For

Pastors. Church planters. Ministry leaders. Camp and retreat directors. Christian guides and outfitters. Outdoor ministry leaders. Mission-minded adventurers. Anyone rethinking how the Church can meet people in a changing world by stepping outside.