Friday, February 26, 2021

30 NEW SLEEPING COTS! ...& 30 NEW FITTED SHEETS! ....THANK YOU GENEROUS DONORS!!!

 

Our small army of amazing donors recently helped us raise over $105k!! It is a new GTD record and has put us in a healthy position to replace aging camp gear.
  
As you may remember, earlier this month we were able to purchase 30 new tents to replace our old leaky tents!! I'm just as thrilled to share with you that we scored a good deal on 30 new cots @ $30 per cot and 30 new fitted sheets @ $6.65 per sheet. For a grand total of around $1100 we just improved the quality of camp life exponentially for our campers! 
  
We learned a long time ago that a good night's sleep is crucial to be able to participate in a full day of physically demanding adventures as well as to prevent sleep deprivation for the bus & van drivers. Getting them up off the ground and onto a cot helps immensely and it helps keep the tent organized since each camper can store their personal items under the cot. Add an inflatable pad, a camp pillow, a good sleeping bag, & a full day of activities and it's off to lala land for a great night of slumber!
  
We usually get about 7 years out of our cots so we are looking at a cost breakdown on average of about $160 per year for 30 new cots & sheets. This is a great camp experience investment into our participants! We don't want our participants to just barely survive their camp experience and never come back. We say no to "one and done"! We want our participants to be eager to want to come back and do another GTD adventure!! The better the experience then the better likelihood that they will return!
  
Our special thanks to everyone who donated to GTD over the past few months!! Your funds are making a difference! God bless you wonderful donors!!
  
  
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Thursday, February 25, 2021

CELEBRATING 25 YEARS ...EVERY MONTH ON THE 25th ....WITH 1 FREE GIVEAWAY!!

 

On the 25th of every month in 2021 GTD is doing a giveaway on my (Doug) personal Facebook page to celebrate our 25th year of ministry. 
   
This month we just gave away this new Field & Stream Sportsman 2L Hydration Pack to the first person to leave a comment with the year that GTD first started.
   
Congratulations to Lori DeSantis for winning this month's giveaway!! And congratulations to Kyle Johnson for winning last month's giveaway!!
   
Thanks for playing! See you again in a month!!
  
  
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Tuesday, February 23, 2021

IGNITE is SOLD OUT!



 QUICK EVENT UPDATES:
   (1) IGNITE is SOLD OUT!
   (2) SLAMMED is ALMOST SOLD OUT
   (3) This weekend's PADDLE PROWL has 4 spots remaining
   (4) We have about 10 spots available for LIQUID
  
We've added a Waiting List Form to the IGNITE website link for anyone who wants to be informed if a spot becomes available.
  
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Going The Distance Adventure Ministry, Inc
God-awesome adventures since 1996!
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Friday, February 19, 2021

EVENT UPDATES... Paddle Prowl, Ignite, & Slammed

 EVENT UPDATES...
  
<> PADDLE PROWL ($25) (Feb 27-28) HAS 5 SPOTS AVAILABLE
     - 5 participants had to cancel when we postponed the trip due to poor weather conditions.
     - Details & Registration
  
<> IGNITE ($25) (March 5-7) HAS 20 SPOTS REMAINING
     - 30 participants have already reserved & paid
     - Details & Registration
  
<> SLAMMED ($25) (June 30 - July 4) HAS 20 SPOTS REMAINING
     - 30 participants have already reserved & paid
     - Details & Registration
  
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A few weeks ago we had to postpone our Paddle Prowl Kayaking & Island Camping Trip from the beginning of February to the end of February due to inclement weather. Unfortunately the new date didn't work for half of our participants so we now have 5 spots available if anyone wants to join us on the this really cool adventure in Dunedin, Florida!
  
We've gotten a great response for our IGNITE Retreat & SLAMMED Adventure Trip. We anticipate selling out on both of these events so if you really want to go on either of these events then you'll want to register as soon as possible!!
  
Have a great weekend! We hope to see you on one of our upcoming outdoor adventures!!
  
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Going The Distance Adventure Ministry, Inc
Celebrating 25 years of God-awesome adventures!
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Monday, February 15, 2021

30 NEW TENTS! THANK YOU DONORS!!! ...GTD IS AN "IN-TENTS" MINISTRY ;)




  
I can't thank our amazing donors & Ministry Partners enough for the outpouring of support you have blessed us with over the past 14 weeks. I'm thrilled to let you know that your donations have enabled us to purchase 30 new tents!!! 
  
We typically need to replace our tents after 2 years, but have been patching, tarping, & reapplying silicon waterproof spray to the rainflies in order to stretched the last batch of tents to 5 years. We also prayed a lot for clear weather (LOL!). The last batch of tents had completed their mission several times over. The poles were sagging. The rainflies were leaking. They had been called out of retirement too many times. And now we bid them a fond farewell! Thank you for your service! Enjoy your final retirement!! 
  
And now we welcome our next batch of tents! 
  - 10 new Coleman 8-person Skydome Tents
  - 10 new Coleman 4-person Highline Tents
  - 10 new Coleman 2-person Hooligan Tents
  
I've been taking advantage of some great sales so that we get the most bang for the buck. We were able to purchase all 30 tents for $2000!
  
We are getting ready to kick off our 2021 spring retreat season followed by our summer adventure season. It's so great to know that we will be supplying new tents to our participants!
  
Just as important, with COVID still a factor, we are able to pull in our other backpacking tents & cocoon hammocks so that we can offer up to 50 individual tents to 50 individual participants (or family units) so they can safely social dis"tents" instead of sharing a tent with someone else.
  
We are so thankful for the small army of donors that strongly supports GTD! Thank you all so much! God bless you!
  
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Going The Distance Adventure Ministry, Inc
Celebrating 25 years of God-awesome adventures!
www.gtdbullhorn.blogspot.com
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Friday, February 12, 2021

NEVER BEFORE... AND NEVER AGAIN... 5-DAY SLAMMED ADVENTURE TRIP IN NC FOR ONLY $25!!!


CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF MINISTRY WITH GREAT DEALS! 
  
I'm so happy to share some more big news! We are providing this year's SLAMMED Adventure Trip for ONLY $25 per person!! This is the event that started it all way back in 1996 and 25 years later we are celebrating by offering our favorite event at one of our favorite group campsites for only $25 =). 
  
This is just one more way we are thanking our participants, donors, and supporters for 25 years of God-awesome ministry!
  
This event is limited to 75 people so you'll want to register in advance to lock in your spot.
  
 
 
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Friday, February 5, 2021

1 MONTH TILL IGNITE!!! ...2 Days / 2 Nights = ONLY $25!!!

 
OUR 25th YEAR MEANS BIG DISCOUNTS!!
    
Get ready for a steady stream of God-awesome news from your favorite Christ-centered fun-loving adventure ministry!!
    
One of our fan favorite events is just 4 weeks away!! Join us on this fUntastic retreat!!
    
COST: Only $25!! Celebrating 25 Years!!
DATE: March 5-7, 2021 (Fri night - Sunday)
LOCATION: Word of Life (Hudson, FL)
    
ACCOMMODATIONS: Tent Camping including Nice Restrooms & Warm Showers  
    
INCLUDED ACTIVITIES:  Camping, Daily Devotions, High Ropes Course, Climbing Wall, Zipline. Low Ropes Course / Team Building, Team Sports (such as volleyball, ultimate, basketball) Camp Games, Swimming Pool, Nightly Campfires, Bible-Based Messages, Smores, Outdoor Movie (with family friendly editing)  
    
ADD-ON OPTIONS (EXTRA COSTS):  
<> Paintball.... Add $30/person
<> Bunkhouse Cabins.... Add $15/night per person
    
For more details and/or to register go to the IGNITE website
    
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Going The Distance Adventure Ministry 
25 years of God-awesome adventures!
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Tuesday, February 2, 2021

CHECK 'EM OFF THE LIST! ...CHECK, CHECK, CHECK, CHECK & CHECK-A-ROONEY!

 

January is always a busy month for non-profits. Legally, we have several things that have to be completed by Jan 31st. And I'm happy to say that we completed all of our requirements and more =).
   
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W2’s - DONE!
W3 - DONE!
Quarterly Report - DONE!
Donation Receipts mailed out - DONE!
Newsletter mailed out - DONE!
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Bring on February =) 
   
Going The Distance Adventure Ministry, Inc
Celebrating 25 years of God-awesome adventures!
 
 
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Monday, February 1, 2021

PADDLE PROWL IS SOLD OUT!

 


This weekend's GTD kayaking & island camping event is sold out, but if you want to be added to on our "waiting list" in case someone cancels then go ahead and register on our Paddle Prowl website and we will keep you updated.
   
CLICK HERE for the Paddle Prowl link
  
  
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GTD RAISES $105,000 (AND MORE)!! ...ALONG WITH MATERIAL DONATIONS AND SAVED EXPENSES = $135,000!!! OUR GREATEST FUNDRAISING SEASON EVER!! GLORY TO GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Yesssssssssssss!!!! You did it again! We did it again! HE DID IT AGAIN!!!! As you already know October 1st through January 31st is fundraising season for GTD. Our goal, like last year, was to raise $100,000. All glory to God, I’m thrilled to announce that GTD has raised $105,000 (AND MORE!) in just 3 months!! We received notice of a grant along with a few more generous donations during our final week of fundraising to put us over the goal line! In fact, that sets a new fundraising record for GTD! WOW!! This is such a BIG DEAL to us! Think about this... in the middle of a worldwide pandemic in uncertain economic times and without a fundraising banquet YOU helped us exceed our fundraising goal AND SET A NEW FUNDRAISING RECORD OF $105,000 (AND MORE)!!! “What’s the AND MORE”, you may be asking. Well, if raising $105k wasn’t amazing enough, GTD also received a 2008 Ford Super Duty F250, a 40 ft shipping container, 2 handmade wooden kayaks, a gas powered golf cart, and didn’t need to spend the $5000 required to run an in-person banquet. That all adds up to another $30,000 in material donations and savings. WOW!!! Praise the Lord!! You guys keep blowing us away!! God keeps flooring us!! We keep dropping our jaws!!
  
Here’s the math: $64k in one-time donations + $41k in monthly pledges over the next 12 months = $105k + $25k in supplies + $5k not spent = $135k!!!!
  
THANK YOU SO MUCH EVERYONE!!!! 
  
One of the greatest joys of being involved in a non-profit organization is the opportunity to say THANK YOU to the generous and amazing people that God uses to build & propel this ministry. I learned a long time ago that God’s method is people. He could choose a million other ways to share the gospel or to supply the resources needed to build a ministry, but His first choice is to work through mankind for mankind. We think that is pretty special which means we think you are pretty special! 
  
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you so so so so so much for obeying God’s prompting and investing in & contributing to this ministry!! God is using you to change lives!
  
May God bless you 100 fold for blessing this ministry!!!!
  
What a way to kick off our 25th year of ministry!!! Thank You Jesus!!!
  
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Going The Distance Adventure Ministry, Inc
Celebrating 25 years of God-awesome adventures!
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