C.S. Lewis may have penned these words, but a fella named Phil Carlson lived them. In 1993 the usually mild mannered Mr. Carlson decided it was time to get BOLD! He had heard of a movement in Boulder Colorado that was calling men to be men. Not just men, but Godly Men.

This movement was Promise Keepers. Phil had two sons and a knuckle-headed son-in-law that needed to hear this message. In a step of faith he purchased four very expensive tickets trusting that God would get everyone to Boulder for the weekend. He then announced that we would indeed be in attendance.

Reluctantly both of his sons gave in and agreed to go. The son-in-law offered more opposition. He tried to use work and health and non-aligning biorhythms anything as an excuse. Phil would have none of it. He dug in his heals and insisted that he be ready to leave at 2:00 that Friday. Phil’s persistence paid off and at 6:00 that Friday evening he and these three men sat at Folsom Field beginning 36 hours that changed many lives forever.

I am the knucklehead and at Promise Keepers in 1993 I gave my heart to Jesus. I came home a changed man. This love for the Lord became contagious – my wife and our three children were now being lead to a life of abundance and grace. Over the next 20 years my wife Christi and I served as Young Life leaders in Widefield Colorado. Literally thousands of high schoolers witnessed the good news of Jesus.

Now God has chosen us to lead young adults in the Fountain Valley area to Christ through “The Father’s Garden”.

All of this because a man knew the greatest gift he could give his daughter was helping her husband see life through Jesus’ eyes. Not hard to figure where the model for the Father’s Garden came from!