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What
is Wilderness Reconnection Experiences?
Wilderness
Reconnection Experiences (WRE) is a Christian-based, nonprofit
organization dedicated to providing meaningful, facilitated
wilderness experiences for cancer survivors.
The
idea is the brainchild of founder and Executive Director Eric
Girard. Having faced and beaten life-threatening metastatic
testicular cancer in the spring and summer of 2004, Eric focused
his energy on discovering God's call for his life and reconnecting
to Him through His creation. Eric quickly realized that his
favorite form of worship is in being outdoors and focusing on God.
Eric
planned and took a trip
to southwestern Colorado with his close friend, Rich Welch,
to summit a number of 14,000-foot peaks. He imagined the mountain
as a metaphor for his experience: from diagnosis to treatment
to recovery and moving on. Thinking about, planning, preparing
for, traveling to, and making the ascent all represented steps
of healing, rededication to his Christian faith, and discovering
God's call for his life.
When
he returned from his own wilderness reconnection experience,
Eric was clear on what his new purpose in life was: His mission
was to help other cancer survivors make the best of the rest
of their lives. "Business as usual" was no longer
an option.
The
programs offered by Wilderness Reconnection Experience formalize
these steps for others, creating an opportunity for spiritual
and physical renewal and clarifying each person's call and
reason for being.
Mission
Wilderness
Reconnections offers Christian-based, facilitated wilderness
experiences to cancer survivors of any faith, providing the
tools to help them reconnect with God, life, faith, and self,
and discover a new purpose and plan for their lives. We inspire
cancer survivors to become life thrivers.
Vision
Wilderness
Reconnections helps cancer survivors make the best of the
rest of their lives.
We
believe cancer survivors can see themselves as active participants
in all aspects of their lives, rather than as cancer victims.
Our vision is a world in which cancer survivors are fully
connected to God and have a clear purpose and plan for their
lives. All cancer survivors will have the mindset, framework
and resources to take this life-threatening and life-altering
experience and turn it into something good for God, their
community, and themselves.
Values
- God,
His creation and teachings
- Mind,
body, and soul
- The
power of the wilderness
- Empathy,
love and compassion
- Taking
positive action and being of direct service to those in
need
- Courage
- Patience,
being in the moment, and the ability to listen
Statement
Of Faith
- The
Centrality of the Scriptures
- The
Necessity of New Birth
- The
Church as a Fellowship of Believers
- The
Ministry of the Holy Spirit
- Salvation
through Christ
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Who
is Wilderness Reconnection Experiences?
Eric
Girard, Founder and Executive Director
Erin
Hudson Girard
Bill
Romanelli, President
Craig
Friedman, CFO and Treasurer
Volunteers
and Advisors:
Brent
Kostiw
Danise
Rapetti
Brian
Rhen
Janet
Romanelli
Chris
States
Dave
Waterman
Rich
and Lissa
Welch
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