Great Outdoors

He hunts and fishes almost every day. A dream come true for most men. It is just part of his job-- he has to do it. She is by his side through it all, lying in mud pits in the winter while he is hunting geese and ducks, floating in a boat in the heat of the summer. It’s a team effort, a ministry for God. Some would say it is the best of everything. Jim Darnell just calls it “God’s Great Outdoors.”

Jim and Beth Darnell both grew up in the Baptist church and went to the same high school in Beaumont, Texas, together. Actually they went to school with Janice Joplin, but that’s a story for another time. They fell in love at the end of high school. After high school Jim knew what he wanted to do.

“I always wanted to be a wildlife biologist, so I went to A&M after high school. I was studying at Texas A&M, and I felt the Lord tugging on my heart to be a minister of the gospel. I said, 'Okay Lord.' I changed my major, went back to Lamar University, graduated, then went to Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.”

Jim was a pastor for many years. He pastured at a small church in San Marcos and traveled to revivals sharing the gospel, all the time with Beth by his side.

“For the last 15 years or so I have traveled as a bible teacher across the country doing men’s retreats, revivals and things like that.

"About 10 years ago the Lord spoke to us about the outdoor phase of the ministry. I have always had a burden for reaching outdoorsmen with the gospel. I have been a successful hunter and fisherman all my life. I have at times been a fishing guide. So we went out and bought the video equipment, and started filming trips and teaching the bible.”

The show starts off with some hunting and fishing, like any other outdoors show. Big monster bass, duck hunting, goose hunting, giant whitetails or javelina.

“It’s a very natural setting. We get out there in the boat, in the duck blind, at the deer lease. We let people tell their stories, how they came to Christ. Sometimes it is just sharing the word with them.

“Beth runs the cameras and lies in mud pits. She told me when we first started that she would never film a goose hunt, too messy, sloppy and cold. Then one day she realized, when she was lying in a marsh, never say never.”

Beth’s response to all of it, “I don’t mind so much now, I just never thought I would do some of the things I do to get the shots.” She is also an accomplished hunter and fisher and enjoys it all.

“Our television show is broadcast in five states across the southern United States: St. Louis Mo.; Mobile, Ala.; Pensacola Fla.; Galveston, Houston, Dallas/Fort Worth, El Paso, quite a bit in Texas. There are other Christians who have outdoor shows, but there are not any other Christian outdoor shows I know of. There are a lot of other Christian pastors who are outdoorsmen. Dr. John Morgan in Houston speaks at a lot of wildlife/outdoor banquets, and so do I. There are a lot of churches that will have a father/son banquet, a wildlife barbque or fish fry. They might buy a shotgun to raffle, then have a speaker. A lot of times the men will bring their buddies who are not believers. I will usually tell a bunch of hunting and fishing stories, then share the gospel. They give away the shotgun at the end, then everybody goes home. We have done one in Delaware for years. They don’t have room for everyone it is so popular. A lot of the guys that come are just good ole Copenhagen/Skoal boys. They have been coming to the dinner for a couple of years because they enjoyed it and like to try to win the shot gun They trust the pastor, they know he won’t try to make them do something religious. They have come to know me and trust me. We have a big turn out, and we have had some of these men commit their lives to Christ. God has given us a lot of favor with many outdoor people across the country-- many who are not Christians. Hunters, fishermen, guides, outfitters, writers, television people and others in the industry. We just try to be an influence for Jesus whereever we go.

“We also do a lot of kid fishing retreats. We will go out on Friday and all pitch tents around a lake. We gather around a bonfire that night, and I do a little seminar on lures and tying knots and stuff. Then we do a devotional and singing-- it’s a lot of fun. The next morning we team up and have a fishing tournament with father and son teams. We have trophies and lures we give out for first place for bass, perch, catfish, etc. About 9 a.m. we all come in for a big breakfast and check in to see who has caught what. Then we go back out. At noon everyone meets back for a fish fry and an awards ceremony. There is a lot of fruitage in those weekends. Some men will bring a fatherless kid-- there is a lot of bonding.”

Both Jim and Beth light up when the talk turns to their three children and especially their five grandchildren. They have two sons and a daughter. Both boys, like their father, are pastors. Their smiles are clear as they share stories about taking the grandchildren hunting and fishing.

“I believe that you need to spend a lot of time with your children and grandchildren having fun. They will pick up on your love of the Lord.”

He also has a clear theory about kids and drugs.

“There are several highs in life, a natural high from just enjoying the earth that God has made. A supernatural high from knowing the Lord in a personal way. The chemical artificial high really does not compare. Once they’ve experienced the adrenaline from catching a fish or hunting, the artificial highs do not come close. If you can introduce that to them they will get hooked on the outdoors.”

In addition to the television ministry, the Darnells are also active members of the Texas Outdoor Writers Association, and Jim writes a regular column for the San Marcos Daily Record, his hometown paper.

“The ministry is out there where people live. There is so much Christian television that is not very real. A lot of people will look at it and say 'what is this?'. All this fancy dress, hairdos and all. That is one reason I like having this Christian television show because it shows people that normal people can be Christians. They can love God and still do normal things. Regular folks doing regular things.”

The Darnells are in some ways far from your regular folks. They work hard to carry the message of salvation. But if you were at the tackle shop, you would meet a couple who love the outdoors. God’s Great Outdoors, and they would want to share it with you.

To get in touch with the Darnells concerning their ministries, you can call them at (512) 392-4361.

T.J. Greaney/ CLM

Great Outdoors He hunts and fishes almost every day. A dream come true for most men. It is just part of his job-- he has to do it. She is by his side through it all, lying in mud pits in the winter while he is hunting geese and ducks, floating in a boat in the heat of the summer. It’s a team effort, a ministry for God. Some would say it is the best of everything. Jim Darnell just calls it “God’s Great Outdoors.” Jim and Beth Darnell both grew up in the Baptist church and went to the same high school in Beaumont, Texas, together. Actually they went to school with Janice Joplin, but that’s a story for another time. They fell in love at the end of high school. After high school Jim knew what he wanted to do. “I always wanted to be a wildlife biologist, so I went to A&M after high school. I was studying at Texas A&M, and I felt the Lord tugging on my heart to be a minister of the gospel. I said, 'Okay Lord.' I changed my major, went back to Lamar University, graduated, then went to Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.” Jim was a pastor for many years. He pastured at a small church in San Marcos and traveled to revivals sharing the gospel, all the time with Beth by his side. “For the last 15 years or so I have traveled as a bible teacher across the country doing men’s retreats, revivals and things like that. "About 10 years ago the Lord spoke to us about the outdoor phase of the ministry. I have always had a burden for reaching outdoorsmen with the gospel. I have been a successful hunter and fisherman all my life. I have at times been a fishing guide. So we went out and bought the video equipment, and started filming trips and teaching the bible.” The show starts off with some hunting and fishing, like any other outdoors show. Big monster bass, duck hunting, goose hunting, giant whitetails or javelina. “It’s a very natural setting. We get out there in the boat, in the duck blind, at the deer lease. We let people tell their stories, how they came to Christ. Sometimes it is just sharing the word with them. “Beth runs the cameras and lies in mud pits. She told me when we first started that she would never film a goose hunt, too messy, sloppy and cold. Then one day she realized, when she was lying in a marsh, never say never.” Beth’s response to all of it, “I don’t mind so much now, I just never thought I would do some of the things I do to get the shots.” She is also an accomplished hunter and fisher and enjoys it all. “Our television show is broadcast in five states across the southern United States: St. Louis Mo.; Mobile, Ala.; Pensacola Fla.; Galveston, Houston, Dallas/Fort Worth, El Paso, quite a bit in Texas. There are other Christians who have outdoor shows, but there are not any other Christian outdoor shows I know of. There are a lot of other Christian pastors who are outdoorsmen. Dr. John Morgan in Houston speaks at a lot of wildlife/outdoor banquets, and so do I. There are a lot of churches that will have a father/son banquet, a wildlife barbque or fish fry. They might buy a shotgun to raffle, then have a speaker. A lot of times the men will bring their buddies who are not believers. I will usually tell a bunch of hunting and fishing stories, then share the gospel. They give away the shotgun at the end, then everybody goes home. We have done one in Delaware for years. They don’t have room for everyone it is so popular. A lot of the guys that come are just good ole Copenhagen/Skoal boys. They have been coming to the dinner for a couple of years because they enjoyed it and like to try to win the shot gun They trust the pastor, they know he won’t try to make them do something religious. They have come to know me and trust me. We have a big turn out, and we have had some of these men commit their lives to Christ. God has given us a lot of favor with many outdoor people across the country-- many who are not Christians. Hunters, fishermen, guides, outfitters, writers, television people and others in the industry. We just try to be an influence for Jesus whereever we go. “We also do a lot of kid fishing retreats. We will go out on Friday and all pitch tents around a lake. We gather around a bonfire that night, and I do a little seminar on lures and tying knots and stuff. Then we do a devotional and singing-- it’s a lot of fun. The next morning we team up and have a fishing tournament with father and son teams. We have trophies and lures we give out for first place for bass, perch, catfish, etc. About 9 a.m. we all come in for a big breakfast and check in to see who has caught what. Then we go back out. At noon everyone meets back for a fish fry and an awards ceremony. There is a lot of fruitage in those weekends. Some men will bring a fatherless kid-- there is a lot of bonding.” Both Jim and Beth light up when the talk turns to their three children and especially their five grandchildren. They have two sons and a daughter. Both boys, like their father, are pastors. Their smiles are clear as they share stories about taking the grandchildren hunting and fishing. “I believe that you need to spend a lot of time with your children and grandchildren having fun. They will pick up on your love of the Lord.” He also has a clear theory about kids and drugs. “There are several highs in life, a natural high from just enjoying the earth that God has made. A supernatural high from knowing the Lord in a personal way. The chemical artificial high really does not compare. Once they’ve experienced the adrenaline from catching a fish or hunting, the artificial highs do not come close. If you can introduce that to them they will get hooked on the outdoors.” In addition to the television ministry, the Darnells are also active members of the Texas Outdoor Writers Association, and Jim writes a regular column for the San Marcos Daily Record, his hometown paper. “The ministry is out there where people live. There is so much Christian television that is not very real. A lot of people will look at it and say 'what is this?'. All this fancy dress, hairdos and all. That is one reason I like having this Christian television show because it shows people that normal people can be Christians. They can love God and still do normal things. Regular folks doing regular things.” The Darnells are in some ways far from your regular folks. They work hard to carry the message of salvation. But if you were at the tackle shop, you would meet a couple who love the outdoors. God’s Great Outdoors, and they would want to share it with you. To get in touch with the Darnells concerning their ministries, you can call them at (512) 392-4361. T.J. Greaney/ CLM

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