As we near the end of the year, we are taking some time in each of our newsletters to talk about and demonstrate how Montreat Conference Center’s ministry is supported by gifts from individuals, families, churches, and other organizations. One area of our ministry which receives significant support from these gifts is the Montreat Wilderness, a space comprised of nearly 2,500 acres of pristine wilderness in the Blue Ridge Mountains which is home to Montreat’s many trails. Both the Montreat Fund and Montreat’s Wilderness Operations and Maintenance Fund help to protect and sustain this land, providing staffing, tools, and supplies used for its upkeep and general maintenance. By making a gift in support of the Montreat Wilderness, you help to ensure that these spaces can continue to be enjoyed for generations to come.
When it comes to general maintenance of Montreat’s trail system, much of this work is completed by part-time or seasonal wilderness ranger staff. In addition to program revenue, donations to the Montreat Fund and Wilderness Operations and Maintenance Fund help to offset the cost of salaries for these staff members, allowing them to be fully committed to caring for the spaces entrusted to us. For work that is not undertaken by staff but is instead completed by volunteers, gifts to these funds ensure that they are equipped with the resources necessary to make needed repairs. Donations help to provide lumber for staircases and bridges, tools for cutting trees and trimming shrubbery, and more! These efforts allow hundreds to enjoy Montreat’s trails and wilderness spaces each year.
Gifts to the Montreat Fund also allow Montreat to respond quickly during times of crisis. During Hurricane Helene, the Montreat Wilderness saw extensive damage including landslides, washed out trails, fallen trees, and compromised pedestrian bridges. Due to the severity of these issues, Montreat was forced to close its trails to the public for several weeks following the storm. Financial donations played a vital role in Montreat’s ability to respond quickly and make needed repairs following the storm. Montreat was able to reopen the majority of its trails prior to the summer season thanks in large part to the support of our community and donors.
Because the Montreat Wilderness offers space for rest, reflection, and connection, it remains an integral part of Montreat’s ministry. So many Montreat visitors are able to engage with nature in a way that allows them to deepen their faith and experience renewal through Montreat’s trails and wilderness spaces. By supporting the Montreat Wilderness, you help us care for and sustain a ministry that connects people with God, one another, and the natural world, both now and for the future.
If you have not yet, we would like to encourage you to make a gift in support of the Montreat Wilderness before the year end. Those who wish to make gifts directly to the Wilderness Operations and Maintenance fund can do so by clicking here. If you would like to make a gift to the Montreat Fund, which supports these efforts along with other aspects of Montreat Conference Center’s ministry, please click here. We can also accept gifts made by check, security transfer, or through your IRA. To find out more about ways to give, please visit our website.
Thank you for the many ways you choose to support Montreat!
This article was originally published in the December edition of Montreat Conference Center’s email newsletter Stewarding God’s Creation which highlights information related to the Montreat Wilderness. Sign up to receive Stewarding God’s Creation directly in your inbox by clicking here.