We had the good fortune of connecting with kyle windsor and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi kyle, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Attending a church has been a high value and mainstay in the US since its inception. The pandemic altered that value… or it fast forwarded what was currently happening in slow motion. For decades this value was inching downwards. The two years sprung us ahead at least a decade in loss of attendance.

In the summer of 2021, i thought through the implications and possible solutions. Being an avid hiker and backpacker, I learned that millions were outside in the US every week! So the church was heading to where the people were.

The word church in the original language means “called out ones.” It does not mean the gathering.

Engaging these concepts: backcountry.church was born.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We are not a “brick and mortar” church nor are we an internet church. We are a church (when Jesus said I will build My Church… He used the word ecclesia which means called out ones. The way we use church in our English language refers to a gathering, which has nothing to do with the ecclesia. Church refers to a community of believers). As a result, backcountry.church can be done on the internet or in a building or on a trail or in a home, etc

We have been surprised at the results. In our 4.5 months, we have 12,000 followers on Facebook, over 2.9M individuals have seen some work of backcountry.church, over 350 app downloads and we now have a growing community of people that enjoy nature and Jesus and connect on a daily basis – just like the early church did 2000 years ago. (Just via different means!)

We are the only church in this space. As a result, there has been no play book or “how to do this” manual. Has it been easy? LOL! No! But we are literally just beginning.

It reminds me of the Superstition Mountains. There have been only two trails that were just to difficult me. One was Flatiron via Siphon Draw Trail… Very difficult for me… but came up with a game plan and finally was able to complete it!

backcountry.church is simply about helping people connect with God, others and themselves through the enjoyment of nature.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Flatiron via Siphon Draw Trail. LOL!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
A Shoutout to Carlie and Jane – the two people who understood and concept and jumped in the deep end!

Website: www.backcountry.church

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/backcountry.church/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D

Twitter: https://twitter.com/backcountrych

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/backcountry.church

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeD0a58mZVgtMYTY-wuD_JA

Other: https://subspla.sh/b8q8p8d/

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutArizona is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.