How we got started
Rugged Ministries was officially established as a nonprofit Christian organization on July 26th, 2007, but God was setting the foundation for Rugged years ago. Ivan Long sensed God's leading to minister to college students while working with The Navigators as a student and then as Edge Corp Staff. Nick Brattin felt God leading him to work with youth for many years and graduated from Moody Bible Institute in Youth Ministries. Ivan and Nick met in 2006 and learned about each others passion for God, the outdoors and a desire to reach college students. Kim Landgraf, a sales manager who had recently moved to Colorado from Florida, heard Ivan and Nick talking about how they wanted to be ministering to people in a way that incorporated outdoor activities, but couldn't find any organizations other than camps that were doing this. They knew they didn't want the short term aspect of the camp setting. Kim shared how she could help and was more than willing to make the idea a reality. This was the spark that got the fire burning. Ivan, Nick and Kim threw around many ideas, and finally on July 2nd had their first planned meeting.
RUGGED Ministries
Who we are
Ivan grew up in Singapore as a missionary kid. He graduated from Iowa State University (ISU), where he was involved with the Navigators for four years and led the group as a student for a year. After graduating with a B.S. in Industrial Technology, Ivan served with the Navigators at ISU and UNK for 3 years. He learned how to use the activities he loved like weight lifting, softball, racquetball ... to bring people into a deeper relationship with himself and God. After moving to Colorado, God showed him how this way of ministering could be used to eternally impact people that are naturally drawn to the many outdoor activities that Colorado provides.
Nick grew up in Missouri. He graduated from Moody Bible Institute in Chicago with a B.S. in Youth Ministry. He has always loved the outdoors and has dreamt of being able to use the outdoors as a tool for reaching people. He spent many summers working in the outdoor program for Kanakuk Kamps in Lampe, Missouri. In 2005 Nick got an opportunity to work for Education Outdoors, a backpacking company in Sydney, Australia. It was here that he caught a glimpse of an outdoor ministry style that was more geared around relationships and not just a one-time guided adventure but a life-long relationship.
About us
Copyright © 2009 Rugged Ministries
Shayla grew up in the Pacific Northwest and therefore naturally spent a lot time in the outdoors. When she was 18, she felt God calling her into full-time ministry. Before He showed her where and to what extent, He led her to Bible College to be trained. She spent a year and a half at Calvary Chapel Bible College and then God led her to Moody Bible Institute where she received a BA in Youth Ministry. Upon returning to Oregon, her love for the outdoors was re-introduced. "I loved the way community was built and walls were broken down when you were outside with people enjoying God's creation. I realized how strategic outdoor ministry was as I saw first hand God moving through those means."
