Appalachian Trail Mission
2,189 Miles. 10 States. Countless Opportunities
THE JOURNEY
2,189 Miles
14 States
6 Months
In April 2027, we’ll begin in North Carolina and hike north to Mount Katahdin in Maine. Then we’ll return to North Carolina, turn south, and continue all the way home to Georgia.
But this journey was never meant to be ours alone.
Along the way, we’ll invite others to step onto the trail with us—for a day, a weekend, or a longer section—to walk, pray, grow, and serve together.
In April 2027, God is taking Grace Gathering to the trail!
What began as a random conversation on a drive to Pennsylvania quickly became something we couldn't ignore.
We wondered if God might be asking us to take Grace Gathering onto the Appalachian Trail—not just for a few miles, but for all 2,189 of them.
Leslie's first response was basically, “Lord...are You sure?”
So we asked Him to make it abundantly clear.
He did.
The Mission on the Trail
PRAY
Pray with fellow hikers, pray for people we meet along the way, and pray over the land as we walk. Ten of the fourteen states the Appalachian Trail passes through were among the original thirteen colonies. At a time when our country desperately needs prayer, we believe there is something significant about literally walking this land and praying as we go.
MINISTER
The trail brings together people from every imaginable background, many of them walking through significant seasons of life. We want to listen, encourage, share Jesus when the door opens, and simply be available to whoever God puts in front of us.
DISCIPLE
Invite people to step onto the trail with us for shorter sections—not simply to hike, but to walk together, talk about Jesus, pray, learn, and grow.
GATHER
Wherever we happen to be on Sundays, gather whoever wants to come. Maybe it’s five people at a shelter. Maybe it’s twenty at a trailhead. Worship. Scripture. Prayer. Communion sometimes. Church without walls—literally.
And it’s already begun.
On our very first AT practice hike, what started as a training day turned into an impromptu Bible study on top of Preacher Mountain. We hadn’t planned it. We didn’t organize it. God simply opened the door.
That’s exactly the kind of ministry we believe He’s calling us to on the trail.
We aren't leaving the church to hike the Appalachian Trail.
We're taking the church with us.
Join the Mission
2,189 miles. 14 states. One mission. Jesus.
You dont need to hike 2,189 miles to be a part of what God is doing on the trail.
PRAY
Pray for us, for the hikers we’ll meet, for the communities along the trail, and for God to open doors only He can open.
JOIN US
Step onto the trail with us for a day, a weekend, or a longer section. Come ready to hike, pray, grow, and serve alongside us.
FOLLOW
Follow the journey as we share stories from the trail, the people God puts in our path, and what He teaches us along the way.
GIVE
Help make the mission possible. Your financial partnership helps cover the practical costs of living and ministering on the trail for six months.