Looking back, I can see that the story really began in the summer of 1966. I was in seminary when I first came across ACMNP, and something about it immediately caught my heart. What I didn’t realize at the time was that my simple “yes” would grow into more than sixty years of connection, growth, and deepened faith.

One of the most meaningful gifts ACMNP gave me was the opportunity to serve alongside Christians who didn’t always approach faith the same way I did. Early on, I realized that following Christ can look different from person to person. Instead of dividing us, those differences stretched me. I grew in my appreciation for the many ways people respond to God’s grace, and my understanding of God became both broader and more personal. Serving in the beauty of creation also opened doors for conversations that might never have happened within church walls. A shared love of nature became a bridge—connecting with people who may have had little prior interaction with the Christian faith. 

Over the decades, I learned the importance of balancing faithfulness with flexibility—staying rooted in Scripture and prayer while adapting how that faith is lived out in real, relational ways. ACMNP didn’t just shape my ministry; it shaped my life. It was through this ministry that I met my wife, Connie. Nearly fifty years of marriage followed, marked by hospitality and a shared openness to welcoming others into our lives. 

I have seen God move not only in the grandeur of national parks, but in simple acts of welcome, service, and conversation. Hospitality, I’ve come to believe, is one of the clearest expressions of faith. 

To anyone beginning their journey with ACMNP, my encouragement is this: stay grounded in Scripture and prayer, but remain open. God will continue shaping you—through both the familiar rhythms and the unexpected moments along the way. 

-John Schmidt, Yellowstone National Park Alumni, 1966