My journey with ACMNP began long before I officially got involved. After Keith and I graduated from college, he worked as a 3rd grade teacher and I served as a special education aide. We did that for two years before starting our business, ShortScapes. I first heard about ACMNP in the fall of 1995 through Gardiner Community Church, but it wasn’t until about 15 years later that we stepped into the ministry. At the time, our son Rylan was three years old, and we began by volunteering as mentors to students serving in Tower.

Over the years, I had the opportunity to serve in several areas of the park. Most of my time was spent in Tower, but I also served one summer in Canyon and another in Mammoth. In 2015, I served my last year in Park-Wide ministry alongside the McGlaughlins. The following year, in 2016, I stepped into a leadership role after talking with Lisa, taking over Park-Wide Volunteer coordination while Dave Gable was pastoring at Mammoth Community Church.

ACMNP has deeply shaped my life by connecting me with younger generations and helping me see how much the world has changed. It has opened my eyes to the social shifts and challenges students face today, and it has shown me how desperate the need for ministry truly is. Now more than ever, I see how much people need Christ, and this ministry has given me a greater awareness of both the struggles and opportunities to share His love.

During my time with ACMNP, I have seen God move in ways I didn’t always notice before. You begin to pay attention to the small things—the quiet moments where God is clearly at work. To me, some of the greatest miracles are not always dramatic, but simple and powerful, like someone who once identified as an atheist choosing to come to a service because of a relationship built on trust. Those small victories matter, and they reveal how God is constantly working through people and community.

My advice to anyone entering a season with ACMNP is to expect to be stretched. It may be both the best and the hardest summer of your life, because growth is not always easy—but it is always worth it. You are stronger than you think through Christ, and you will leave changed. And when you do, others may not fully understand that change—but that’s okay. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)

Grace Short, Yellowstone National Park, 2016-present