The Vision: “A Witness in the Woods”

 

Mark DePugh, the President and founder of The Fellowship of Christian Hunters (FCH), received a vision in September 1998. God clearly revealed the need for an outdoor ministry; A place for Christian hunters to gather together and enjoy good fellowship, talk about wildlife, and present Christ to ones who are lost. Their first meeting was held three weeks later, and was promoted as the 1998 Ohio Deer Archery Kick-Off. Since that time membership has grown and God has blessed. FCH hosts many activities throughout the year including hunting, camping, canoeing, youth events, 3-D archery trophy shoots, Thanksgiving and Christmas food drives, cookouts, and whitetail and turkey award banquets, all of which are geared at the Christian Outdoorsman and Hunter.

 

Mark received Christ into his life when he was 16 years old. At age 21 he became actively involved in Christian music as a musician and writer and continued in a traveling ministry for 17 years. A short time after slowing down in the world of music, God began to deal with him concerning the Fellowship of Christian Hunters ministry. Mark was raised in the hills of Southern Ohio and still resides there today. As a young boy, he was introduced to hunting rabbit, squirrel, and pheasant through his father and family. Mark has always been very involved in all types of outdoor activity, even at a young age. He has never left that foundation. Mark first began his deer hunting efforts in 1976, and took his first buck, a 9-pointer, with a shotgun in 1978.

 

Today, Mark actively enjoys hunting the elusive Whitetail Deer and the Eastern Wild Turkey. Over the years he has harvested a host of beautiful bucks and spring gobbler’s. Mark loves to hunt, but points his focus on the church and his family. He believes in God’s omnipotent power and glory, and acknowledges God’s amazing grace in his life. Mark simply states, “If we can only learn to keep Jesus first in our lives, the rest would be easy. God knows our every need, and loves us more than we could ever imagine”.  

 

If you or your group feel God speaking to you about starting a Fellowship of Christian Hunters Chapter in your area or state, contact Mark DePugh at brendad@bright.net