The Colliers
Matt and Kelly Collier both graduated from Bob Jones University in 1997. From there, they moved to Kansas City, Missouri, where Matt attended Heart of America Theological
Seminary, graduating from the school’s Master of Divinity program in 2001. During their years at Tri-City Baptist Church, the Lord opened up many opportunities to travel and work with camps around the world. The Board of Directors saw the need for a ministry to help camps internationally and voted in 2000 to establish a missions arm of THE WILDS as a resource for missionaries and nationals seeking to use camping to reach young people. The result of this decision was CampsAbroad. Growing up at THE WILDS Christian Camp, the Lord has uniquely prepared Matt for this ministry. Kelly grew up in a Christian home and spent most of her life overseas, her father being a career army officer. Since 2001, the Colliers have devoted their full attention to the ministry of CampsAbroad, representing the ministry in the U.S. and traveling to well over 30 countries to work with young people. The Lord has given Matt and Kelly a son, Gabe, who was born in March of 2005.
The Brooks
Dan and Amy’s love for THE WILDS began in the 1970’s as campers. Dan’s burden for reaching youth through camping started as a teen when he went on his first mission trip to work at a camp in Nova Scotia, Canada . During his college years at Bob Jones University he worked at THE WILDS on weekends and spent three summers counseling at Camp CoBeAc in Michigan. After graduating in 1985, he started working full-time on program staff at THE WILDS. One of his first responsibilities was with wilderness camp, which helped develop his love for rugged outdoors camping. Dan met his wife Amy at THE WILDS, and they have been serving there together for over 20 years. Dan has also had the opportunity to be the youth director at Bethany Baptist Church in Brevard, North Carolina, for almost 5 years. As the Lord has increased the opportunities for CampsAbroad, the need for an assistant became apparent. In 2007 Dan stepped into this role, having already represented CampsAbroad in several countries. The Brooks have three children: Jessica, Lauren, and Eric.