In a nutshell, the first ministry climb was July 4, 1981 (Little Bear Peak), and the final one was four years and a day later on July 5, 1985 (Capitol Peak). The following gives a bit more detail:
On August 7, 1976, came the moment of truth. Roger had recruited some young people from the church to climb Mount Bierstadt, 38 miles west of Denver, and I was invited to join them, even at age 51. During the first half of the ascent, many concerns flooded my mind. Farther up the mountain, however, I became aware that my pounding heart and labored breathing were no worse than when running at the gym. Everything was going to be fine. When we reached the summit at 14,060 feet, my soul was flooded by a feeling of personal fulfillment and an overwhelming sense of closeness to God - the best kind of Rocky Mountain High. Better yet, all the honor and glory belonged to Him, the One who had healed me and set me on the course that led to the top of the mountain. It became the first climb of a fourteener by any group from this church, as well as by me.
I couldn't stop with just one; that awesome mountaintop experience had to be repeated. During the next three years, I climbed 18 more fourteeners with people from church, then added an additional 21 in 1980. By that time I had completed a total of 40 fourteeners. There was no personal goal to climb all 54. My long-standing fear of heights had quelled any ambitious desire to try the dangerous ones. Climbing fourteeners was only a way to have wholesome fun outdoors with my Christian friends and enjoy the majestic Rocky Mountains at the same time.
During that winter, a growing sense of guilt crept over me. I felt that the time I had spent climbing mountains had been wasted on my own pleasure, when that same time should have been devoted to serving the Lord. I was ready to forsake it all, if that was His will. But there were some unanswered questions. Hadn't this whole mountain-climbing affair been His doing? Hadn't we prayed and acknowledged Him on every climb?
As I earnestly sought God's will, more of His plan and purpose began to unfold in my spirit. The Holy Spirit directed my attention to the intriguing fact that many of the major events of the Bible had occurred on mountaintops. Those events included the giving of the Ten Commandments as well as Jesus' Temptation, Transfiguration, Crucifixion and Ascension. God does nothing arbitrarily, so He must have chosen those sites for a special reason. Satan, imitating God, likewise chose the high places as sites for his followers to worship false gods and perform occult rituals.
Mountaintops evidently provided an advantage to the user, whether God or Satan, and whether for blessing or for cursing. It reminded me of an experience on the church's first tour of Israel in 1973. While on the Golan Heights, our group was standing atop a concrete bunker from which the Syrians had bombarded the Israeli settlements below during the 1967 war. One of our men said, "From this spot, where the enemy rained down artillery shells and cursing on the people of Israel, we should extend our hands and speak blessings." As we did so, a young lady in the group received an inspired song based on God's words to Abram in Genesis 12:3, "I will bless those who bless thee..."
The recollection of that incident on the Golan Heights prompted further thoughts. Those Syrian gunners, seeking the greatest military advantage, chose the high ground - a basic principle of warfare. Such principles also have counterparts in the spiritual realm. If the high ground provides an advantage in physical warfare, the same holds true in spiritual warfare. Therefore, satanic forces still seek to use the high places. In America, they would use vantage points atop the fourteeners to bombard our country with an unending fusillade of diabolical decrees and evil works of every kind - with little or no restraint.
Someone needed to climb all those peaks, spiritually rout the enemy and take back what belonged to God. Then he needed to pray for healing in our land and decree blessings over both America and Israel. From my perspective, it was a job for some stalwart figure in his prime, a mighty man of God, a renowned personage with a powerful anointing in dealing with demonic forces. But God looks at things from a different perspective. Since His strength is perfected in weakness, He apparently wanted to rout the enemy and disgrace him by using an old softy who was well past his prime, an ordinary Christian, a relatively unknown person in ministerial circles - me. If one needed to be ready, willing and able, I was at least willing - sort of. One out of three wasn't bad for a 56-year-old grandfather.
There was the somber realization that my 40 completed fourteeners would have to be climbed all over again, and the remaining dangerous ones that I had hoped to avoid would have to be included. Each trip would require prayer and special planning to make it safe and successful. Fortunately, Christian friends were willing to go with me. The intention was to stand as a hindering force against the powers of darkness, but it needed to be done quietly and without fanfare.
The first special climb was on Independence Day, July 4, 1981, and the mountain was Little Bear Peak in the Sangre de Cristo (Blood of Christ) Range. What an appropriate day and place to launch our unique ministry. Despite hindrances, the team reached the top, claimed the mountain for God and went to work. That trip established the pattern for the remaining ascents. The final climb of the ministry, Capitol Peak, was completed on July 5, 1985. It was gratifying to realize that all 54 Colorado fourteeners were back in good hands.
The mission took four years and a day, and 31 people participated in one or more of the climbs. Many problems were faced, including bad weather, car breakdowns, accidents, sickness and more. Through it all, God faithfully watched over us and protected our lives.
On each summit, we took spiritual authority over the evil forces of darkness and reclaimed the mountain for the Lord. We then decreed blessings over both America and Israel, with prayers for salvation and guidance for government leaders at all levels. It was a pleasure to uplift our spiritual leaders and ministries to the Lord, particularly those of our church and other churches represented in our climbing party. The sick always held an important place in our prayers.
We recited the 23rd Psalm on every peak, along with additional Psalms. By the time all 54 mountains were completed, we had read the entire Book of Psalms from atop the fourteeners. Other passages from both Testaments were also included. God's presence and anointing were felt throughout, and tears of love and joy were fairly common.
A dedication Bible was placed on the summit of each Colorado fourteener, hidden deep within the rocks. The Bibles were sealed in approximately 15 layers of freezer wrap and bound with wire mesh. They'll remain intact for a very long time, symbolizing God's abiding presence. Additionally, several little salvation Bibles were placed at conspicuous locations where they could be found by other climbers.
Only God knows what benefits have resulted or may yet result from all that was said and done on the mountaintops. Our part was to trust and obey the leading of the Holy Spirit; the Lord's part was to respond according to His own good will and pleasure. The results are His business. May He receive all the honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
Ray C.