A Letter from our Pastor of Recovery and 2021 Appalachian Trail Thru Hiker Chaplain Chris Estus
Hi Alamo Heights UMC,
For most of the past year I have served as the 2021 Appalachian Trail Thru Hiker Chaplain for the United Methodist Church. I walked, crawled, ran, fell down and got back up again along the entire 2,193.1 mile footpath between Maine and Georgia. Along the way I met and ministered to and thousands of wonderful people. I am pleased to announce that the Love of God is alive and well in the eastern part of the country. I am also pleased to announce that I am officially a successful thru hiker of the Appalachian Trail, meaning I covered the entire trail within one year.
The Holston Conference of the UMC created the Appalachian Trail Chaplaincy in 2013. I served as the 9th Thru Hiker Chaplain. My role was to serve as a loving, listening and non-reactive presence on the trail and in the towns along the way. To serve in such a capacity was an opportunity of a lifetime. I’m sure I’ll spend years both in gratitude for the experience and processing the lessons from the experience.
I am on staff at AHUMC as the Pastor of Recovery Ministries. I have been sober myself for over 22 years in a 12-Step Fellowship. I wore 2 patches on my shoulder strap on my backpack. One patch was for the AT Chaplaincy. The other patch read “I’m a friend of Bill W.” Bill W. is the founder of Alcoholics Anonymous. The patch announces to people in any form of 12 Step Recovery that I’m one of them and a safe person to talk to. These patches lead to dozens of encounters on the trail, at campsites, at hostels and in town. “Wherever 2 or 3 are gathered” happened from Maine to Georgia.
Finally, I’d like to thank many of you for your support along the way. I cherished every, email, text and phone call. YouTube, Facebook and Instagram comments were the fuel I used to continue some days.
I look forward to sharing my experiences in church and in person. Please ask any questions you have at anytime.
May your eyes be filled with wonders, your heart full of joy and your footsteps firm as you walk with God.
Chris Estus
Bone Spur – The Chappalachian
See Chris's journey here.
