A Ministry of the Holston Conference of The United Methodist Church
Welcome to the website for the unique ministry of the Holston Conference of The United Methodist Church.
Join us on a trek across approximately 2,200 miles as the Appalachian Trail Chaplain seeks to make new friends, help those met along the way and show the love of God to all encountered.
The 2019 AT Chaplain, Jack “Chappy Jack” Layfield, is currently on his NOBO thru-hike. You can follow his journey here.
March 26, 2018 – The Call
Appalachian Trail ministry expands with first ‘circuit hiker’
http://holston.org/about/communications/the-call/volE18/num7/at-circuit-hiker/
March 31, 2017 – The Tennessean (Nashville, Tennessee)
Why a Methodist chaplain is hiking the Appalachian Trail
https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/religion/2017/03/31/why-methodist-chaplain-hiking-appalachian-trail/99714742/
March 28, 2017 – WDBJ Channel 7 (Hillsville, Virginia)
New Appalachian Trail chaplain prepares for long journey
http://www.wdbj7.com/content/news/New-Appalachian-Trail-Chaplain-prepares-for-long-journey-417385433.html
May 2016 – Interpreter Magazine
Appalachian Trail chaplain engaged in ups and downs of journey
http://www.interpretermagazine.org/topics/appalachian-trail-chaplain-engaged-in-ups-and-downs-of-journeys
January 4, 2013 – The Call
United Methodists send first chaplain to hike 2,200-mile Appalachian Trail
http://holston.org/about/communications/the-call/volE13/num1/appalachian-trail-chaplain/
The Appalachian Trail Chaplaincy is a unique ministry of the Holston Conference of The United Methodist Church. Each year, the Appalachian Trail Chaplain embarks on a thru-hike of the 2,190-mile footpath that winds its way from Georgia to Maine with the sole purpose of listening, helping and showing God’s love to those he or she meet along the way.
By Chappy Jack April 30, 2019 Location: Damascus, Va. Mile: 470.8 Please read: Job 38:1-41 Job 38:22 “Have you entered the storehouses of snow or seen the storehouses of the hail,” The AT (God’s creation) continues to amaze me! All in one day, I can go from green lush foliage in the lower elevations to …
By Chappy Jack April 20, 2019 Mile: 368.5 Location: Greasy Creek Hostel, near Road Mountain, Tennessee John 10:14 “I (Jesus) am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.” After a long day of hiking, it is a big relief to reach the intended shelter or camping spot. It is refreshing …
By Chappy Jack Mile: 274.6 Location: Hot Springs, NC Hebrews 13:2 Do not forget to entertain strangers, for so by doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. In the world that we live in today, it is difficult to trust people, especially strangers. On the trail, I continuously ask myself where this high …
You may contact the Appalachian Trail Chaplain ministry at:
P.O. Box 343
Walland, Tennessee 37886
or on Facebook