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 June 18, 2019 Location: Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania Mile: 1123 II Timothy 2:15 “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” There are hundreds of volunteer trail maintainers that belong to 31 trail maintenance clubs that work constantly …
By Chappy Jack May 30, 2019 Mile: 849.4 Location: Waynesboro, Virginia John 13:35 “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another”. With a bit of sadness, I have walked through the Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church. Sad, because I have seen familiar faces …
By Chappy Jack May 19, 2019 Location: Catawba, Virginia Mile:704 Acts 2:46. Everyday they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts. The best meal on the AT is the evening meal. Not everyone stops to eat a full breakfast or …
You may contact the Appalachian Trail Chaplain ministry at:
P.O. Box 343
Walland, Tennessee 37886
or on Facebook