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Outlaw Ranch

Family Camp at Outlaw

Come spend quality time with your family in a relaxed atmosphere, featuring great food and Christian community in a peaceful Black Hills valley. Outlaw Ranch welcomes families of all sizes and descriptions. Weeks include multiple generations, as parents, children, grandchildren, and singles come together for a week of family camp. During this week you’ll live in a community of grace surrounded by family and friends as you play, pray, worship, and grow together in faith.

SUMMER 2024 SCHEDULE

June 23-28
FULL

Stuck: Biblical Stories about Dilemmas and Deliverance

In this course, we will study Old Testament stories in which people find themselves stuck in problems and dilemmas. Hope seems far off and beyond reach. But help arrives on the scene often in ways that are unpredictable and surprising. Whether you are approaching these stories for the first time or seeking a deeper understanding of these ancient stories, "Stuck" offers a fresh perspective on the Old Testament's powerful messages of resilience and faith in the face of dire circumstances.

RESOURCE LEADER
Dr. Michael Chan

  • Michael Chan (Ph.D., Emory University) is Assistant Professor of Old Testament at Luther Seminary. He is blessed to teach classes on the prophets, apocalyptic literature, and Semitic languages. In addition to authoring numerous scholarly books and articles, Dr. Chan hosts the “Gospel Beautiful Podcast,” which explores the challenging task of preaching the Gospel in the 21st century.

ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE
Tangled Blue

  • Tangled Blue is the music of Aimée and Joel Pakan. It is a unique sound that incorporates latin and electronic percussion, acoustic guitars, wind instruments, beautifully matched alto and baritone voices, and stories from their journeys.

    This is Tangled Blue’s 18th summer as guest artists at Outlaw Ranch. In that time they’ve recorded numerous albums as the duo traveled over one million miles of U.S. highways and three tours in Europe. Their more recent works have included a number of liturgical songs for Christian worship. In 2020 Aimée and Joel completed masters degrees that included coursework at the Urban Theological Institute in Philadelphia and received calls to serve Lutheran congregations in South Dakota.

June 30- July 5

We Have These Letters


Much of the New Testament is presented as letters written to a particular community in the first century. Paul is attributed as the author of many, but not all. Several were actually written before the gospels and expected Jesus to return at any moment! Now, two thousand years later, letters are so last century. What are we to do with the ancient worldview in a secular age?  This week, we will explore how the epistles have been read and interpreted and look for new insights for our lives today. Come join me as we explore  a non-AI, pre-digital communication format with novel implications for our present age.

RESOURCE LEADER
Rev. Dr. Joy J. Moore

  • An ordained elder in the United Methodist Church, Dr. Joy is an Ecclesial Storyteller seeking to encourage theologically framed, biblically attentive, and socially compelling interpretations of familiar passages in order to understand the critical issues influencing community formation in contemporary culture (all that means is she tells community-forming stories from the Bible as a follower of Christ).

    Dr. Joy focuses her research on understanding the stories behind the sound bites, examining how we use words to narrate the realities of our existence. Examining these interests in biblical studies, practical theology, homiletics, narrative hermeneutics and social media, she works with words to tell stories with a theological twist!

    A native of Chicago, Illinois, Moore's desire to teach led her to earn a BA in Education and Mathematics from National-Louis University in Evanston, Illinois; a Master of Divinity from Garrett-Evangelical Seminary, also in Evanston; and a PhD in practical theology from London School of Theology/Brunel University, London, England.

    Before joining the faculty at Luther Seminary in July 2019, Dr. Joy taught at Wesley Seminary at Indiana Wesleyan University; Fuller Theological Seminary, where she established the William E. Pannell Center for African American Church Studies and served as its first Associate Dean. Fuller Seminary recruited her to provide vision for the center from the Divinity School at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina where she served as Associate Dean for Church Relations, Associate Dean for Black Church Studies, and Visiting Professor of Preaching. Previously the director of Student Life at Asbury Theological Seminary and chaplain and director of Church Relations at Adrian College, she has held pastorates in the Michigan Area of the United Methodist Church. She has written for Sojourners magazine, Christian Century, WorkingPreacher.org and Good News magazine.

    Moore has focused on cross-racial ministry in urban, rural, and suburban congregations. Her last parish served as a Help Center in Flint, Michigan during the Water Crisis. As a pastor, she has called local congregations to recognize their vocation of glorifying God as a peaceable community—practicing hope, hospitality, and honesty.

    She became a John Wesley Fellow in 2001, and, is currently the president of the Christian Theological Research Fellowship and 1st vice-president of the Wesleyan Theological Society. Dr. Joy is an avid fan of books by David Baldacci and John Hart and, when she is not teaching, enjoys traveling, watching reruns of NCIS, and reading. Currently, she is reading the works of Octavia E. Butler, and rereading the works of John Wesley. Eventually, she intends to blog at www.joyjmoore.com.

ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE
Nate Bergengren

  • Hi, everyone, my name is Nate Bergengren (he/him/his). This will be my 7th summer at Outlaw (not counting the "Summer of Sickness '21" (COVID)); my family absolutely loves being in its rough and restful beauty.

    In Swedish, my last name literally means "green/fertile mountain". I’m a 2nd Generation Swede/Gypsy. In June 2022, completed an M.A. Christian Ministry from Luther Seminary and am discerning a call into the ministry of Word & Service (Diaconal Ministry). I feel called into Diaconal ministry, to be a helper or servant.

    I grew up in diverse Southern California and moved to homogenous Cambridge, MN in '92. I grew up in the Assemblies of God and Baptist flavors of the family of God, where the worship service is quite a bit “livelier” than the typical Minnesota ELCA worship serviceI consider myself a California Charismatic who's landing Lutheran.

    I went to Gustavus Adolphus College, graduating in 2003 with a degree in Religion and Biology (I was pre-med back in those days). There was a dramatic turn along the way, and since that time I've invested myself within the Lutheran church, first as a director of youth ministry then as a worship/band leader and now in youth & family ministry at Incarnation Lutheran, Shoreview, MN. At the beginning, I felt a particular call to help Lutherans experience music in a more full-bodied, expressive, "evangelical" way. Now, I'm developing gifts beyond music, though I remain passionate about curating relevant and moving church music/worship.

    In 2021, I joined the Incarnation staff in a full-time capacity as the Formation Leader for Teens & Families, a new position designed to help our teens and families (all of us, really!) step more fully into God’s relentless invitation to experience and share abundant and overflowing life—to learn to live and love like Jesus for a lifetime. Prior to that, I was sharing ministry with Faith Lutheran (ELCA) in Forest Lake, MN, as the modern worship arts director & small groups leader. I’ve worked with Lutheran churches as well as a handful of other communities from other denominations. I feel called to experience and share God’s life ecumenically across the whole family of God.

    I live in Shoreview, MN with my partner of 15 years, Audrey, and our two kids, Vivian (12) and Carl (10). We've been living in Shoreview since 2016, and moved from South Minneapolis, Lake Nokomis area. My hobbies are running, biking, hiking and being outdoors, writing songs, coaching and playing soccer, cooking on the grill and camper camping with my family.

    I feel called to spend and find my life in God's beloved community, to be a part of God's incarnational/empathetic approach to healing and restoration, though humanly flawed my contribution will be. One of my "dreams" is to serve alongside a person of color who identifies differently than I do.

July 7-12

BILINGUAL FAMILY CAMP

This special week of camp brings together English and Spanish-speaking families for a week of intentional community in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

The adult Bible study theme for bilingual week will be on the Bible and Food from varying cultures. When we study Jesus' fishing in the stories, we will learn to make ceviche and try pickled herring. When we read the Road to Emmaus and Communion stories, we will learn to make tortillas and lefse. Come to make new friends across cultures, study the Bible, and try some great foods!

RESOURCE LEADERS
Pastors Stephanie and Jorge Espinoza

  • Pastor Stephanie and Pastor Jorge Espinoza live on a 140 acre farm with their two children in Cottage Grove, MN. Jorge works bivocationally as a farmer at Dodge Nature Center and as the mission developer/pastor of a new Latino church, Cristo Obrero, located in mobile home parks in Chaska, MN. Stephanie is the pastor of Cross of Peace Lutheran Church in Shakopee, MN. Between the two of them, they have served diverse congregations from Alaska to Central America.

ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE
Omar Mixco

  • From the capital of Honduras, Omar Mixco currently lives in Chicago, IL and plays with many bands like the Eleven-Eleven Band at his home church, Good Shepherd in Naperville, IL, his local church, Luther Memorial Church of Chicago, and for the ELCA where he leads worship in a national and international context since 2009. Mixco also performs with the Chicago-based pop band, Boy Band Review, which tours throughout the country and plays with international pop stars like Chris Kirkpatrick of NYSNC.

    "The Glocal Musician-Educators endeavor to be part of the diverse voices that are renewing worship by gathering and sharing the gifts of the whole church. Renewed by global and local voices, worship can respond to the world we serve, and remember the diverse body of Christ. This community representing many countries, denominations and cultures celebrates the body of Christ by singing songs and stories that give witness to God in Christ, raises awareness and inspires advocacy". -Mission Formation, Global Mission, ELCA.

    In addition, Mixco works independently in several churches in Honduras, Mexico and Chicago as a guitarist. From September 2007 to May 2008, Mixco also worked independently in many churches in New York City. In July 2009 and 2012, Mixco's guitar lead worship at the ELCA Youth Multicultural Leadership Event in New Orleans, Louisiana.

    Special guest as a Musician with Cienaños Band at the Nobel Prize Peace Forum in Augsburg College, MN -2017

    "With" Groove "of mixes of jazz, funk, reggae, rap and trova, imbricated to the Latin roots with the alternative purpose of being, at the same time, the representation of a collective voice, the existential needs of our history, through a The representation of our culture and connection with the receivers ". -Embassy of France -Tegucigalpa, HN 2016

    Omar began playing guitar at an early age at his local church in Tegucigalpa and graduated to teach lessons at the age of 23 (UNAH Music Department). In 2003, with a group of local musicians, Mixco formed the rock band Antivirus and launched their professional music career. In 2006, Antivirus won a battle of band competition during which the band traveled through eight Honduran cities with the final competition held in San Pedro Sula, where Antivirus won a recording contract and the production of their first music video.

July 14-19

No Wisdom, No Sanity: Why Biblical Wisdom Matters for Contemporary Life and Christian Witness

We live in a time that seems bereft of wisdom. Yet, many New Testament writers drew on biblical wisdom to understand Jesus and his significance for our lives. Indeed, as we will explore in these sessions, our very confession of faith in Christ and in a Triune God presupposes the biblical figure of Wisdom. But, how does wisdom help us understand more deeply the God we worship in Jesus through the Spirit? And what difference does it make for our understanding not only of what it means to be followers of Jesus, but also of what it means to be human and to live wisely?  In these Bible studies, we explore how wisdom passages (from both the Old and New Testaments) have tremendous relevance, on the one hand, for strengthening our faith on a personal and congregational level and, on the other hand, for relating faith to the rest of our lives--with family and friends, in our workplaces, and even to such contemporary concerns as the ecological crisis, wealth disparities, and divisiveness in our political life as a nation.

RESOURCE LEADER
Dr. Lois Malcolm

  • Lois Malcolm (Ph.D., University of Chicago) is The Olin and Amanda Fjelstad Reigstad Chair of Systematic Theology at Luther Seminary, where she has been teaching since 1994. She grew up in the Philippines as the daughter of missionaries. Before becoming a theologian, she received an M.A. in Applied Linguistics (from the University of Minnesota) and taught linguistics and English as a second language courses in the U. S. and overseas. Her books include Holy Spirit: Creative Power in Our Lives (Fortress, 2009); God, an edited volume for The Westminster Collection of Sources of Christian Theology (Westminster John Knox Press, 2012), and two forthcoming books: A Theological Commentary on Second Corinthians for the Belief series (Westminster John Knox); and Sophia Cries Out in the Street: Wisdom in Christian Theology (Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press).

ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE
Dakota Road

  • Larry Olson & Karol Baer have been partners in music and life for over 25 years. Together, they bring a playfulness and passion for music that is expressed in rich & diverse songwriting and powerful vocal arrangements. Their songs come alive with stories of rural roots, ponderings of parenthood, stirrings from our global family and journeys of faith. Together and with their band Dakota Road they have released over 20 recordings with many of their songs being sung all across the U.S. & beyond.

July 28 - August 2

Bringing the Parables of Jesus to Life Before Your Eyes

Throughout this week you will hear and see the Parables of Jesus come to life before your eyes as Paul paints on large-scale canvas as he teaches. We will explore the often overlooked meanings of the Parables as understood "through Middle Eastern eyes" in the time of Jesus. Paul will refer to the Biblical and theological work of Kenneth Bailey who spent a lifetime in the Holy Land and surrounding regions studying and teaching the Scriptures in the cultures from which they derived. Music and readings will accompany portions of the painting process.

Bring a Bible and be ready to see these familiar stories become new again! You will have opportunities to actively participate at your own comfort level throughout the week in numerous ways. No artistic experience is necessary whatsoever. This will be an unforgettable experience in the Word.

RESOURCE LEADER
Pastor Paul Oman

  • Paul Oman, artist and pastor, shares his Drawn to the Word artistic ministry with audiences ecumenically across the country. He served as a science teacher, then Lutheran pastor when, in 2011, he took up work as an artistic pastor full-time.

    Paul seeks to give new vision to God’s Word by using the process of painting to captivate audiences in our visually oriented culture. Painting and drawing have been a part of Paul’s life since childhood. Receiving national & international recognition for his work in watercolor, Paul uses this gift to proclaim the Gospel unique and powerful ways that impact lives and inspire mission.

    Paul works in many settings, including congregations, schools, universities, seminaries, camps, prisons, non-profits, and more. The larger-than-life sized murals are painted with acrylics on stretched canvas.

    Paul lives near Amery, Wisconsin with his wife, Jana, and their children.

ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE
Paul Tietjen

  • In the late 20th Century, music missionaries from across the globe embarked on a perilous journey, via used Ford vans, to share the gospel. Forged from those fires, Paul began a 28 year voyage of performing around the country as a Christian artist at various youth events, festivals, retreats, churches and camps. He has been a resident artist at Outlaw Ranch several times. In 2006, from the depths of a one-car garage, he helped form the band 100 White Flags. Based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota, that band has been his primary platform for sharing his music. Stylistically, his music ranges between folk campfire acoustic ballads to alternative rock. For Paul, it’s about sharing the hope and love of Christ on and off stage.

Family Camp Pricing

PRICE: Adult (12 and up) - $500
Child (3-11) - $400
Child (0-2) - FREE

Family Maximum - $2,300

Scholarships are available; please complete our online scholarship form or contact our Registrar for more information.