Faith on the Fly, a new ministry out of Grand Rapids: Trinity UMC, teaches people how to fish and creates faith-filled opportunities to learn new things and bond with others.
JAMES DEATON
Content Editor
“Faith on the Fly has been a gift to me,” confessed Sandra VandenBrink. “It has truly helped in my healing from grief. I feel stronger and more confident for having done something so new and unfamiliar.”
For this retired United Methodist pastor, joining Grand Rapids: Trinity UMC’s new ministry has helped her navigate the grieving process following the death of her husband. Sandra had cared for her husband at home for over a year as he was terminally ill with a brain tumor. After he died, she sought something to help her pick up the pieces of her life and create something good and worthwhile.
“I needed to get out of my comfort zone and begin to challenge myself and learn new things. I had never fished in my life, and I didn’t have a clue what fly fishing entailed. But I heard it was a sport I could probably handle, and it would allow me to breathe in God’s creation in the great outdoors.”
Launched in the fall of 2022, Faith on the Fly teaches people how to fish and connects elements of the sport with love for God’s creation and the bonds formed while fishing. It was developed by Matt Witkowski, director of the Community Ministries Program, an EngageMI Ministry Partner based out of Trinity UMC.
Matt’s passion for fishing fueled the creation of this ministry, which is growing every season as it reaches out into the community. He admits that he fought the idea for a few years, worried that he was being selfish to start something so connected to his personal passion.
But the Holy Spirit kept working on him. Matt admitted, “It kept gnawing at me that something more was there. And since we’ve started it, there have been tons of cool stories of ways it’s connected people or filled the need for somebody along the way. It comforted me that it wasn’t just me doing this. It was aligned with ministry, and there was a reason for it.”
The heart of Faith on the Fly is fostering connections and getting people excited about learning something new. “Fly fishing is just the vehicle,” said Matt, “for people connecting. And that is where the magic happens. That’s what this program is all about.” It’s free to join and open to people of all ages and skill levels. Matt says they’ve had second graders up to 84-year-olds.
The ministry uses grant funding and outside donations to reduce the financial burden. One grant helped purchase 16 fly rods that participants can borrow until they are able to afford one on their own. Matt doesn’t want any barriers to prevent someone from taking the plunge.
Members of Trinity UMC have joined Faith on the Fly, but it’s also drawing in people from other faith backgrounds and those who don’t attend church at all. And they are joining for various reasons.
Some older adults are looking for a post-retirement hobby. Some do it for relaxation and rejuvenation, while others want to make new friends. Parents and grandparents use it to strengthen family bonds with their children and grandchildren, creating shared experiences.
Matt gave examples: “There are two father/son combinations and then a grandparent/grandson combination. The kids were in Faith on the Fly, and they were excited about fishing and asked all kinds of questions. The dads and grandpa picked it up along with them, and eventually, within six or eight months, they’re going on weekend trips fly fishing all over the state. This shared interest has helped strengthen those relationships and create lasting memories.”
And then there’s Sandra, who received strength and confidence in learning something new as she moved through a period of grief. Faith on the Fly gave her a safe space to try this new sport.
“For newbies like me,” said Sandra, “it provides an opportunity to learn a new skill, and for experienced fishermen, it is an opportunity to be part of an affirming and uplifting community with others on the journey of faith.”
The program is organized into smaller groups based on skill level. As the groups progress, they go on fishing trips separately and then meet monthly at the church as a larger group. During those gatherings, they begin by reflecting on some aspect of faith or spirituality, continue with skill-building exercises, and then discuss what they’ve learned. They always eat together, too.
Matt emphasizes hands-on learning, whether it’s practicing casting, tying flies, or learning how to catch and release fish. And he makes room for all skill levels.
“One of my favorite things about fly fishing,” explained Matt, “is it can be as simple or as complicated as you want it to be. You could spend your whole life learning and never master it, or you could go and catch a bluegill, and I could get you to do that in five minutes of casting.”
So, Matt works with each person to make sure they’re comfortable with where they are and assist as needed as they improve their skills. Beginner students start with bluegill and bass, which are easier to catch, and then work their way up to catching more challenging fish like trout, salmon, pike, and musky. In many ways, Matt considers himself a cheerleader, encouraging them and celebrating their successes. He also considers himself a lifelong learner and values growing alongside each participant. There’s a reciprocity — no one pretends to be an expert, and everyone is willing to share things they’ve learned.
One of the program’s goals is to ensure that every person is resourced and confident enough to go out on their own when they are ready. During the monthly training sessions, participants receive items for their tackle box. Eventually, they will build a nice starting collection.
Faith on the Fly is a program that involves the whole human experience. Sandra added, “This is truly one of the most unique ministries I have heard of. It engages the mental, physical, and spiritual aspects of a person, and it offers an opportunity to create community and form new relationships.”
Sandra affirmed the ways the program gets her body moving. “As pastors, we spend so much time in meetings and worship planning and not enough time doing physical activities in nature. I think, for all of us, this was so life-affirming and health-affirming. Yes, it requires planning and decision-making, but also the physical act of learning how to cast, how to net, and how to hold and release. So much fun and so much stress relief!”
Fishing has a spiritual dimension that can be as deep and profound as one desires. According to Matt, it’s about being purposeful and intentional in the moment. He gives some examples.
“We talk about slowing your life down,” said Matt, “sitting on the bank of the river and just taking in the moment. Close your eyes and feel the water through your hands. It’s allowing yourself to connect with God’s creation, slow your mind down, and realize you’re part of something bigger.”
He also talks about the physical act of casting and how you can use it as an embodied prayer. “There’s a certain rhythm to it,” explained Matt, “and if you want to put a scripture to it, you can. If you want to go out and close your eyes and be part of nature, you can do that. Fishing gives you that range to do what you need it to do for you, in each moment.”
Faith on the Fly also has a social dimension, as it builds connections between others. Matt hopes to expand the program by encouraging participants to let their passion for this new ministry move them to advocacy and outreach. He wants to add a missional component.
“I want to start to find ways we can give back,” said Matt. “So, it might be raising money for an international project tied to fishing. It could be a river cleanup. We might help a fishery procure salmon eggs or learn about overfishing and habitat loss. There are ways we can have an impact on our community. We’re not just a group that fly-fishes, but we’re doing something more.”
Whatever topic or issue the group chooses, he wants this to happen organically. He wants to see if there’s a project they have a passion for or would like to learn more about.
Matt believes Faith on the Fly is an outside-the-box ministry in which people with passions in their own areas of interest can use this format to be replicated in other churches. It has that potential. The key, he says, is finding something someone is passionate about. This spark will light a fire, and that excitement will spread to others.
“That can have a cool ripple effect,” he concluded. “And you don’t have to be an expert to start something. You just have to have passion and energy behind it.”
Faith on the Fly is part of Trinity UMC’s Community Ministry Program, an EngageMI Ministry Partner (CCMM#3006) that creates a safe place in the community for children and families to learn and grow. Financial donations to ministries like Faith on the Fly make a difference. To learn more about this ministry, visit their Facebook page.
Matt would love to talk to you about Faith on the Fly and discuss how you might start a ministry like this in your community. Email him at [email protected].
Last Updated on November 19, 2024