October 11-13, 2024
Base Camp is a father-focused weekend event to support and encourage special-needs dads. Guys come together and relate about the challenges and adventures unique to this life. The goal is to create a space for dads to rest, reconnect, and recharge.
The 3-day event includes great food, teaching from other special-needs dads who “get it,” lots of activities, but also lots of time for rest.
Cost: Pricing Options
O Full Retreat PLUS ($70) Fri pm – Sun am
Includes 2 nights lodging / 5 meals / all sessions & activities / optional BONUS activities / swag bag
O Full Retreat ($50) Fri pm – Sat afternoon
Includes 1 night lodging / 3 meals / all sessions & activities / swag bag
O Full Retreat – NO LODGING ($30) Fri pm – Sat afternoon
Includes 3 meals / all sessions & activities / swag bag
O Saturday Only ($20)
Includes 2 meals / Sat sessions & activities / swag bag
O Friday PM only ($10)
Includes 1 meal / Fri sessions & activities / swag bag
Location: Covenant Rest, 1321 Flynns Creek Rd, Gainesboro, TN 38562
If you have questions, email Steve at schatman@risingaboveministries.org.
Speakers
Steve Chatman
Steve Chatman is Vice President of Rising Above Ministries and oversees the pastoral ministry to families. He speaks at churches, community organizations, conferences, retreats, and universities where he enjoys helping others better understand, engage, and serve the special needs community. He also takes out the office trash every Thursday!
Before joining the staff at Rising Above, Steve spent 29 years in church pastoral ministry to children, youth, and families. He is a graduate of both Tennessee Tech University and East Tennessee State University where he studied criminal justice and psychology. His graduate studies were at Luther Rice Seminary and Bethel Seminary, where he studied Chrisian counseling and Family ministry.
Steve is married to Lori Ann, who is also a graduate of Tennessee Tech, where she studied Music Therapy. They have 5 children and 4 grandchildren. Two of their daughters have Downs Syndrome, and therefore Steve and Lori have a huge heart for the special needs community of which they are honored to be part of.
Additionally, Steve serves on the board of directors for a local Christian adoption agency which he helped start. He is a past member of the Putnam County Kiwanis Club and has been the Commissioner of his fantasy football league for many years (mainly because he loves to be in charge). He enjoys taking naps, watching movies with his family, eating Little Debbie snack cakes, boring his kids with stories from his high school glory days, and having way too high expectations every Fall for the University of Tennessee football team. He also hopes to one day play the banjo and possibly host the Tonight Show.
Ron smith
Ron Smith is the Lead Pastor at First Baptist Church of Palatka in Northeast Florida. He and his bride, Christa, have been married for 33 years. They have two sons, Ryan and Landon, and are blessed to have Landon’s bride, Abbie, as part of their family. Not to be overlooked are their two ‘fur babies’, Phoebe and Chloe.
Ron’s journey into disability began with the birth of their oldest son, Ryan. He was born with a congenital heart defect that required open heart surgery at around the age of 6 months. Ryan was later diagnosed with ‘C.H.A.R.G.E. Syndrome’ and is profoundly Deaf. With a God-given desire to foster a place for their son to ‘belong’, Ron and Christa have established thriving Deaf ministries and have now been active in disability ministry for 25 years.
Being a fellow “Disability Dad,” Ron has experienced first-hand the toll that raising a child with special needs can have on a man’s sense that he is not being successful as a husband, a father, and even their relationship with Jesus Christ. But, because of the Lord’s faithfulness throughout Ryan’s life, Ron and Christa love to encourage other parents who are on a journey similar to theirs. Ron believes that there is purpose in pain and we can find joy in the journey if we will choose to trust our good and sovereign God.
Corey ferguson
Corey Ferguson, MHA, is a passionate public servant in state government serving as a Program Manager administering policies, programs, services and support for people with developmental disabilities and their families. He received his Bachelor's of Science in Health and Sports Studies from Miami University (Oxford, OH) and his Master's in Health Administration from The Ohio State University. Through his committed work in supporting people with developmental disabilities and their families with multiple programs and services, Corey participated in the National Leadership Consortium on Developmental Disabilities Leadership Institute, and the Governor's Leadership Academy.
In addition to his focused work supporting families within state government, he also serves on the National Collaborative for Supporting Families Steering Committee, and Parent to Parent USA's Father Engagement Task Force. In 2023 Corey was awarded the Crystal Bell Advocacy Award by the LifeCourse Nexus in Kansas City, Missouri.
Corey and his wife Andrea reside in central Ohio with their three children, one of which has profound disabilities. He enjoys spending precious moments loving on and laughing with his family, long rides on his bicycle, faithfully attending and serving at his local church, and continuing to pursue his personal passion for engaging, connecting, supporting, and empowering fathers of young and adult children with developmental disabilities or medical complexity.
