I received Christ in 1962 as the result of follow-up material from a Billy Graham Crusade held in the newly opened Astro Dome in Houston, TX. I went forward at the crusade, not to receive Christ, but instead, “to run the bases.” I am grateful that God had other plans. From that time forward God used His Word to work in my heart and I received Christ. My life’s goal became honoring God and serving Him in every endeavor.

As a young boy, God instilled in my life a love for the outdoors. “Challenge” was a word I thrived on, especially if it involved bikes or mountains. In 1966, I rode in my first bike race at the age of 10 and cycled 300 miles to a Boy Scout camp. In 1977, I set a goal to climb 20,320 foot Mt. McKinley [Denali] in Alaska. When I reached the summit of the highest peak in North America, I didn’t think anything could match such an adventure, but I was wrong; it only prepared me for what was next.

In 1981, I had the wonderful privilege of starting and directing a Christian challenge camp for youth and families in the Southwest mountains of Colorado. In 1982, I married Ruthanne and we served God at the camp for over 23 years. Through outdoor adventure and challenge, we proclaimed our Lord to a lost and hurting world desperately in need of Him. The foundation for the ministry rested solely on God’s Word; the basis from which we determined our focus and direction. In those rich and rewarding years, our faith went beyond the shallow waters and plumbed the greater depths of God’s faithfulness and sovereignty.

In 2004, God changed the direction of our lives by leading us to the ministry of Capitol Commission; a ministry to political leaders in the State Capitol of Colorado. As we transitioned into this new ministry opportunity in Colorado and then into Wyoming. We served with the same love and passion for God and His Word that we served at the camp. Real love is giving what others need, not necessarily what they want. It is a privilege to be used of God to love those we minister to through evangelism, nurturing, and discipleship. As we love these state legislators and others in the Capitol community we desire to be used by God to give them the pure message of the gospel and accurate teachings from God’s Word.

I knew, from its inception in November 2009, serving with Capitol Commission would be the greatest challenge we had yet faced. We take the gospel of salvation to the men and women who make the policies we live by every day and they are the future leaders of our nation. We desire to please God and not man as we move forward to accomplish this call on our lives. Our goal is best described by Colossians 1:28-29, which says: “Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.”

Together with our dear son, Danny who turned 18 years old in February, 2014, we are challenged to “reach forward to what lies ahead” (Philippians 3:13b) in the state capitol’s of Colorado and Wyoming.

Servants of Jesus Christ,

Dan, Ruthanne and Danny File