Canyon Ministries

In 1980, while managing a corporate computer center for a Fortune 500 company in downtown Los Angeles, I took a vacation that would prove to be a turning point in my life - a rafting trip through the Grand Canyon.

Two years later, I left the corporate world behind and became a career rafting guide, leading trips through the Grand Canyon ever since.  I have also worked as a part-time guide for the Grand Canyon National Park Service, and am a past-elected member of the board of directors for Grand Canyon River Guides.

My time in the Canyon not only led to a career I love, but also brought about a spiritual change in my life.  In 1994, Paula, a passenger on a trip shared Christ with me.  A few months later, I received Christ as my Lord and Savior and Paula is now  my wife.   In 1996, the concept of Canyon Ministries was born and we ran our first Christ-centered rafting trip through the Grand Canyon.  Since then, we have shared the Canyon from a Biblical perspective with hundreds of people. We have been selected by both Answers in Genesis and the Institute for Creation Research, as well as several other organizations, to provide charter services for their Grand Canyon tours and research trips.

The change in worldviews triggered the start of my search for answers to questions I always had about the evolutionary model of the formation of Grand Canyon.  I discovered that the creation model of the Canyon made more sense, was easier to believe and answered more questions than the evolutionary model.

In 2003, Grand Canyon, a Different View was published.  The book combines the stunning photography of fellow Canyon guide Charly Heavenrich with the commentaries of some of the leading creation science writers, researchers, and theologians of our time.  I have had the privilege of leading tours and research trips through the Canyon with many of the contributors to the book.

The combination of my experience in the Canyon and the controversy that arose around the book has also provided us with the opportunity to present The Message of the Grand Canyon to churches and groups across the country.  Presented at a layman's level, the program is designed to strengthen people's faith in the Word of God and provide them with some of the scientific evidence that supports a young earth interpretation of the Grand Canyon.

We hope you will consider joining us for what many have called "the trip of a lifetime."

Tom and Paula Vail