OUTFITTERS
ing men, building families, building legacies. It’s a motto Jeff Fritscher started when he founded Legacy Outfitters in Waco, Texas, in 2002 as an organization committed to help men pass on a legacy of faith from one generation to another.
Since then, 17 Legacy Outfitters chapters have been chartered. The MidSouth chapter is one of two outside of Texas, the other being in Cheyenne, Wyo. Other chapters are Central Texas (seven), Southeast Texas (two), Texas Hill Country (two) and North Texas (two). While a couple of chapters have disbanded in recent years, additional chapters are planned and Fritscher says the Mid-South chapter is among the organization’s most active.
“I began to try and sort out what exactly God was telling me and His purpose for calling me into His kingdom,” said Jordan, who became a Christian in 1982 and is an avid crappie fisherman and outdoorsman. “I got involved with yard work and whatever else I could do at the church I joined when I got saved.”
Not long after becoming a Christian, Jordan and his wife, Deb, moved their membership to what was then Raleigh Baptist Church (now Bartlett Hills), where he became a deacon and got involved in the church’s men’s ministry.
“I got involved with some committees and let the Lord show me what I could do and moved on with His work,” he said. “I continued to grow as a Christian but just wanted to do more for Him. Knowing full well one cannot work himself to heaven’s gates, I wanted to do more.”
About this time a friend invited Jordan to attend a Legacy Outfitters meeting. Right off, he knew he was where he needed to be in his Christian walk. These were his type of folks from head to toe and from heart to soul.
“We came in camo,” he said. “We prayed, planned hunting and fishing events, ate venison stew, had fish fries and occasionally someone would bring a lost friend that could hear about Jesus before we left. What was there not to like about this? I became a regular member and loved every minute of it.”
After the two previous chapter point leaders moved on to other nonchapter ministries, members asked Jordan to fill the gap. He was more than willing. “I was blessed,” he said when he became the chapter’s point leader. He’s still amazed. “What a joy it is to serve the King of Kings and Lord of Lords with those very people you love to be around: hunters, fishermen, golfers, hikers and any other outdoor activity you can think of,” he said. Fritscher agreed. “Our meetings and events are designed to provide an environment where our Legacy brothers can confidently invite men to be encouraged and challenged by stories of changed lives and restored families,” he said. “We believe that ‘Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another’ (Proverbs 27:17), so most of our meetings and events are intended for adult men, age 17 and up. We do have occasional family and couples events, but our mission and vision is to draw together all men, whether married, alone or alone again.”
On the front end, Fritscher and Jordan want potential Legacy Outfitters members to know that the organization is not a church or affiliated with a church or denomination. However, one of its goals is to help men become the spiritual leaders of their families so they will attend church together. Legacy Outfitters is not a hunting and fishing club. Instead, it uses outdoor activities as the setting for spiritual discussions about what God is doing in lives.
There are no membership fees or dues. Members chip in to help pay for the cost of the meal.
“God has taught me to be a humble and grateful man for where He has brought me and for Legacy Outfitters and its members for allowing me to be a part of this great organization,” Jordan said. “We at Legacy Outfitters believe that we need to build better men, husbands, fathers and grandfathers. Jesus told His disciples in Mathew 4:19 to ‘Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men.’ That is what we are all about.”
Fritscher, who hosts a weekly 30-minute show in the Waco area, said Jordan and others have made the Mid-South chapter successful. “He (Jordan) truly has a passion for what we’re trying to do,” Fritscher said. “I know he has a great team of guys who are focused on our mission. That’s so important since there is such a great distance between us here in Central Texas and you folks in Tennessee. We’re all in this for the same reason.”
The Mid-South chapter’s next meeting is Nov. 29 at 6 p.m. at the Memphis Sport Shooting Association, 9428 Old Brownsville Road. For additional chapter information, contact Jordan at 901- 413-1162 or Duston Williamson at 901626-1187. The mailing address is Legacy Outfitters, P.O. Box 617, Ellendale, TN 38029.