Carl Towns & Upward Road

(In this section I have added pages from the Wilderness Ministries website which at one time was a global ministry and will be again, after a season of rest.)
What is now Wilderness Ministries really began in 1996 by Carl Towns, changing titles along the way.

In it's first form, WM was known as "The Lighthouse". It began as a simple newsletter ministry with about 25 subscribers receiving the publication. Later in that same year, "The Lighthouse" was later translated into a web site that mirrored the paper version.

In 1997, as more and more people visited, the web site expanded to include other articles and studies, that were not included in the newsletter, because of space constraints.

At the beginning of 1998, Carl made a trip overseas for several months, the newsletter suffered and upon his return found that many of the subscribers had moved. So at his return to the States in the latter part of 1998, He decided to focus mainly on the web site, so he revamped the site adding several new things and gave it a new name, reflecting what he had learned.

"The Reality Zone", became the new name, to Carl's realization that true worship of the Father is a reality. That God exists as a real being, not something in outerspace. A loving, caring Father. The only problem: Most people are in bondage, chained down by religious non-biblical traditions. So there is a difference in Religion and Reality.
Hence; the web site was re-born. "The Message" was born at this time, bringing a new message every week to the web site. The Reality Zone lasted for some time, but then Carl wanted to focus on gathering children of God together over the internet, to fellowship with them. To open up a way for those who could not leave their homes for one reason or another, to fellowship and worship with others.

This began a long period when the website was called O' Ekklesia at i-61.net . O' Ekklesia is Greek for "The Church" or "The Gathering". It seemed more suitable for the goal that Carl wanted for the web site. From that time in the year 2000, I-61.net grew to feature chat rooms, discussion boards and much more.

Though in Carl's heart, the Father had ordained him several years ago, in 2003, Carl Towns was officially ordained under the laws of man through United Christian Ministries International. Though some claim this is a "pay To Preach" site, in actuality, you only pay for the Documentation and materials sent to you, not the ordination. In Either case;  it served the purpose, as Carl needed the legal ability to marry friends and family who had asked him to officiate certain events. His true ordination was not by some man-made paper but through the Holy Spirit.

Carl's prayers and further understanding caused the launch of a new name for the ministry which God had given him to do. Alethia Ministries was so named. Alethia is the Greek word found in the Word which means "truth". Though the names have changed the mission is essentially the same. To teach truth and bring forth that which was given to Carl in the book of Isaiah Chapter 61.

Our Mission
Isaiah 61:1-3
(1) The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
(2) To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
(3) To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

This is the scripture that this ministry was first based on and contains our initial mission: To bring good news to those who are depressed and needy. To mend hearts that are broken, To declare freedom to those who are captive, and deliverance to those who are in the chains of sin. To announce the acceptable year of the Lord, and that the day of venegeance of the Lord is at hand. To comfort those who grieve and trade them beauty for their ashes, the richness of joy for their grief and the covering of hymns to sing away the spirit of heaviness, that they can be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, so that He may be glorified.

It was in 2009 that the Lord showed Carl how that the internet is the Wilderness of today and that it was time to let His children know that the time is drawing very near.This was first initiated with Wilderness Radio, a 24 hour Christian music music and programming internet-based station. It has grown in leaps an bounds since it's initial start up. It began as a concept in late 2009, and began broadcasting on June 14, 2010.
Since that time the Father has been revealing things to Carl to interjoin all these things and programs that are coming forth in the near future. It would be called Wilderness Ministries with a two-fold mission. the mission mentioned above remains but it is enfolded into the new mission.

All in all, the Lord has brought this ministry from a fledging newsletter to a worldwide ministry that stretches the globe! Thank you Lord!