A SPECIAL WORD FROM OUR FOUNDER.
Andy Molatch, Founder
Like many times in history when God wants to intercede in men’s lives he finds one man or woman who is willing to humble themselves and be available to Him. For this ministry, that one man is Andy Molatch. Andy Molatch was a man’s man. He was a police officer with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department who retired after 30 years of service. During that time, he was a street officer, a sniper on the SWAT team, headed up the Bomb Squad, and then taught all these skills and more to new officers. Andy married the love of his life, Denise, who was an officer on the Hickory Police force at the time. They have two sons; both became Navy Seals and served our country in combat.
When Andy came to know his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, God lead him to reach out to those around him in the community and on the force. Just before he retired, he started a men’s bible study which met every Saturday morning in his log cabin which he built behind his house. Thus, we became known as the Cabin Boys.
Andy attracted men who would normally not attend church or reach out for help. “I prayed about this many times and the Lord always came back with the same response, 'Men need to fellowship with each other and YOU are available!'” - men on the police force, other first responders like firemen and active duty military and veterans. These men could talk openly about their lives and struggles with other men who had been there and understood, all the while hanging out in a “safe place.” While the Lord was bringing more and more men to the ministry, Andy discovered he had an aggressive form of cancer. His light for the Lord shined even brighter during this dark time. He found hiking the Appalachian Trail was both therapy and mission. Andy’s trail name was Wilderness Scout. He was always willing to take men on the trail with him in order to spend time with them away from the world’s distractions and help them work through their life challenges. Andy was always ready to strike up conversation with strangers on the trail and many times he would lead them to Jesus – the real long lasting eternal “cure” for life challenges. His goal was to teach, challenge, and encourage men to become the Man of God the Lord meant every man to become. Andy knew that only as true Men of God, would we be equipped and empowered to help those in our lives.
Andy lost his battle with cancer in 2014 and as a testament to his effect on the people around him there were more than 3,000 men and women from the police departments across the area and members of various fire departments at his funeral. His funeral was presided over by Jody Wetta, one of the original men in the Cabin Boys bible study, retired Charlotte Fireman, and pastor of a local church. Jody is now one of the leaders in the ministry. During Andy’s memorial service over 40 people professed Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior!
Those of us whose lives have been touched by Andy have continued in God’s mission for Andy as Wilderness Scout Ministries – to teach, challenge, and encourage men to become spiritually mature Men of God and help them find and embrace the unique will God has for them.