Meet the Team

Staff & Board

Jeffrey Foster

Founder,  Executive  Director and Guide


Eighteen years ago, reaching the summit of Mount Rainier became a sacred moment for me. Standing there, I sensed God clarifying something deep in my heart: real growth happens when you face your fears and challenges, and walk into God’s character with intention, with someone willing to guide the way on your adventure.
Around that same idea, I was given a prophetic word spoken over my life—that I am called to be a Joshua, a strong and courageous leader to the next generation. That calling continues to shape how I lead, how I disciple, and how I walk alongside fathers and families today.

At the core of everything I do is a simple aim: to be an apprentice to Jesus, to love and lead my family well—my wife Kathleen, my princess—and to help the next generation take meaningful steps toward spiritual formation.

For more than seven years, I’ve simply followed where God kept leading me—often in the in-between spaces around the local church through para-church nonprofit ministry. I helped launch a church plant, walked closely with other church planters, and most recently served within the larger church family at Canyon Hills Community Church. None of it felt accidental. Each season shaped me, stretched me, and taught me how much leadership is really about walking with people, not rushing ahead of them.

When I look back now, it feels a lot like climbing Mount Rainier. Growth came one faithful step at a time. Those years quietly prepared me for this chapter—building a nonprofit ministry of my own, one that comes alongside families and partners closely with the local church.

Campfire Connection Ministries was born out of a burden I kept seeing again and again: fathers who want to lead their families well but don’t always feel equipped or confident. Through practical discipleship tools and shared experiences, I help dads and families slow down, have real conversations, and grow together in their faith—often around a campfire, on the trail, or in everyday moments that matter most.

I don’t see myself as someone with all the answers. I see myself as a guide—walking alongside families, learning with them, and pointing toward a deeper life with Jesus.

Grace and peace to you,
and Mount Rainier–sized blessings to you and your family.
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Wayland Coleman  

Board President 

Wayland Coleman serves as President of Campfire Ministries, a Christ-centered nonprofit founded by Jeffrey Foster and devoted to strengthening the bond between fathers and sons through faith, fellowship, and intentional time together. The ministry exists to restore godly leadership in the home by helping men lead with humility, wisdom, and love—while raising sons who know their identity in Christ.

A devoted husband of 20 years, father, godfather, uncle, and caregiver, Wayland leads from lived experience. He and his wife share a home with their 17-year-old son, 15-year-old daughter, 20-year-old goddaughter, 15-year-old nephew, and Wayland’s mother, whom he helps care for. His life reflects a daily commitment to faith, family, and responsibility.

As a longtime business owner and loan officer, Wayland understands perseverance, discipline, and stewardship. Yet his greatest calling is shaping the next generation. His leadership is rooted in Scripture—especially the wisdom of Proverbs and the life and teachings of Jesus. He teaches that discipline is worship, surrender is strength, and that time invested in family builds legacies.

Through Campfire Ministries, Wayland works alongside the founder to create safe, meaningful environments—often around a literal campfire—where fathers and sons can open God’s Word, speak honestly, and grow together. The campfire represents light in darkness, warmth in hard seasons, and a gathering place where hearts are restored.

Known for his humility, authenticity, and steady leadership, Wayland leads families to Jesus and helps strengthen homes one generation at a time.

“The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.”
— Proverbs 18:10
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Solomon Walden

Board Member, Youth & Family Advocacy

Husband. Father. Servant.
My name is Solomon C. Walden. I’m a husband, a father, a son, and a brother. These are not just titles to me. They are responsibilities I carry every day.

I have worn many hats over the years and have walked through enough to know that life is not always clean or easy. For over 15 years, I have worked with youth and families, and one thing I know for certain is that people do not need to be perfect. They need someone who is willing to show up. Day in and day out. Even when it is hard. Even when the answers are not clear.

I love my name, Solomon, because it reminds me that wisdom is not something you simply have. It is something you pray for, grow into, and fight to walk in. Through every season, I have learned to lean on the Lord Jesus Christ, not only when life is good but also when it is stretching me and calling me to higher heights.

Everything I have and everything I have made it through is because of God. I am grateful for what He has already done in my life, and I am still moving forward with expectation for what is ahead. I know there is more, and I am willing to keep growing into it.

When it comes to Campfire Connection Ministries, I do not believe this is a chance. The timing speaks for itself. God moves His people into position exactly when they are needed. I believe I am here for that reason, to serve, to grow, and to stand alongside fathers and families in a real way.

I understand what it means to carry responsibility. To lead when it is not convenient. To stay present when it would be easier to step back. That is why this work matters to me.

I am not here because I have everything figured out. I am here because I am willing. Willing to serve. Willing to lead. Willing to be used however God sees fit. I will go where He calls me and stand where He places me.

This is bigger than me. It is about strengthening men, building families, and helping the next generation understand who they are and whom they belong to.
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” — Joshua 1:9

Whitworth University 12’ Major in Kinesiology, minor in theology and coaching 
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John Savage 

Board Advisor,  Strategy and Donor Development

John brings over 35 years of experience partnering with nonprofit executives and organizations across North America. As CEO of The Savage Group, he has helped ministries, camps, churches, and faith-based organizations grow their revenue, strengthen their boards, and navigate leadership transitions. John serves as Nonprofit Startup Coach for Campfire Connection Ministries, meeting weekly with Jeffrey to shape strategy and donor development from the ground up.

He cares deeply about Campfire's discipleship and adventure vision — and brings a lifetime of wilderness experience and personal stories he is eager to share directly with the next generation on our wilderness retreats. A trustee with the National Center for Fathering, John shares a deep passion for fathers and families with Campfire's mission. He has served on the faculty of Azusa Pacific University and Christian Leadership Alliance, and is a Founding Member of the Alliance for Board Effectiveness.

B.S. in Physics from Denison University and an Executive MBA from Pepperdine University. He resides in Lahaina, Hawaii.

Kelly Shattuck

Board Advisor,  Youth Ministry

Kelly has devoted 45 years to youth ministry — preaching, discipling, training, and evangelizing the next generation across the United States and around the world. Ordained in 1987, Kelly spent 13 years living and serving in Central Europe alongside his wife and four children — planting churches, leading youth ministry, and taking the gospel as far east as the Republic of Georgia.

His ordination was affirmed in Slovakia in 2006. Kelly holds a master's degree in theology and is pursuing a second master's in biblical counseling. He has served local churches as youth pastor, elder, and elder chairman, and brings a uniquely global perspective to discipleship and leadership development.

In 2025, Kelly founded his second nonprofit — C.E.R.T. Horseshoe Bend — continuing his lifelong calling to disciple young men and women to fulfill the Great Commission.

Jeffrey and Kelly first connected at Youth Dynamics in 2021 and have since built a deep relationship. That shared history and mutual commitment to the next generation make Kelly's voice on the Campfire board so valued.

David Carlson 

Board Advisor, Donor Development 

David Carlson serves as Board Advisor to Campfire Connection Ministries, bringing over 25 years of nonprofit leadership and donor relations wisdom to the team. His heart for ministry and deep experience strengthening faith-forward organizations align with Campfire's mission to walk alongside fathers and raise the next generation in faith.
A devoted husband to his wife, Vicki, for 47 years, David is a father of five and a grandfather of ten (soon to be eleven). Their family has been shaped by decades of shared faith, service, and intentional love across generations.
David's career has bridged two worlds. He served as a Youth Pastor to 125 junior and senior high students at his home church, then spent ten years as VP of a regional investment brokerage firm serving brokers across Oregon and Washington. In 1995, he left the for-profit sector to serve the humanitarian space — carrying roles of Executive Director, Director of Development, National Director of Donor Relations, Senior Philanthropy Advisor, and, most recently, Major Donor Relationship Consultant. His work has spanned Agros International (Central America), the International School of Entrepreneurial Leadership (Indore, India), and Medical Teams International.
Through Campfire Connection Ministries, David walks alongside Jeffrey and the board as a trusted advisor — offering counsel rooted in decades of faithful generosity work, strong relationships, and a deep love for the local church and the families it serves.
He describes himself as "an Envoy of Joy and Advocate for the Compassionate One."