For Chad and James Hampton, twin brothers who pastor and hunt in Michigan, filling the family freezer with venison starts long before dinner — often with hours of quiet waiting in a tree stand.
The Hamptons, founders of Huntin’ the Truth Ministries and hosts of the outdoor show “Twin Factor,” say harvesting their own food is not just about self-reliance. For them, it’s a matter of faith.
“We know that God’s given us that food to manage and also consume so that we can be what He’s created us to be,” Chad Hampton told Fox News Digital.
The brothers cite Genesis 1:26 to explain how they see hunters as caretakers of the natural world rather than simply consumers of it. “We’re managing God’s creation that He gave to us,” Chad Hampton said.
That theme runs through their new book, “100 Days of Strength for Hunters,” a devotional meant to help outdoorsmen deepen their relationship with God. The brothers describe it as a mix of Scripture, hunting stories, practical lessons and prayer, written short enough to read from a tree stand.
Their emphasis on sourcing your own food echoes a broader national push toward eating what’s been called “real food” and knowing where it comes from — a conversation also shaped by the Make America Healthy Again movement.
“Everything that we harvest we eat,” James Hampton said.
The brothers believe convenience has pulled many Americans away from any real understanding of their food. They’re not purists about it, though — both admit fast food is part of their lives, given busy schedules.
“Although we love our fast food, we also love the slow-cooked venison,” Chad Hampton said.
Hunting demands something a drive-through never will: time. The Hamptons describe spending hours pursuing a single animal, a process they see as carrying real responsibility — not just harvesting food, but tending to something they believe God has placed in their care.
That conviction has shaped their ministry for more than 20 years. James Hampton recalled praying from a tree stand in 2004 while his wife was battling cancer, an experience that helped push the brothers toward building a ministry centered on helping others “hunt for God and His plan for their life.”
“We have to live what we preach,” James Hampton said. “And that is loving God with all our hearts, souls, minds and strengths and seeking Him.”
