Invest in Other Men
The guys, minus Jeff Fong who was sick. The physical challenge this night was weighted dips.
Nine months ago I prayerfully selected 11 men in my church to disciple and invest in. We represent five different decades: teens, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s. We’re all really different.
We gathered most Sunday nights, always at a different man’s home or workplace, so that we’d better know each man and his world. Each man told his story, often with tears, and with brothers who listened and loved. Sacred ground. Each gathering involved a difficult (or ridiculous) physical challenge, because men bond best when doing things together: pushup contest, pull up contest, one-mile run contest, hide & seek in the pitch dark, Krav Maga class, pushing a minivan, etc.
1 mile run contest. I took 2nd place, Rick Kakanou won 1st place. I’m still mad he beat me.
We’ve sought God together, shared our hearts, set and chased difficult goals, worked through biblical content, encouraged and challenged each other, repented of sin, experienced healing, cried in hospitals, battled setbacks, accomplished missions together, and prayed big.
We’ve all grown. We’ve watched God do stuff. We’ve had a blast. We’re not the same.
I love these men.
Rick’s baptism.
Our nine-month discipleship journey recently reached it close, its “sending.” Around my fire pit I “named” each man—gave each man a name, a blessing that I believe describes a powerfully unique way God has gifted and wants to use that man. I anointed each man’s head with oil. And I sent out these men in various pairings with a mission to multiply this process with other men.
More adventure is on the horizon. It’s so much fun to follow Jesus and be on the mission he gave us to go & make disciples!
Men, try this. Select some men. Get started. Make disciples.
Our world needs more men who invest in other men.
“And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” 2 Timothy 2:2
The guys.