God Strong Men
God strong (Ephesian 6:10)
Purpose
Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, and be strong. Do everything in love. (1 Corinthians 16:13 &14, ESV)
God Strong Men are men after God’s heart; men seeking to honor God with their lives as they navigate the complexities of their humanity and the world in which they live. From the beginning of the creation in Eden, God ordained men as leaders to serve, protect, provide, and guide those under their care. The absence of men after God’s heart to lead has grave and multiplied ramifications for marriages, homes, organizations, communities, and nations.
Men are created to be vessels of honor but they are under attack because the devil knows that if he can strike (Zechariah 13: 7-9) the shepherd (man, head, chief servant of the home), he can scatter the sheep (wife, children, organizations, and communities). While the world expects them to shoulder the weight of leadership at all times, men are humans, and while they sometimes go through the motions of emotions, they are less likely to let the world around them in. That is why men need a safe place to share, learn, grow, and be supported/equipped to become all God has ordained them to be.
A place where they learn to be the best version of who God made them in their career, homes, neighborhoods, and Churches, as husbands, fathers, and men of integrity. Where they will know that to gain it all, they can lay it all at the feet of Christ. Taking one out is practically impossible when men fight and pray together and are connected through growth, because one can chase a thousand and two, ten thousand (Deuteronomy 32:30).
Furthermore, it is vital for men walking with God to learn from the example of those who have already done so despite their human limitations, such as David. God is not looking for perfect men (Isaiah 57:15) but for men whose hearts are panting after Him (Psalm 42). Through our longing for Him, He constantly empowers and transforms us into the image of His perfect Son, Jesus Christ, with the help of the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18). All we need to do is surrender to His Word and His Spirit by being willing and obedient. He will help us (Isaiah 41:10).
Vision Statement
Men relentlessly pursuing God to become more like Jesus, no matter what!
Mission Statement
Gather as men in small circles, periodically and consistently, to spur one another to:
(1) Become more like Christ
(2) Become praying men as Paul urged in 1 Timothy 2:8: “Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing.”
(3) Accomplish all that God has called each one to do, and
(4) Grow as an army of leaders (chief servants) for Christ with the help of the Holy Spirit and wisdom from God’s Word.
Key Focus
Spiritual growth through the Word and prayer (personal and corporate) - Joshua 1: 5-9
Practical Christian living & applications for all facets of life
Accountability: integrity, honesty, asking for help
Support: Encouragement and strengthening
Missional living - Our identity in Christ, representing Him, and pointing others to Him and not to self
Operations
Circles of five to twelve men meet physically (monthly/bimonthly, etc.) using the “God Strong Men” learning model. The meetings are held in a denominationally neutral space where the men can be comfortable and approach their gathering time with a serious attitude. They gather to share, learn, pray, laugh, eat, and grow together, while encouraging one another through periodic scheduled Bible study engagements outside the physical gathering time.
Circles
Resources, training, and support would be made available to registered circles to help them. To start a circle,
a. Founding members must be born-again Christians who are members of (attend and are actively engaged in) a Bible-believing and preaching church.
b. Complete and apply through the link below
c. Abide by the God Strong Men manifesto
