An Opportunity for You and Your Brothers
Growing Deeper
The concepts of this ministry, the retreat, and its follow-up:
When a boy or man figures out his identity in the Kingdom of God and learns to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit in everyday life, everything changes. The Enemy’s plans begin failing and the victory of Jesus begins to come to fruition and fullness.
1. Son
First and foremost, we must individually learn and become what it means to be a son of God... embracing our identity. It's said the greatest distance is "from the head to the heart," and yet is also the most important road to travel. We must learn to dispose ourselves to God, to become more open to the Holy Spirit, AND also learn how to more accurately hear His voice - discerning God's voice with other disciples/brothers…
2. Brother
You've probably already begun to realize how much we all need brothers in our faith. We need a community of growing disciples... for encouragement, accountability, discernment, and even just fun! We intend to help men develop closer relationships with brothers in Christ and have structures that can help you form or grow in those important friendships.
3. Soldier
Once I know and begin living out of my identity as God’s son and I have a solid group of brothers around me, then the unique calling and purpose that I have within the army of Jesus Christ will begin to come (back) to life. If we are to be missionaries, if we are to go into battle - in its various forms - we will need to be well equipped soldiers.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who practice it. His praise endures for ever! - Psalms 111:10
Man of God, are you ready to be at peace, ready to make progress in your prayer life? Are you ready to know your God given purpose and act on it as never before? Ready to be done with a particular pattern of sin? Are you ready to be the husband and father, the priest, and/or the man that you have desired to be? Are you ready to be a man who makes a difference in all you do, by the power of Jesus Christ alive in you?
The Son and Brother
40 DAY COMMUNITY CHALLENGE
We would like to accompany you on a 40-day journey. More accurately, this is a 40-day new beginning. It will involve death to self and in that, complete surrender. God will more fully release the resurrection life of Jesus Christ in you if you are open to it. This is a journey that will perhaps be the beginning of the most profound transformation you’ve ever been through. You will never be the same once you are surrendered to and receiving the healing flow and presence of God, hearing His voice throughout your day.
Does the magnitude or intensity of this scare you? I used to wonder how I could possibly be free and change. I seemed so stuck, sometimes despairing, struggling in my prayer life, even struggling for the desire to grow. Similarly, I think my prayers and desires occasionally aligned with Augustine’s famous prayer, “Lord, make me chaste, but not yet.” Still, chastity is but one virtue and your desire for change might be pointed toward courage, humility, self-control, or another virtue.
At 44 years old, more than ever before, I know that I am free and equipped to live life to the full. Sure, I can look back and say, “I wish I had learned all this at the age of 15 or 20, how different things could be.” But, honestly, as you know, it’s much more fulfilling to live in the present and ask God, “What can I do differently today?” With the years and days I have left, I will live “to the full,” so long as I continue learning more and more about who I really am, listening to the voice of God, discerning with my brothers and sisters,and following His plan for my life. Am I perfect? Far from it! But “God has redeemed me and has called me by name” (Isaiah 43).
Will you go on this journey with us and maybe even bring a few of your brothers? Will you go on this journey with God?
It begins with a men’s retreat and you have two options for that retreat. On October 11-12 (Friday and Saturday) Deacon Ralph Poyo and a few other team members will guide a retreat at All Saints in Lakeville, MN which may also be live-streamed. On October 18-20 (Friday to Sunday), Mark Nelson and a few team members will guide a retreat at Broom Tree in Irene, SD. This second retreat option may not be live-streamed, but it will be recorded. Participation in one of these retreats is required to be a part of the “40 Day Community Challenge.” (NOTE: For retreat team/leadership, our journey will begin in September with one meeting for small group leaders and two meetings/prayer and visioning times for mentors/directors. Deacon Ralph and Mark will guide these leadership meetings. Dates TBA.)
What follows the retreat is optional and you do not have to commit ahead of time:
Weekly small group meetings with your “brothers,” along with coaches and mentors. We encourage those forming small groups to consider how they can include elements like breakfast and communal prayer, along with the provided content that will fuel your discussions.
Weekly one-on-one mentoring sessions, 50 minutes in length, where you will meet with one of our coaches. These are set-up based upon your availability and that of the coaches, taking place either on Zoom or in-person. ( Mark Nelson bring definition to the goals of the 50 minutes? “What should I bring and what should I expect as one being coached?”
One additional optional opportunity per week to participate in guided prayer with one of our coaches and other men as we learn to hear and listen to the voice of God. This prayer time will take place from 6:00 to 6:30 AM Central Time on Mondays. Each week will be guided by a retreat team member, and will be focused on prayerful meditations that will require a Bible and a journal. Recordings will be available for those unable to join at the given time.
Part of your commitment within this challenge is to pray daily for 30 minutes or more each day. These prayer times do NOT need to take place in a chapel, but certainly could.
Fasting will also be an integral part of your transformation. You will have the help of your new found brothers’ encouragement and solidarity.
Some have asked, “How is this different from Exodus 90?” Though there are a number of differences, the summary is here:
The weekend retreat experience is the common ground and launching point from which we start.
Of the disciplines that you undertake, a few will be common among all your brothers, while you will be invited to select several more optional disciplines from a short list of ten. You will pray and ask God which of these disciplines is meant for you in this particular season of your life.
Daily prayer will not include lengthy devotionals. Instead, each day will include a 3 to 5 minute audio or video that will help you quiet your mind and heart. You/we will also be learning how to better employ Lectio Divina and other methods of prayer, both on the retreat and in the 40 days that follow. There will be a priority on learning to listen to and discern the voice of the Holy Spirit.
This model also includes mentoring/coaching, 50-minute one-on-one sessions, on a weekly basis, for those desiring it.
Cost:
This is not about the money. This is about setting men free, free to live as they are called to live, called from the moment of their conception, but perhaps having never figured out what the call was and/or how to begin living in it. We do not want the cost to stop you and we implore you to ask for assistance if you find yourself unable to pay this price.
Click here to register for either of these retreats
As ambassadors of Christ in this journey, the mentors and spiritual directors chosen are willing to sacrifice earnings if it means that you become more free and find new life in Jesus. That said, it is a part of their “daily bread.” We simply ask that you pray and discern what donation you are called to give. The recommended minimum donation is $245. The actual cost per man is approximately $425. Why the disparity between the donation and cost numbers?
Every man and his family’s financial position is different and while some of you who are called to weekly coaching may only be able to find $75, others are called to be monthly supporters or one-time donors who will be able to give much more. Thus, they will assist their brother in his financial and spiritual need, and perhaps also allow the expansion of the overall ministry. Regardless of what you can pay, you are welcome to join. Please take this to prayer and discernment, and (when applicable) to your wife for discussion and prayer. Those giving more than $425 will be given a tax receipt noting the charitable contribution. Individualized financial assistance will be discussed in a short one-on-one conversation with our scholarship coordinator and can be requested when you apply.
Note that the cost of the weekend retreat(s) is separate from that of the weekly coaching/spiritual direction.
God bless you, Brother! We look forward to seeing you soon!
