The Fellowship of Men
The Purpose of the Fellowship of Men is to connect men - young and old -
with one another and with the Body of Christ,
and to challenge and help them to become all they can be in Christ.
The Tenets of the Fellowship of Men - below - form a shared understanding of how we believe we can change a disconnected world and bring the Kingdom of God into it.
M e n o f F a i t h
Humility | Faith | Strength | Courage | Love
Victory belongs to the men of faith. Men – plural - locked in a testudo formation with other men. All men - rich and poor, saints and sinners - grapple with what Henry David Thoreau called “quiet desperation,” but in the end, it is those who have grown comfortable in the full armor of God, standing shoulder to shoulder with their brothers in Christ, who will taste the sweetness of victory - in this life or the next. The idea of men of faith is predicated on five principles: the humility of Christ, deep practical faith, strength, courage, and true sacrificial love.
Humility is the first step in becoming a man of faith, and it is the ground zero of all we are and all we can ever be in Christ. It brings us face to face with our own brokenness, vulnerability, and authenticity. If all sin and evil are rooted in pride, then humility is the fountainhead of all that is true, noble, and right - whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable.
The other four principles are, to some extent, self-evident, but here is a short summary: Faith is the daily choice to trust God beyond words, forming a lived dependence on Christ that bears fruit through obedience. Strength flows from that faith, not as self-assertion, but as quiet resolve rooted in reliance on God. Courage is strength put into action - obedience in the presence of fear, choosing faithfulness over comfort.
Love is the culmination of all four principles, transforming belief into service and conviction into sacrifice, seeking the good of others through self-giving, Christ-centered action.
M e n o f P u r p o s e
Connect | Serve | Inspire | Challenge | Encourage
Men of faith do not live for themselves. They are purpose-driven, and they be-come men of purpose. They are men who reach deep within themselves to rediscover the unique strain of genius and the arc of brilliance God has entrusted to them, and who, with humility, serve the world around them through that sacred gift. The idea of men of purpose rests on the execution of five actions: to connect, to serve with humility, to inspire, to challenge, and to encourage.
It begins with connection. Without connection there is nothing - no relationship, no trust, no growth. Touching someone on the shoulder and asking, “What is your name?” and then, “Where are you from?” is often all it takes, and it can make all the difference in a disconnected world. From connection flows service - the willingness to place the needs of others above your own, even for a moment. Let the excellence of that service inspire those around you. Breathe life into every situation and pour the Spirit of God into everyone that crosses your path. And when the opportunity comes, challenge others to become all they can be in Christ. Encourage, equip, and walk another mile with them on that journey, as a true brother in Christ.
Reformation of the Heart
- Metanoia -
Jesus and John the Baptist began their ministries with the call, “Metanoia (repent), for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17). This call was not merely to feel regret, but to experience a profound transformation of heart and mind. Metanoia means changing the way one thinks - and even the mind with which one thinks - allowing God’s truth to reorder life from within.
It is an inward reformation that produces lasting change in character, actions, and purpose. From this renewal, faith grows as a daily practice rather than a momentary decision. As pride, guilt, and shame fall away, the Kingdom of God is ignited within, restoring men to truth, freedom, and a life aligned with God’s will.
Unity in Christ - Jesus Is the Christ
In John 13:35, Jesus said, “By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
There is a Moravian Church principle that says, “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, love.”
For the Fellowship of Men, the essential is this:
“Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God”
(Matthew 16:16).
This is the one prayer, one promise, and one truth that should connect and unite all Christian men.
Discipling Men
While all discipleship must be rooted in the authority of Scripture and aimed at Christlikeness, there are three important principles in discipling men to keep in mind.
First, discipling men should be an intentional, biblical process that addresses the full spectrum of manhood - spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional growth and maturity - forming men’s character through God’s Word and the work of the Holy Spirit, to the glory of God.
Second, discipling men is not a one-way transfer from qualified teachers to perpetual students. It more closely reflects the wisdom of Dr. Patch Adams: “Everyone who comes to the ranch is a patient, and everyone who comes to the ranch is also a doctor.” Every man has something to receive and something to give as he grows and helps others grow.
Finally, discipling men means challenging, equipping, and encouraging men to become all they can be in Christ. Through the blood of Jesus, we are fully justified before God - but that is not the goal; it is the beginning of a lifelong journey no man can walk alone. Every man needs a foundry of men - brothers in Christ - where iron sharpens iron, and where humility, faith, strength, courage, and love are forged to near perfection.
Small Activity Groups
Every man should be part of at least one small group that meets on a weekly basis, and perhaps one or two other groups that meet less regularly. These should be groups of sound character, good spirit, and trustworthy nature - groups built around a shared interest, proximity, and common purpose. They should be men of God he respects, men he can learn to trust and build genuine friendship with.
Men bond shoulder to shoulder, learning from one another side by side. It is in the activity, in the struggle, and in the thick of it that they grow closer. It is in the line of duty, in the scrum, in the adventure - there on the edge of order and chaos - that they begin to understand and value one another. True masculine friendship does not come easily. It does not come from common interests, casual conversation, or random small talk. It comes from laying down a part of your life with and for one another, and the cost is measured in time, commitment, trust, sweat, tears, and blood.
Small and larger activity groups are the heartbeat of a fellowship of men. They are the place a man finds real connection, where he feels comfortable yet challenged. They are places where every man has a name, every man counts, every man has a voice, and every man can make a real difference.
The Great ComMission and Adventure
Fishing for men is neither easy, nor a solo endeavor. We do not do it because it is easy, but because it is hard. Going the extra mile - to the highways, the byways, and the hedges - will cost you, cost you dearly, but it should also be the greatest adventure a man can ever know. It is the highest calling, the greatest honor, and the most incredible mission a man can be part of.
The Fellowship of Men does not merely call for small and large activity groups, but for directing those groups outward into their world to make a real difference. It must be more than a hangout, a social club, or a therapy group - it must reach outward and connect with men near and far. It is not merely about camaraderie, but about a true esprit de corps - men locking arms with brothers in Christ on a mission to bring the Kingdom of God into their world.
“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying,
‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?’
And I said, ‘Here am I! Send me.’”
Isaiah 6:8