December Forerunner Newsletter
I was reading this morning in 2 Timothy and was reminded of the importance mentoring relationships plays in the Word of God. This faith that we have calls us to the fantastic opportunity to be disciples who themselves know how to make disciples. A strong foundation of faith is best passed on through the context of positive and consistent relationships focused on Christ.
That’s the power of life-on-life relationships. Trust is built when you show up time after time after time. That trust gives you the authority to speak truth into the life of that person and to show them the way everlasting. And that truth can change everything. Truth has a name and his name is Jesus.
We're in it for the long haul too. It’s not just about you and the person you are investing in. It goes so much further than that. What we are doing will affect generations upon generations. It is our heart that the young men in our program will grow up to be Godly husbands, fathers, and leaders who pass on their faith. We want their children to be blessed because of what the Lord is doing today through Forerunner.
Thank you for helping us show up on a consistent basis. Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to invest. We get to show our families Jesus on a day-in-and-day-out basis and we couldn’t do that without you. Keep praying. Keep connecting. Keep supporting what the Lord is doing through Forerunner.
More of Him. Less of us!
2 Timothy 1:13
Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me...
2 Timothy 2:1-2
You then be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 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.
Forerunner is All About Family
Who is the most important person in the life of our young men? That's right. His mother. We love our Forerunner moms and build relationships with them through our monthly events. We build relationships through our events in two ways: having fun and talking about Jesus.
We value joy, laughter and smiles. We want to be a blessing to our mothers and we think the best way to do that is to give them a night where they can drop off their kids with our staff and enjoy a fun night with their friends. Whether it be a game of fishbowl or a Christmas gift card exchange, we know how to have fun with our moms here at Forerunner.
We are also all about Jesus Christ. We want to present a clear picture of the man Jesus Christ and give his Spirit an opportunity to do what he wants in the hearts of our mothers. We know he is the only thing that will truly bring life to the fullest and that’s who we want to focus on. It is our dream that this evenings where we discuss Jesus will turn into discipleship relationships and a desire to know our Lord in a more intimate way.
I Care About What You Care About Because I Care for You
Welcome to the busy holiday season. There are so many things that are vying for our attention this time of year. So what's the answer when one of our Forerunner's invites his mentor to his band performance? It’s yes… because when you show up to things that your mentee cares about your actions show that you care about him! Yes, it might only be an 8th grade band concert. It might be a 4th grade basketball game or a 1st graders soccer game. But it is so much more than that! Our kids notice when you show up. Our showing up means the world to them.
More is Caught than Taught
We're all about books and lectures. We love listening to a good podcast or being moved by an inspirational movie. We'll even pick up a self-help book from time to time. But the only thing that will teach a boy how to become a man is spending time with other men. Manhood is something that is bestowed. It is passed down. When our Forerunners spend time with their mentors, they are “catching” what it is like to be a Man of God. They pay attention to how you walk, how you talk, and how you carry yourself. They notice how you react to things and you attitude. They find out what you care about and what helps you live life the way that you do. It is our goal that our mentors live a life that will cause our Forerunners and their families to say “There is something different about that guy.” When that opportunity presents itself, I hope we can say “I am different. Let me tell you about the One who changed everything for me…”