February 2023 "Month-in-Review"
God has been answering prayers we’ve been praying.
The prayers we prayed at the start of our Spring semester of programming are already being answered. Our boys are making disciples.
A young man in our after-school program pulled one of our coaches aside during reflection time to ask how he can get his friend to believe in Jesus. They had a conversation about it and the friend very clearly said he didn’t believe in God, so this forerunner was telling him that God is the Father who created the whole world and who created him.
His friend had some hard questions,
“convince me to believe in God”
“let’s say I am convinced, what would it change?”
This forerunner and his coach got to spend time practicing what it looks like to answer those questions, rely on the Holy Spirit when you don’t know how to answer, and ultimately rest in God to change his friend’s heart. He is also on a mission to bring him to Forerunner — a place where he has gotten to grow in manhood and in his relationship with God.
This forerunner is going to change the world.
—
At the end of the month, this same Forerunner really wanted to share something with everyone in program. He said
“ I just wanted to remind you guys to hold onto God. Never let go of God. He’s never gonna leave you. You have the recipe for your destiny”.
He was the exact image of being bold and courageous. Walking out as a Man of God.
The 2023 Forerunner Women’s Retreat
Every year towards the beginning of our Spring semester of programming, we invite the mothers of the boys we serve with our programs to an all-out Women’s Retreat — a Saturday to rest, reflect, and refuel — with other mothers. We believe these mothers are the true champions of our boys. They work hard, they nurture and care, they speak truth and encouragement, and more we don’t see and never will get to see. Seeing young men in Lake Highlands fulfill their potential is a fruit of not only the investment of mentors and coaches in the lives of our boys, but their mothers. It’s truly an honor to get to serve and bless these mothers around this time every year.
The Retreat started with a trip to the nail salon to get manicures and pedicures, followed by lunch and reflecting on the Lord and faith, followed by an afternoon to rest and spend time with their kids before they dress to the nines for a fancy dinner at a chosen restaurant in Lake Highlands. This year, we had some of the best pizza to ever be shared with the world. Shoutout to you, Cane Rosso.
“I totally enjoyed the Women’s Retreat. Every year it means a lot to me getting to see all the ladies together getting all dolled up and spending time with each other and having a time to bond with each other.”
“I really enjoyed the Women’s Retreat. Spending time with the other moms and catching up was much needed. The nail salon, the lunch, and the dinner were amazing! I loved getting a break from the kids and being pampered, spoiled, and poured into all day. I needed that.”
THRIVE All-Star Monday
The men of our High School ministry called THRIVE meet every Monday to talk about faith, manhood, and shoot some hoops. This past month, they had the opportunity to leave it all out on the court for a night called All-Star Monday at the Lake Highlands Rec Center. The night consisted of a 3-point contest, a Slam Dunk contest, and a Points Challenge.
We're so thankful for settings like these where we can host brotherhood gatherings. Gatherings that are FUN and where relationships happen.
Relationships change lives.
Junior High Manhood Talks
Guest Speaker: Johnathan Haggerty
Last month, our Junior High program heard an amazing lesson and word from a guest speaker, Johnathan Haggerty. Johnathan, a NFL wide receiver who was previously a member of the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears, spoke to our men about the purpose they have and carry because they were created in God’s image. They don’t have to receive their image from the world, rather, they already carry Christ in them and are created with an identity as a man of God.
The boys are reading, tackling ever book in our Forerunner library.
The emotions of getting caught up in a really good book 😁
One of the things our K-6th boys get to do every day in our after-school program is grow work. Most of them end up grabbing a book from our ever-growing library and reading it together.
Every flip of a page and story read is growing their literacy skills, filling them with knowledge, and helping to fulfill their potential in one of our end goals -- education.
What's the last really good book you found yourself caught in?
A Story from Our Teaching Coach, Caitlyn Moudy
”God showed up big time for Bible today. To start the day, I could NOT find the printed lesson plan anywhere, and let me tell you, I searched. In all honesty I thought one of the boys had taken it (this happened last week) and I was super frustrated. I had a whole plan and it was in those papers, but it was no where to be found. So Bible time came for 3rd-6th grade and with no lesson plan in sight, I just started teaching the text.
John 11:25 “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,”.
A discussion on how Jesus raises dead things back to life turned into us coaches and so many boys sharing on the mic the testimonies of how Jesus raised us from death to life. The testimonies of how Jesus saved them. It was far better than anything I could’ve planned. You could see the power gained in each man of God as they professed the gift of saving faith. At the very end of the day, I found the lesson by the book station. I was there so many times throughout the day and never saw it. If I would’ve found those papers earlier and done what I had planned, testimonies heard and shared to the glory of God wouldn’t have happened. Thankfully, God’s plan is always better.”
More glimpses from February
One day last month, we did something new and separated into teams for SEL (Social-Emotional Learning) time. In talking about family roles, Holden got to teach his group that sometimes, being a man of God means that you sacrifice first. To be men who lived like Christ means putting our desires above others. To love others as we love ourselves. To walk in humility and respect with other people.
In February, we were able to have our High School program test their roller-skating skills at the skating rink! It’s not every day you get to put on a pair of roller skates and hang with your mentors.
During team time one day last month, Coach Taj brought some ties and taught all his boys how to tie them. They were so excited to be “looking all fancy” and being confident how to tie them. We’re so excited to see these future leaders excel in their future jobs and fullfill their potential. They will be a generation that loves God and prepares a way for other men to walk in mature manhood in the name of Jesus.
Our Forerunners have been loving reading lately. There’s nothing like getting caught up in a story with your friends. Forerunner is a place where boys find lasting friendships that remind them the are not running this race alone.
Our boys being brothers.
Our boys looking at their brothers.
Our boys working on wonder kits.
Our boys showing their wonder kits.
Coach Taj getting beat in Connect Four.
Coach Taj getting embraced by his four.
The Manhood Declaration, written on their hearts.
Stay connected to more of our stories below.
