June-Aug 2022 "Summer-in-Review"

FORERUNNER MENTORING — SUMMER 2022

THE BOYS HANG OUT WITH THEIR MENTORS AND FAMILIES.

One of our Forerunners had a birthday over the summer and got celebrated by his family, his mentor, and his mentor’s family. This is what it’s all about. We love getting to celebrate our forerunners and the life they bring.

Two brothers who are forerunners in the after school mentoring program hanging out at the pool with their mentors.

More pool hangs.

THE BOYS GO TO SUMMER CAMP.

Every summer, it is our heart and hope to be able to provide a safe, fun, and unforgettable summer camp experience for our forerunners. This past summer we were able to send a group of our young men to Sky Ranch! They were able to get away from the usual and familiar setting of Dallas and grow in friendship with one another and other young men at the camp. Many came back to program changed and have expressed that they want to re-attend camp next year. We are so thankful that we get to give our boys these opportunities.

MORE FORERUNNERS GET BAPTIZED AND GO PUBLIC WITH THEIR FAITH IN JESUS.

Every fiscal program year we give the young men enrolled in our programs an opportunity to take the next step in their faith and relationship with Jesus by sharing about water baptism and giving them that opportunity with their forerunner brothers, mentors, and families present to support them. Over the summer, we had one of our Junior High forerunners decide to take his next step and get baptized!

NEW MENTORS STEP INTO THE STORY.

Over the summer we hosted a multi-match event where men in our community who are interested in mentoring got the chance to meet some of our boys needing a mentor in our after school program. Later on as the summer progressed, some of these men got matched for the very first time! We’re believing for these relationships to only strengthen as our boys get to know their mentors and do life with them. Moments like these always remind us why relationships change lives.

THE 2022 MANHOOD RITE OF PASSAGE — PAGOSA SPRINGS, CO

In July, we get the opportunity to take a group of our high school young men to the wilderness and mountains in Colorado where they are tested by outdoor conditions, persevering through an extensive hike, and being away from their cell-phones in order to discover their hearts as Men of God. From driving 16+ hours in a van to having real, intentional talks as men around campfires, this group of five forerunners and their mentors were tested and grew as brothers.

“Adventure, with all its requisite danger and wilderness, is a deeply spiritual longing written into the soul of man.”

-John Eldredge, Wild at Heart

Have you ever lost yourself in the wilderness? Ventured away from all the noise of a city, the demanding attention of screens, the ruthless hurry of life?

Well, getting away from that became a reality for a week for five of our young men last month as they trudged through the trails on our Manhood Rite of Passage. We drove 15+ hours to Pagosa Springs, CO where we partnered with an incredible organization named Outdoor Adventures, allowing our Forerunners to lose themselves in the wilderness to find their heart as a man of God. To endure uncontrollable circumstances brought forth by the mountains in order put on perseverance. To build character. To be filled with hope that they are surrounded by “a great cloud of witnesses” as mentioned in scripture - mentors and brothers who will walk with them through any circumstance life throws at them. To know they can overcome difficulty and hardship. To know they are not alone. To know when it feels like they are in the dark of life, they have men in their corner to illuminate the love of Jesus and their identity as forerunners: to prepare and make way in the midst of the unknown, in the wilderness, in the areas that may bring them uncertainty or fear. You really had to be there and experience it. Carrying 40lb. packs to set up basecamp, helping one another navigate the rain and the thick of mud, opening up about struggles and praying for each other around the fire.This group of men committed to be forerunners in their generation and run the race of life that God has marked out before them with endurance.

Outdoor Adventures played a tremendous role in creating a space for “iron to sharpen iron” and for unity to be formed amongst our guys. We got to see our older and more mature Forerunners be tested and be called higher into their identity as men of God. We saw vulnerability displayed in the sharing of testimony and struggle. We saw our young men open up and express themselves emotionally as they let themselves be seen and fully known - no walls up. We saw burdens be laid down at the feet of Jesus in trusting that His grace was sufficient. We saw a band of brothers rally around one another, encouraging one another amidst adversity and trial. We saw personal error be owned and not be used to be condemn or shame but rather fuel for encouragement and humility. We saw our young men be poured into and affirmed in their identity and sonship - that they are loved by a Heavenly Father and carry potential as his children.

After spending days camping in a valley, we had the opportunity to spend time at some hot springs to wind down from the week. With this opportunity came a moment for these men to make a public declaration of their faith in response to what God did in their hearts all week. Some of our Forerunners had already made that decision to be baptized. The ones that hadn’t already yet or wanted to make another went ahead and did so! All 5 of our Forerunners are moving forward from this trip walking greater into Jesus’ light and love, making a statement with each and every single step they take forward, understanding that they matter and what they do has an impact on something greater than just themselves.

Take heart. Be encouraged. You who are reading this may feel like you have had little impact in these men, but you are a champion. Our prayers are being answered in this ministry. Men are submitting themselves into the hands of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. No matter how you’ve sown into this ministry, know that these are the lives seeing a potential fulfilled. Thank you for championing our Forerunners and this generation.

PROGRAM IS BACK IN SESSION.

One of our forerunners helping another forerunner brother with his homework.

Every Wednesday is Guest Speaker Wednesday for our Junior High Mentoring Program. Last week they got the chance to hear from a Aerospace Software Engineer! Every week these 7-8th grade forerunners get to hear from other men who have gone before them. To know that they can pursue and see their dreams fulfilled because other men have had the same or similar dreams. These young men right here are the future. All they need is someone who will show them that their dreams are not crazy and that they will see the fruit of every “yes” they sow into those dreams come to pass.

Our boys bonding over new books they get to read this semester.

One of our forerunners getting encouraged by his coach that he is smart and can do hard things like using critical thinking skills for his school work. Our boys hear they are smart and capable, they just need someone to guide them to that truth continually and let them know they can do hard things. We are so thankful for our coaches and the ways they pour their hearts and affirm our forerunners in who they are as Men of God.

More glimpses from our first couple weeks of program.

Some of our amazing coaches who will guide our boys to a fulfilled potential in relationships, education, and identity in our after school mentoring program this year.

THE TEAM IS GROWING.

Over the Summer, these three powerhouse women joined our leadership staff! We are so thankful for ways they have already made an impact in the lives of our forerunners and their families. Get to know them and the rest of our staff here.