Reach Church Men’s Weekend 11/17/2019
Over a 12-month period, 35 guys from Generational Hope Church in Maple Valley WA have attended a Men’s Weekend. The change of hearts, attitudes, and the level of service from these men has been so dramatic, that now 3 of our pastors have now also experienced a Men’s Weekend. To a man the pastors have reported: enjoying the time away with men; being refreshed by the simple but powerful lessons shared; and encouraged by the obvious love of men as real brothers.
___
More encouragement and fervor to pursue God. The weekend is a nice pause to remember all God has done for me. I am hopeful to carry over a pursuit of God in each and every day.
___
I came here in the midst of a wrestling match with God. It has been a challenging spiritual season for me and my family. I've been trying to find answers to some big questions and have felt like I've been in a spiritual desert. This weekend has been really encouraging for me. No, I haven't' found the answers to my big questions, but I found rest and community. I've also gotten some nuggets to take home with me and put into practice within my family. One of the pieces of scripture that really grabbed me was "be patient in suffering." I feel as though God used this weekend to tell me that I need to be patient in the midst of this season, that I need to continue to seek him despite the fact that I have doubts and questions and am struggling to see his face. So, I'm going to leave here and be extremely intentional about seeking God's face by reading scripture out loud for my family.
___
This retreat exceeded my expectations. I was struggling with many of the issues we discussed over the weekend. The enemy really had me down and I have not been feeling good about my current circumstance. This weekend renewed my relationship with Jesus. I realized that God is after my heart and I have worth to him. I have been frustrated with my situation and taking it out on my family. I was renewed by this weekend. I want to get reconnected in a deeper relationship with men at Reach. I want to get involved and serve there as well.
___
Coming into the Men's Weekend I believed in God and sometimes prayed but had compartmentalized Jesus into parts of my life. I realized that, throughout the weekend, I had not invited Jesus to walk with me in every part of my life and in every relationship. Not only do I feel rejuvenated but feel a connection to Jesus that is unparalleled before. Thank you for that! I am hopeful that I will continue to invite Jesus to walk with me in life and that He can lead me toward serving, loving and protecting those in my family to the best of my ability.
___
I grew up in church and have committed my life to being a pastor. My faith coming into this weekend was solid, but it was brought to a whole new level this weekend. I was able to name the roots of my sin and move beyond that and feel completely redeemed.
___
God released me from the self-imposed belief that I had to be perfect (0 drama) that led me to stay in shame and not admit areas of weakness to others to bring freedom and full relationship with Jesus.
___
He's been softening my heart. I haven't felt and cried so much for a really long time. There are lies that I've been believing that came up in every man's story. It opened up my eyes in a way that was so relatable and real in examples. "Not good enough" is what I've believed for too long. That's the lie God was speaking to .He's showing me areas I'm blind to. This weekend has broken me in a good way.
___
I am grateful for the experience to connect with Jesus and other men. Connecting with God alone is very good, but connecting with men who are also connecting to God is amazing. Thank you for your efforts, prayers and love extended to me and all the men. Well done!
___
God has given me a fresh revelation of freedom and his love. I was able to rest and recharge. I was given a fresh perspective in God's love for me and reassured of my identity and calling! It's also been pretty weird since I left staff at my last church. The guys that were in my life and were there for me and now they aren't. There were a few sweet moments I found myself in community with guys and it was awesome.
___
Broke down walls, created and expanded relationships. 5 years ago, I felt called to tell story and people are doing it. Heart for fatherless. Be there. Be open. Be a listener.
___
I am hopeful for a refreshed priority on serving and loving my wife and children! To stop seeing work / career as my savior. He has shown me the idols that I have let grow up around me: self-reliance, worry, sex and money. And I know he has begun laying the axe at the root of each of those. That the big sins in my life that seem so HUGE have no power, and that Jesus actually gives me the power to overcome, in His strength and not in my own.
___
I am committed to be vulnerable and to share my story for His glory. I have released hatred, bitterness and anger I have held against my sister for over a decade. I have renewed my identity in Christ. I am a child of God. I am defined by what Christ says about me, not by what others or myself say or don't say about me. I am thankful of the incredible marriage I have been blessed with and I am more aware than ever of how generously and selflessly my wife loves me. I am hopeful to continue to draw nearer to God. I am hopeful for freedom from anxiety and self-loathing. The entire team are the best!! Thank you for serving, leading and sharing so well. Love y'all.
___
I'm hopeful for my church. I'm hopeful for our men. I'm hopeful in the injection this weekend has given me to help battle the dread that can creep into my mind. I'm so hopeful for a few of my dear friends who are here and who have been so hardened. Pumped for victory for them! Good work team. I'm so proud of you. You are being the church and reaching the city. There's a sweetness here - a special sauce - and you know it. So, nature that sweetness, guard it, and don't idolize it. Enjoy the moments; the planting, growing, harvesting and even the pruning. Love you all! Thanks for making a space for me.
___
I came to support my friend as he told his story. I believed I would encounter Jesus but I had no idea how much. When my wife asked me how it went, I told her, "I can't even put words to it." I will be processing this weekend and trying to see what he is doing in my life. I have been wrestling with God trying to see what God desires to do with the next phase of my life.
___
Be patient and understand that growth happens through struggle and uncomfortableness. Break down the barriers and let God take control. Given me clarity that I need to serve my wife and be the rock she deserves. I'm hopeful to restore my marriage and have God play a bigger role in my life and my marriage. Stop avoiding and minimizing and go get it!
___
He's shown me the lies from the enemy that I have been believing. He has shown me the truth of who and what I am in this life. I am hopeful for an amazing wife, relationship and family. I am hopeful for the occupation and calling God has in store for me. I am hopeful for complete restoration of my family feeling and being known as perfect, whole and complete as a unified family unit. I am hopeful for a deeper and more intimate relationship with Christ. I am hopeful for a solid group of Christ believing men and women to have long term relationships with. To support each other as we walk through life.
___
God has reminded me of his faithfulness. He has shown me he is with me in every situation. He showed me he doesn't need me to do the "right" thing. He doesn't need me to say the right prayer, have the right feeling or even have the right posture. He just wants me. He wants me to sit and be still as he washes my feet. That was so freeing. I don't have to have the answers or right mindset. I just have to go to him.
___
I have felt overwhelmed with love and service. I'm hopeful that I am part of a community of men seeking God. Thank you for all the work you've put into this weekend.
___
Knowing how God sees me as his prince, and seeing how that plays out on a daily basis. Reminder of the sacrifice that God made for us and the reminder of whom my daily sacrifice is for. Importance of giving God space to talk to me.
___
The re-focusing on my relationship with Jesus! The realization that I don't have to fix everything in my life and figure it all out. The pressure to get all the different areas of my life right and perfect and working does not rest on my shoulders anymore. The truth is, I can't do it. I will never be able to do it. Thank you, Jesus, for saving me and taking this from me! I'm looking forward to walking in freedom, a new freedom, in so many different areas of my life. Praise the Lord!
___
God delights in being my Father. The greatest call He has put on my life is being a husband to my wife and being a father to my children. Christ will most be glorified in my life as I love, serve, and lead my family.
___
God has called me out of my sin of omission. For standing on the sidelines and letting everyone else do the work. My story is eerily similar to another guy’s story, but about 6 years ago I just, for some reason, stopped obeying. I never stopped hearing God or talking to God... but I stopped praying out loud. I stopped going to church. I stopped reading my bible. I stopped being a disciple and a good witness. What's cool is that God never left my side but he let me get to a point where I was open to finally obey. And that moment was here at the men's retreat. It's time for me to step up and not just know about God but to walk with him through it all. There is nothing in this world that God can't walk through with me.
___
I felt the story of the crucifixion the first night took my heart to experience His sacrifice in a fresh and deeply impactful way. I deeply enjoyed the power of the stories. The way they were offered, validating so many portions of a man’s back story. I am so blessed by the great work you all have done. Jesus was very close to me through the weekend and has re-ignited my desire to serve, appreciate and walk in the crucifixion. The huge, the visceral application of so many things was invigorating. WELL DONE MEN - FANTASTIC! What else is worth your life? God also revealed some wounding about drug use with my parents and brother - its effect on my childhood and unresolved anger there. Also, some healing I need from pastoring that I hadn't given enough attention.
___
Before coming, I was very skeptical about what the weekend might entail, who would I identify with if anyone, and what kind of weird things are they going to make me do. I was terrified being in a place where I knew no one beyond a first name and letting people see who I truly was. I had tons of shame and self-doubt pushing me away. Throughout the weekend those walls that I set up slowly crumbled and all the pre-conceived notions faded away. I realized, through testimonies, things about my past and how they affect who I am. Ways I have been running from him and avoiding his calling and how my actions have been hurting those around me. I am hopeful for emerging myself in the Bible with his word, into my church and blessing my family with the man he made me to be!
___
Over these last couple of days, I have learned more about my identity in Jesus. I am hopeful for these next couple of weeks to see my identity in Him through my relationships. I am hopeful for Jesus and all the relationships I am in. The last thing that got me through the weekend was a question that has been burning in my head. Can I feel emotion consistently? After hearing stories, I saw a bunch of people get emotional. Crying for each other and I couldn't get anything. Later however, I felt EVERYTHING! I am hopeful for being with my friends, family and more, so I can experience my emotions more. Bless the Lord!
___
God has challenged me to set my foundation of being loved in him more than all else. Seeking the approval and affirmation of others has been holding me back from leading in my relationships / friendships from a place of freedom and confidence. I'm excited to fight. To reclaim the authority and determination that God has for me, one not at all concerned with the words or actions of men. I'm excited to move from passivity to action.
___
God has been speaking to me like never before. I've realized in my day to day I never leave room for God to show up. This weekend has allowed me to soak in God's love and presence in a quiet space and give Him room to speak to me.
___
More encouragement and fervor to pursue God. The weekend is a nice pause to remember all God has done for me. I am hopeful to carry over a pursuit of God in each and every day.
___
I came here in the midst of a wrestling match with God. It has been a challenging spiritual season for me and my family. I've been trying to find answers to some big questions and have felt like I've been in a spiritual desert. This weekend has been really encouraging for me. No, I haven't' found the answers to my big questions, but I found rest and community. I've also gotten some nuggets to take home with me and put into practice within my family. One of the pieces of scripture that really grabbed me was "be patient in suffering." I feel as though God used this weekend to tell me that I need to be patient in the midst of this season, that I need to continue to seek him despite the fact that I have doubts and questions and am struggling to see his face. So, I'm going to leave here and be extremely intentional about seeking God's face by reading scripture out loud for my family.
___
This retreat exceeded my expectations. I was struggling with many of the issues we discussed over the weekend. The enemy really had me down and I have not been feeling good about my current circumstance. This weekend renewed my relationship with Jesus. I realized that God is after my heart and I have worth to him. I have been frustrated with my situation and taking it out on my family. I was renewed by this weekend. I want to get reconnected in a deeper relationship with men at Reach. I want to get involved and serve there as well.
___
Coming into the Men's Weekend I believed in God and sometimes prayed but had compartmentalized Jesus into parts of my life. I realized that, throughout the weekend, I had not invited Jesus to walk with me in every part of my life and in every relationship. Not only do I feel rejuvenated but feel a connection to Jesus that is unparalleled before. Thank you for that! I am hopeful that I will continue to invite Jesus to walk with me in life and that He can lead me toward serving, loving and protecting those in my family to the best of my ability.
___
I grew up in church and have committed my life to being a pastor. My faith coming into this weekend was solid, but it was brought to a whole new level this weekend. I was able to name the roots of my sin and move beyond that and feel completely redeemed.
___
God released me from the self-imposed belief that I had to be perfect (0 drama) that led me to stay in shame and not admit areas of weakness to others to bring freedom and full relationship with Jesus.
___
He's been softening my heart. I haven't felt and cried so much for a really long time. There are lies that I've been believing that came up in every man's story. It opened up my eyes in a way that was so relatable and real in examples. "Not good enough" is what I've believed for too long. That's the lie God was speaking to .He's showing me areas I'm blind to. This weekend has broken me in a good way.
___
I am grateful for the experience to connect with Jesus and other men. Connecting with God alone is very good, but connecting with men who are also connecting to God is amazing. Thank you for your efforts, prayers and love extended to me and all the men. Well done!
___
God has given me a fresh revelation of freedom and his love. I was able to rest and recharge. I was given a fresh perspective in God's love for me and reassured of my identity and calling! It's also been pretty weird since I left staff at my last church. The guys that were in my life and were there for me and now they aren't. There were a few sweet moments I found myself in community with guys and it was awesome.
___
Broke down walls, created and expanded relationships. 5 years ago, I felt called to tell story and people are doing it. Heart for fatherless. Be there. Be open. Be a listener.
___
I am hopeful for a refreshed priority on serving and loving my wife and children! To stop seeing work / career as my savior. He has shown me the idols that I have let grow up around me: self-reliance, worry, sex and money. And I know he has begun laying the axe at the root of each of those. That the big sins in my life that seem so HUGE have no power, and that Jesus actually gives me the power to overcome, in His strength and not in my own.
___
I am committed to be vulnerable and to share my story for His glory. I have released hatred, bitterness and anger I have held against my sister for over a decade. I have renewed my identity in Christ. I am a child of God. I am defined by what Christ says about me, not by what others or myself say or don't say about me. I am thankful of the incredible marriage I have been blessed with and I am more aware than ever of how generously and selflessly my wife loves me. I am hopeful to continue to draw nearer to God. I am hopeful for freedom from anxiety and self-loathing. The entire team are the best!! Thank you for serving, leading and sharing so well. Love y'all.
___
I'm hopeful for my church. I'm hopeful for our men. I'm hopeful in the injection this weekend has given me to help battle the dread that can creep into my mind. I'm so hopeful for a few of my dear friends who are here and who have been so hardened. Pumped for victory for them! Good work team. I'm so proud of you. You are being the church and reaching the city. There's a sweetness here - a special sauce - and you know it. So, nature that sweetness, guard it, and don't idolize it. Enjoy the moments; the planting, growing, harvesting and even the pruning. Love you all! Thanks for making a space for me.
___
I came to support my friend as he told his story. I believed I would encounter Jesus but I had no idea how much. When my wife asked me how it went, I told her, "I can't even put words to it." I will be processing this weekend and trying to see what he is doing in my life. I have been wrestling with God trying to see what God desires to do with the next phase of my life.
___
Be patient and understand that growth happens through struggle and uncomfortableness. Break down the barriers and let God take control. Given me clarity that I need to serve my wife and be the rock she deserves. I'm hopeful to restore my marriage and have God play a bigger role in my life and my marriage. Stop avoiding and minimizing and go get it!
___
He's shown me the lies from the enemy that I have been believing. He has shown me the truth of who and what I am in this life. I am hopeful for an amazing wife, relationship and family. I am hopeful for the occupation and calling God has in store for me. I am hopeful for complete restoration of my family feeling and being known as perfect, whole and complete as a unified family unit. I am hopeful for a deeper and more intimate relationship with Christ. I am hopeful for a solid group of Christ believing men and women to have long term relationships with. To support each other as we walk through life.
___
God has reminded me of his faithfulness. He has shown me he is with me in every situation. He showed me he doesn't need me to do the "right" thing. He doesn't need me to say the right prayer, have the right feeling or even have the right posture. He just wants me. He wants me to sit and be still as he washes my feet. That was so freeing. I don't have to have the answers or right mindset. I just have to go to him.
___
I have felt overwhelmed with love and service. I'm hopeful that I am part of a community of men seeking God. Thank you for all the work you've put into this weekend.
___
Knowing how God sees me as his prince, and seeing how that plays out on a daily basis. Reminder of the sacrifice that God made for us and the reminder of whom my daily sacrifice is for. Importance of giving God space to talk to me.
___
The re-focusing on my relationship with Jesus! The realization that I don't have to fix everything in my life and figure it all out. The pressure to get all the different areas of my life right and perfect and working does not rest on my shoulders anymore. The truth is, I can't do it. I will never be able to do it. Thank you, Jesus, for saving me and taking this from me! I'm looking forward to walking in freedom, a new freedom, in so many different areas of my life. Praise the Lord!
___
God delights in being my Father. The greatest call He has put on my life is being a husband to my wife and being a father to my children. Christ will most be glorified in my life as I love, serve, and lead my family.
___
God has called me out of my sin of omission. For standing on the sidelines and letting everyone else do the work. My story is eerily similar to another guy’s story, but about 6 years ago I just, for some reason, stopped obeying. I never stopped hearing God or talking to God... but I stopped praying out loud. I stopped going to church. I stopped reading my bible. I stopped being a disciple and a good witness. What's cool is that God never left my side but he let me get to a point where I was open to finally obey. And that moment was here at the men's retreat. It's time for me to step up and not just know about God but to walk with him through it all. There is nothing in this world that God can't walk through with me.
___
I felt the story of the crucifixion the first night took my heart to experience His sacrifice in a fresh and deeply impactful way. I deeply enjoyed the power of the stories. The way they were offered, validating so many portions of a man’s back story. I am so blessed by the great work you all have done. Jesus was very close to me through the weekend and has re-ignited my desire to serve, appreciate and walk in the crucifixion. The huge, the visceral application of so many things was invigorating. WELL DONE MEN - FANTASTIC! What else is worth your life? God also revealed some wounding about drug use with my parents and brother - its effect on my childhood and unresolved anger there. Also, some healing I need from pastoring that I hadn't given enough attention.
___
Before coming, I was very skeptical about what the weekend might entail, who would I identify with if anyone, and what kind of weird things are they going to make me do. I was terrified being in a place where I knew no one beyond a first name and letting people see who I truly was. I had tons of shame and self-doubt pushing me away. Throughout the weekend those walls that I set up slowly crumbled and all the pre-conceived notions faded away. I realized, through testimonies, things about my past and how they affect who I am. Ways I have been running from him and avoiding his calling and how my actions have been hurting those around me. I am hopeful for emerging myself in the Bible with his word, into my church and blessing my family with the man he made me to be!
___
Over these last couple of days, I have learned more about my identity in Jesus. I am hopeful for these next couple of weeks to see my identity in Him through my relationships. I am hopeful for Jesus and all the relationships I am in. The last thing that got me through the weekend was a question that has been burning in my head. Can I feel emotion consistently? After hearing stories, I saw a bunch of people get emotional. Crying for each other and I couldn't get anything. Later however, I felt EVERYTHING! I am hopeful for being with my friends, family and more, so I can experience my emotions more. Bless the Lord!
___
God has challenged me to set my foundation of being loved in him more than all else. Seeking the approval and affirmation of others has been holding me back from leading in my relationships / friendships from a place of freedom and confidence. I'm excited to fight. To reclaim the authority and determination that God has for me, one not at all concerned with the words or actions of men. I'm excited to move from passivity to action.
___
God has been speaking to me like never before. I've realized in my day to day I never leave room for God to show up. This weekend has allowed me to soak in God's love and presence in a quiet space and give Him room to speak to me.