Reach Church Men’s Weekend 3/26/2023
Every person has their own struggles, no matter how perfect their lives appear. My struggles are not unique. There is hope in sharing your pain.
___
I learned God uses everything in our lives to draw us nearer to Him. I learned that allowing people to share their hardships, and listening to them, can create opportunity for healing.
___
Just want to thank all the leaders for the openness and helping me on my journey.
___
Self-reflection on struggles and areas of improvement in my walk with God. Ability to connect to others stories.
___
I’m re-aligning my priorities when it comes to my relationship with Jesus.
___
The honesty was tremendous and challenging.
___
The importance of fighting against the damage that can be done when we're isolated. The lies we live and believe. The shame and guilt of fearing the results of the truth. The importance of sharing our truth and experience.
___
I learned that God speaks to people in a way that changes lives. I learned that I have a lot less faith than I thought. This changes the way I want to be in the word and with God and with others.
___
"The goal is look like Jesus" JW. "We are good sons, because we have a good Father." "The restoration part is Jesus." AMS "His love is the thing that gives me trust again." AMS "For I have bigger plans yet for you." AMS
___
What a great weekend to share with my son! Cool experience.
___
Found it refreshing and encouraging to hear other people’s stories. I knew from past experiences that vulnerability is really important, but hadn't seen a lot of men being vulnerable in front of others before. It was great to hear what God is doing in others' stories. I still feel pretty new to Seattle, but I'm hopeful that I'll be able to make strong friendships within this group and the rest of the church.
___
It was good to lay down / nail to the cross my seeking comfort in other things instead of seeking comfort in God.
___
It is awesome to have explicit reminders that I am not the only one struggling and hurting. Equally wonderful to just talk without always hearing a suggested solution. Solutions are great, but sometimes too much.
___
I'm just grateful to be in an environment of meaningful connection, depth, and love for a weekend. We all gave the gift of each other and that is a big part of what the church is for.
___
To continue to seek God daily and keep important relationships in my life. Keep pride and self-reliance from creeping in to experience the full grace, joy, hope, spirit, and understanding God has for me. Sharing my story, pain, lies, is discipleship and benefiting others' testimony is one of the most powerful tools Christ uses to open hearts and we all have one and can share our story. I did not get here on my own.
___
I realized on the first night how unfamiliar it felt to be completely served, and how hard it was to relax into that space and accept that service. I leaned into the process on Friday, but found myself over the weekend relaxing back into a more normal posture, forgetting to intentionally ask to be served. Only in writing this all down am I realizing how that reflects on my relationship with God and how unnatural it is for me to stop and ask for things from God. I came into this weekend hoping to start the process of making connections for an accountability group. I came away knowing I came to the right place even if a group hasn't materialized yet.
___
This weekend I learned that relationship with God is of utmost importance. I need to be more proactive in cultivating and nurturing relationships in my life, so those relationships might become more “full of depth.” This includes my relationship with Jesus.
___
I learned how important, healing, and helpful vulnerability is, even when it seems dangerous. God wants relationship with me for real, and it's my own fears and insecurities that get in the way. I want to recognize my daily life and seek Him earnestly, as well as meaningful relationships with men in the church.
___
I learned that I don’t need to be ashamed of myself, because God's got me. I learned I am not the only one going through it. It will change how I approach spirituality and treat my wife and kids.
___
It honestly encouraged me to hear so many other stories that I resonated with.
___
I appreciated hearing other men's stories, specifically about marriage challenges, confession, and forgiveness.
___
God is working in all of us, changing hearts and redeeming our choices. Our stories should never be suppressed but brought into the light for healing, testimony, and allowing others to be blessed and speak into our lives. I will be focusing on relinquishing control of some areas of my life and surrendering to God through prayer. I learned that I can grow in my ways of responding to others and their stories - not trying to fix people but rather sit and listen and be present with them as Jesus did.
___
I learned that I need to grieve the son I will probably never have. I grew in my faith and ability to step out of my comfort zone to obey the Holy Spirit. I was blessed by the vulnerability of the stories.
___
This gave me the sense that I'm able to achieve anything through the Lord.
___
I walked away with a realization that our stories are actually Jesus' story of redemption. I can have a tendency to wear hardship and/or my past as a "badge of honor" but I should rather boast in the Lord's work in my life.
___
Clarity in how my guilt, shame, negative self-image is affecting my ability to love others and be vulnerable. Clarity in where some of my fear of aging and death is rooted. Conviction to be more honest, to take to heart the encouragement, and invite my wife into my struggles more. Well done gents. Thank you for intentionally serving us so well!
___
For me it was less learning and more reminding. I was inspired by the encouragement and space for vulnerability and the celebration of it. I'm not really sure how to put it into words, but I'm leaving here feeling buoyant, lighter, freer than I have in quite some time. I'm excited to connect in community.
___
I want to serve the church by discipling and pursuing men.
___
It’s time to share my story. Time to love and serve men. I'm guarded. I've been burned by "church" in the past with "fake" fellowship on weekends and then goes back to isolation again.
___
I feel compelled to spend time working on my own story so I can effectively communicate it to others.
___
Continued reaffirmation that God loves me, sees me, and adopts me as a son, not someone He has to deal or cope with. I'm not alone. I will continue to be vulnerable and serve others. Vulnerability promotes vulnerability.
___
I was reminded that I am not alone in my struggles in life, even if the way that challenges present themselves feels unique. I can trust in God to provide the resources (including other people) necessary to no just make it through but to become stronger through it.
___
It was great to see how the Spirit came through all of our stories to soften callous hearts, breakdown walls and wash away the lies, so we can find comfort and trust in Him; I believe that’s the true miracle of the weekend and it had nothing to do with “me” but everything to do with Jesus.
___
I learned God uses everything in our lives to draw us nearer to Him. I learned that allowing people to share their hardships, and listening to them, can create opportunity for healing.
___
Just want to thank all the leaders for the openness and helping me on my journey.
___
Self-reflection on struggles and areas of improvement in my walk with God. Ability to connect to others stories.
___
I’m re-aligning my priorities when it comes to my relationship with Jesus.
___
The honesty was tremendous and challenging.
___
The importance of fighting against the damage that can be done when we're isolated. The lies we live and believe. The shame and guilt of fearing the results of the truth. The importance of sharing our truth and experience.
___
I learned that God speaks to people in a way that changes lives. I learned that I have a lot less faith than I thought. This changes the way I want to be in the word and with God and with others.
___
"The goal is look like Jesus" JW. "We are good sons, because we have a good Father." "The restoration part is Jesus." AMS "His love is the thing that gives me trust again." AMS "For I have bigger plans yet for you." AMS
___
What a great weekend to share with my son! Cool experience.
___
Found it refreshing and encouraging to hear other people’s stories. I knew from past experiences that vulnerability is really important, but hadn't seen a lot of men being vulnerable in front of others before. It was great to hear what God is doing in others' stories. I still feel pretty new to Seattle, but I'm hopeful that I'll be able to make strong friendships within this group and the rest of the church.
___
It was good to lay down / nail to the cross my seeking comfort in other things instead of seeking comfort in God.
___
It is awesome to have explicit reminders that I am not the only one struggling and hurting. Equally wonderful to just talk without always hearing a suggested solution. Solutions are great, but sometimes too much.
___
I'm just grateful to be in an environment of meaningful connection, depth, and love for a weekend. We all gave the gift of each other and that is a big part of what the church is for.
___
To continue to seek God daily and keep important relationships in my life. Keep pride and self-reliance from creeping in to experience the full grace, joy, hope, spirit, and understanding God has for me. Sharing my story, pain, lies, is discipleship and benefiting others' testimony is one of the most powerful tools Christ uses to open hearts and we all have one and can share our story. I did not get here on my own.
___
I realized on the first night how unfamiliar it felt to be completely served, and how hard it was to relax into that space and accept that service. I leaned into the process on Friday, but found myself over the weekend relaxing back into a more normal posture, forgetting to intentionally ask to be served. Only in writing this all down am I realizing how that reflects on my relationship with God and how unnatural it is for me to stop and ask for things from God. I came into this weekend hoping to start the process of making connections for an accountability group. I came away knowing I came to the right place even if a group hasn't materialized yet.
___
This weekend I learned that relationship with God is of utmost importance. I need to be more proactive in cultivating and nurturing relationships in my life, so those relationships might become more “full of depth.” This includes my relationship with Jesus.
___
I learned how important, healing, and helpful vulnerability is, even when it seems dangerous. God wants relationship with me for real, and it's my own fears and insecurities that get in the way. I want to recognize my daily life and seek Him earnestly, as well as meaningful relationships with men in the church.
___
I learned that I don’t need to be ashamed of myself, because God's got me. I learned I am not the only one going through it. It will change how I approach spirituality and treat my wife and kids.
___
It honestly encouraged me to hear so many other stories that I resonated with.
___
I appreciated hearing other men's stories, specifically about marriage challenges, confession, and forgiveness.
___
God is working in all of us, changing hearts and redeeming our choices. Our stories should never be suppressed but brought into the light for healing, testimony, and allowing others to be blessed and speak into our lives. I will be focusing on relinquishing control of some areas of my life and surrendering to God through prayer. I learned that I can grow in my ways of responding to others and their stories - not trying to fix people but rather sit and listen and be present with them as Jesus did.
___
I learned that I need to grieve the son I will probably never have. I grew in my faith and ability to step out of my comfort zone to obey the Holy Spirit. I was blessed by the vulnerability of the stories.
___
This gave me the sense that I'm able to achieve anything through the Lord.
___
I walked away with a realization that our stories are actually Jesus' story of redemption. I can have a tendency to wear hardship and/or my past as a "badge of honor" but I should rather boast in the Lord's work in my life.
___
Clarity in how my guilt, shame, negative self-image is affecting my ability to love others and be vulnerable. Clarity in where some of my fear of aging and death is rooted. Conviction to be more honest, to take to heart the encouragement, and invite my wife into my struggles more. Well done gents. Thank you for intentionally serving us so well!
___
For me it was less learning and more reminding. I was inspired by the encouragement and space for vulnerability and the celebration of it. I'm not really sure how to put it into words, but I'm leaving here feeling buoyant, lighter, freer than I have in quite some time. I'm excited to connect in community.
___
I want to serve the church by discipling and pursuing men.
___
It’s time to share my story. Time to love and serve men. I'm guarded. I've been burned by "church" in the past with "fake" fellowship on weekends and then goes back to isolation again.
___
I feel compelled to spend time working on my own story so I can effectively communicate it to others.
___
Continued reaffirmation that God loves me, sees me, and adopts me as a son, not someone He has to deal or cope with. I'm not alone. I will continue to be vulnerable and serve others. Vulnerability promotes vulnerability.
___
I was reminded that I am not alone in my struggles in life, even if the way that challenges present themselves feels unique. I can trust in God to provide the resources (including other people) necessary to no just make it through but to become stronger through it.
___
It was great to see how the Spirit came through all of our stories to soften callous hearts, breakdown walls and wash away the lies, so we can find comfort and trust in Him; I believe that’s the true miracle of the weekend and it had nothing to do with “me” but everything to do with Jesus.