Ministry Updates: October 2012

The Legume Launch. Sometimes the target becomes the back of dad's head.

A lot has happened over the past few weeks. As always we thank you for your interest in our ministry and really appreciate your prayers!

Father/Son Team day

A little over a week ago I had the exciting opportunity to help organize the 2012 Father/Son Team Day. It was such a joy to see 197 fathers and sons playing, competing, and memorizing scripture together. You can learn more about it or see a few pictures from the event.

 

New churches

I have had the privilege over the past couple months to see the establishment of a couple new CSB discipleship programs. Westminster Pres. in Yakima, WA announced a family discipleship night and saw more than 100 people show up interested in a context where dads and moms could disciple their sons and daughters. I got another call from a youth pastor who recognized that he needed to train his young men to become godly Christ-centered leaders. So we helped him set up a weekly night in which men in the church disciple the young men and they in turn get a chance to practice leadership!

Ministry Stories: Some Thoughts on Shaving

With each pass of my razor it became clear that this ordinary moment
in my life was not ordinary for him at all.

Shaving is a big deal. It’s a big deal for dudes who have to shave daily, because it’s an annoying hassle and blades are a hugely expensive racket running a close second behind ink cartridges. But when you are a young man it’s a big deal in a totally different way. It represents a major threshold into manliness. It is easy for me standing so far past that threshold to forget how important this mark of masculinity was to me as a young man.

My own fatherlessness was not a daily part of my thinking, but I can still feel the palpable sense of embarrassment and frustration not really knowing how to even begin the process. I think I felt like the manly thing to do would be to figure it out on my own. The irony is that this is one of those rights of passage that really is supposed to be taught.

Like a family tradition, it is supposed to be treated as a special season in the life of a young man, and should be handed down carefully from one generation to another. What a huge mistake we make when we assume a cold utilitarianism in our approach to these important

Cool Reads: Knowing God, by J.I. Packer

Karen and I are loving this book!

I collect books with a high and lofty goal in doing so … to read them. But it pains me to admit that many an amazing book still lays lonely and unread on my book shelf. One of these specimens of neglect has now been pulled off the shelf and Karen and I are reading it together. And it is a tragedy that a book this wonderful has sat so close to me for so long without receiving the respect it so clearly deserves!

Knowing God has stood the test of time for the last 40 years. It continues to be as relevant and beautiful now as it did four decades ago, in part because the subject matter (the Triune God) is himself eternally interesting, and also because it is so well written.

I leave you with a few excerpts from the beginning of the book and my hope is that if you want to know God better you will not miss the time tested insights of this book.

In Chapter one Williamson begins to answer the foundational question: "Who needs Theology?"

“... Knowing God is crucially important for the living of our lives. As it would be cruel to

Painting Without Hands

“Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, "Do it again"; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning, "Do it again" to the sun; and every evening, "Do it again" to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity

Junior Leadership Conference 2012/2013

Practical and Fun Leadership Training for guys ages 12-18, January 2-4, 2012

Join me at The Junior Leadership Conference January 2-4, 2013 and learn practical leadership skills from amazing speakers while having loads of fun with our teen guys!

We challenge our young men to be Christian Leaders but often leave them wondering exactly how to do so. This conference provides practical strategies to help equip young men for their important call to Christian leadership.

In an action packed setting this three day event helps equip young men to pursue Christ-like leadership. Team building, games, small group Bible studies, leadership seminars, service opportunities and a challenging and a practical keynote speaker are topped off by seriously amazing food.

No one attending this conference will leave without being better equipped to lead, inspired to serve, and very well fed! 


It is NOT necessary that the young men attending be involved in a CSB program. The event is open to any young man between the ages of 12 and 18. If you are younger than 12 you must be recommended by a Brigade senior leader, pastor, or you can contact me to discuss. davidbgregg@hotmail.com

Download the Registration Form